chairs for wire mesh

[5wndwcpe]

I tagged this question onto a similar thread but I guess it went un-noticed. (or, yes, quite possibly ignored). What is the cost of the chairs for suspending wire mesh in a slab and how many per sheet do you need to provide a stable surface ? I've done enough searches to wear my eyes out, but can't find a price on these buggers.

 

[boiler7904]

Here's a link to a supplier in Chicago and Houston. Look at page 14-17 of the General Accessories Link on this page.

Universal Building Products Price List

You should also be able to get a price from a local concrete or general construction supply house.

You'll probably end up using one chair about every 12" each direction. Obviously, the more you use, the more stable it will be to walk on.

 

[5wndwcpe]

Great link Boiler, thanks.

 

[Franz©]

A whole lot depends on what you're doing with the chairs. If the slab is structural and forms will later be stripped leaving the slab under and supporting weight, the mesh needs to be exactly positioned. Mesh positioning largely determines strength. If you're only using the chairs to make hooking and pulling the mesh up in an on ground pour, you can space them as needed.

 

[5wndwcpe]

This will be a 1600 sq. ft. pour, 6" thick with radiant heat. As the building will already be up, all of the concrete will need to be wheeled in, thus I want a sturdy worksurface to support the workers, wheelbarrows and most importantly, protect the PEX from damage. At one per sq. ft. thats a helluva lot of chairs.

 

[Franz©]

You'reright, 1600sf is a big pour. It's way beyond wheelbarrows, at least Georgia Buggys and prefferably a Kel Truck or bobcat with a concrete bucket.
Add in your PEX, and you will definitely be needing a plywood path on top of the mesh just to support your transport situation. PEX is fairly tough, but I still recommend the tube system be pressurized with air during the pour so any problems will be evident before the concrete cures.

BTW, I sure hope you have an insulation layer and frost apron calculated into this plan, or you'll be wasting a lot of heat.

You will also need somebody with a sharp eye watching the pour just to make sure the mesh is being pulled up as the pour progresses. 1600sf ain't an amature day with free beer situation. I suggest you read Don Soloman's thread on p[ouring and finishing I mentioned in the other thread.

 

[boiler7904]

1600 sf pour with pex, rigid insulation, and mesh on chairs by wheelbarrow is going to be a *****. Do everyone a favor and get a concrete pump for the day. $500 spent on that should be offset by a labor savings from the concrete contractor.

If nothing else, install the chairs just ahead of the crew as the concrete gets wheeled into the back. It will save a lot of misery for the concrete guys.

 

[dxdexter]

I tagged this question onto a similar thread but I guess it went un-noticed. (or, yes, quite possibly ignored). What is the cost of the chairs for suspending wire mesh in a slab and how many per sheet do you need to provide a stable surface ? I've done enough searches to wear my eyes out, but can't find a price on these buggers.

As mentioned in the thread you referenced, you can use 1/2 or 1/3 concrete blocks as supports. The number of blocks can vary based on what is being supported or in the case of wire mesh, the gauge. I would suggest a single sheet of 5'x10' WWF would require around 8 in a diamond pattern, but would be reduced as the number of sheets increases, as some of the blocks support the adjacent sheet. If only 8 were required for one then 13 for two sheets and 18 for three sheets and so on. In any case the number used should be adequate enough to support the mesh, but don't go to extremes, use just enough.

Please note that wire mesh within a slab-on-grade has absolutely no bearing on concrete strength or load carrying capacity. Wire mesh or rebar exists only for crack control unless the slab is a structural slab (i.e. the slab supports itself and is not reliant on the backfill materials).

I was on a site today and was reminded of these discussions, so I took this picture of pre-made concrete block bar supports.These are within a footing , but I'm sure you get the idea. I would think you should be able to get a least three supports from a typical concrete brick.

 

[5wndwcpe]

I should clarify. The slab will be divided into two seperate pours (28x28 each) with an expansion joint as a line of demarcation. The thought was, the smaller the pour, the more time the finishers could spend on it and the better the results. I had planned on allowing a week in between so that I can keep the first pour damp. Foam board is a definate as is pressurizing the PEX and keeping an eye on it during the pour. I had assumed having it pumped in would be the way to go, but the GC thought it would be somewhat pricy, especially doing it twice. This build is going to cost me over six figures and the last thing I want is a lousy, crack prone floor. Really, I'm just trying to do all the research I can and make educated decisions about what I want so that I may convey them to the general contractor without coming across like an a-hole. I do appreciate everyones input and value your experience.

 

[Junkman]

Six figures for two 28' x 28' slabs, and you are worrying about the extra cost of pumping the concrete? :

$1
$10
$100
$1000
$10,000
$100,000

 

[5wndwcpe]

Six figures for two 28' x 28' slabs, and you are worrying about the extra cost of pumping the concrete? :

$1
$10
$100
$1000
$10,000
$100,000

Uh, no. It was six figures for the whole garage and it was the general contractor that was worried about the cost. Myself, I would think the less manual labor, the better. But I still need to be mindful of where the $$ goes as my pockets aren't bottomless.

 

[Junkman]

Uh, no. It was six figures for the whole garage and it was the general contractor that was worried about the cost. Myself, I would think the less manual labor, the better. But I still need to be mindful of where the $$ goes as my pockets aren't bottomless.

I knew what you were saying, but I just couldn't resist, since it could be read both ways. Funny thing is that when I built my home 25 years ago, I was able to do it for 1/8th of what it is presently worth. I have already paid in real estate taxes, more than it cost to buy the land and build the house and garages. Just doesn't seem right....