Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [concrete]

Concrete is composed of cement, aggregate (including crushed rock and sand) and water. In homes, it's frequently seen in the foundation, driveway, sidewalk, patio, and stone walls. Note that bricks use mortar in the joints, not concrete.

For specific uses, see also:

For help with waterproofing and some interior construction, use

For brickwork, use or

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Is this cracking foundation under a jack post a problem that requires repair?

I am buying an already-built new home. I find this in the basement. The builder says it's okay, but I am really concerned. Is this really a big issue? What steps would be required to repair it? This house is close to the retention pond. Is that the…
John
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How should I remove a swimming pool from my back yard?

Our house had a nice cedar pergola in the backyard, about 20'x16', whose posts began to rot at the base. It was covered in grape vine... Nice for shade but not for a falling down pergola. Needless to say, a few months ago we got a pretty good wind…
tbox
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When pouring concrete, is it safe to add large rocks to increase volume?

Backround I'm going to pour some concrete to anchor a swing set. The base of the swing set that is being anchored is two 4x4s with a 2x4 footer crossed perpendicularly to the 4x4s. I have a bunch of large softball-sized rocks in my yard. I was…
Walter Stabosz
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Is it normal to use a grinder to finish a new driveway?

Yesterday we had new concrete pads poured. We expected pour-day to be the last day. I saw them out there finishing, but when we went out that evening after everyone had left, it looked half done. There were unfinished areas, dips in the concrete,…
Nicholas
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Can I pour concrete over a PVC sewer pipe without damaging it?

I'm currently in the process of digging a hole in my front yard to install a flag pole. The dimensions of the hole are 16" deep and 24" in diameter. Once I reached my 16" depth, I discovered my PVC sewer pipe that runs from my house to the street.…
Randy
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Make a hole deeper than the drill bit is long

The longest drill bit I have is 23.62 inches and apparently the thickness of the concrete I need to penetrate is 27.5 inches. I don't wish to buy another drill bit, is there a smart solution? The hole is for a gas pipe to go through, so the diameter…
Blerg
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Are cracks in a newly poured concrete basement floor a problem?

I'm having a new home built and found a large crack in the newly poured concrete basement floor and wanted to see if it's something I should be concerned about. The floor was poured sometime in the past two weeks; I need to check with the builder…
viatheether
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Contractor is installing a vinyl fence and posts but is not using any water with concrete. Is he doing it right?

I hired a reputable local company to install 6 foot vinyl fence around my yard. Salesman was telling me how they would be using cement to hold the post in place. To my surprise I see the workers use dry cement mix with no water or sand or anything…
Agoor
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What bit should I use to drill a two inch hole in a solid concrete wall?

I am planning to install a 1.5-inch conduit through a poured concrete wall. I am planning on drilling a two-inch hole to accommodate the size of the conduit body. I have been searching up and down, but I don't know what drill bit to use. Bi-metal?…
Henrik VT
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Asphalt or concrete, which job first?

I have an asphalt driveway with a concrete sidewalk meeting the edge of it. They both need to be replaced. Which job needs to happen first?
Carol
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What happens to foam insulation board after you pour concrete slab?

I plan on making a garage out of a large carport, and I've watched and I understood how to properly insulate a new concrete slab. 4 inches of gravel, vapor barrier, 2 inch foam board, 2 inches of sand and then 4-6 inches of poured concrete with mesh…
Jeffyx
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How to add on to a concrete patio?

I would like to add on to my existing concrete patio with more concrete. I will about double the size of the patio. My question is, should I have the new patio free floating from the existing or should I attach it (as in drilling into it and have…
Kellenjb
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How should I refurbish a concrete slab with a rough surface?

I am about to commence work on extending my garage. I will be pouring a new concrete floor and trying to get as smooth a finish as I can. However, this will flow up to my existing garage floor which was very poorly laid. It looks like when they…
James Drinkwater
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Why did cracks form over the rebar grid in my concrete footings?

I am building a house and we just poured concrete 3 days ago and now it has some cracks, This is the footer with reinforcement : This is footer after pouring concrete : These are some cracks that we have now, some of them follow the shape of bars…
Madian Malfi
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Why do builders say that wet concrete/mortar is not as strong?

I have been watching a few videos demonstrating the mixing of mortar and cement and a constant theme is that you must not have the mix too runny. I cannot fathom the reason... Does anyone care to elaborate? My only guess is that a watery mix will…
Hightower
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