Pumped Concrete to Stem Wall & Slab?

[grissom]

A contactor that I met with has said that the concrete work for the garage build may have to be pumped and if so it would be with a pea gravel mix as that is what can go through the pumper.

In a quick internet search I have read that this mixture shrinks more and thus potentially more cracks

Anyone have personal experience?

If I finally get this done I want a nice looking floor

 

[larry4406]

I build homes in northern VA and MD. We pump concrete with blue stone aggregate day in and day out. Only time I've ever had pea gravel was when we did exposed aggregate concrete driveways and that was chuted out the truck. I say BS.

 

[readhead]

Nothing wrong with pea gravel. If you are still uncomfortable check around to see if there are any rock pumps in the area. The concrete guy is probably used to his guy and works with him all the time. Are you talking a boom pump or a line pump?

 

[cat06]

keep it covered with burlap or concrete blankets that can be watered through and keep it wet, let it cure out slowly and you won't have problems

 

[wssix99]

Skyscrapers are built with pumped concrete containing normal aggregate all the time. Your contractor probably has access to a small trailer mounted pump that can't handle regular concrete.

Pea gravel can also be expensive in some parts of the country. We just built a 4 story ICF concrete house and needed a flowable concrete to get in and out of all the rebar in our walls and columns. To avoid the cost of pea gravel, we went with "chip" aggregate, which worked really well - but I wouldn't use chips or pea gravel for my slab!

How far is the furthest part of your slab from where the rear of the concrete truck would park? You can custom make a wooden chute for less than a pump rental would cost, anyway.

If a machine is absolutely necessary, I suggest asking your contractor if he can rent a concrete conveyor truck. It's less than one of the big pumpers and it will handle regular concrete just like them. You could also rent buggies.

If they say pea gravel is your only option, I think they are not being imaginative enough. (I trust that they do know what they are doing and know about all the options available.)

 

[brownbagg]

concrete pump can pump rock as big as 1 inch. some can do bigger.

 

[readhead]

A lot of line pumps can only pump pea gravel. Makes a less expensive machine.

 

[pcmeiners]

Sounds like he does not have access to the right machine. That is one issue, wait till he is on site asking the driver to add water!!! Make sure you call the concrete supplier and stipulate no extra water is to be added to the mix, as a sample will be tested.

 

[brownbagg]

Sounds like he does not have access to the right machine. That is one issue, wait till he is on site asking the driver to add water!!!

i can see it now, I NEED TO ADD WATER, if my pump get plugged somebody going pay for the repairs.

I hear it every day

 

[Rigpig]

I build homes in northern VA and MD. We pump concrete with blue stone aggregate day in and day out. Only time I've ever had pea gravel was when we did exposed aggregate concrete driveways and that was chuted out the truck. I say BS.

What he said, and i call BS too! I had a pump truck in for my pony walls and it wasn't pea gravel!
If you have doubts call the concrete company, they'll tell you, and they will usually have pump trucks around.
Good luck!

 

[grissom]

I sent an email to the general contractor and am waiting for his reply

 

[Jon_E]

I built the foundation of my house with ICF's and specified "small stone" to use with the concrete pump (boom, not line). Around here, normal aggregate is either a 1-1/2 rock for really large pours, 3/4" for smaller pours, and small stone is 1/2" or less crushed stone but no fines or dust. It worked well, and I cannot imagine that it would crack or shrink more than a standard mix.

 

[kbs2244]

My slab was pumped.
Normal mix concrete.
No special needs.

 

[RUSTY REAREND]

B.S.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[machsnell]

I build homes in northern VA and MD. We pump concrete with blue stone aggregate day in and day out. Only time I've ever had pea gravel was when we did exposed aggregate concrete driveways and that was chuted out the truck. I say BS.

What he said..

Yes we pump standard mixes all the time. It is hard for smaller truck mounted pumps. Our angular rock is stronger than rounded rock both in density and structure. Pea gravel is much more expensive per cy here as well.

I do believe though that if you order 3500 psi concrete that it doesnt matter which rock??? It still breaks at 3500.



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[Slednut]

My slab was pumped.
Normal mix concrete.
No special needs.

Me too.

 

[readhead]

Not all equipment is created equal and a rock pump may not be available in his area. The pea gravel will work. I'm not sure there is a real issue here.

 

[f150skidoo]

Out of curiosity is your garage able to be reached by conveyor? I think the concrete trucks with a conveyor can reach 30-40 feet.

 

[grissom]

Out of curiosity is your garage able to be reached by conveyor? I think the concrete trucks with a conveyor can reach 30-40 feet.

I know that the trucks come with chutes that can be extended - what is a conveyor?

The place I want to build a garage is up in the mountains and the nearest town of any significance is 30 mins away and there are only a few choices for concrete providers

 

[LB-1911]

I know that the trucks come with chutes that can be extended - what is a conveyor?

The place I want to build a garage is up in the mountains and the nearest town of any significance is 30 mins away and there are only a few choices for concrete providers

Putzmeister Telebelt

 

[qdvuu]

The place I want to build a garage is up in the mountains and the nearest town of any significance is 30 mins away and there are only a few choices for concrete providers

In that case you may want to consider the big picture strategy of using local contractors to do the work rather than someone from out of the county. I've heard some horror stories about rich guys/outsiders who used contractors from far away which alienated the locals, so when they wanted help in the future they got blackballed. My experience is to use local contractors, make sure you have a clear line of responsibility so someone is on the hook to deliver you a quality product, and treat them well.

 

[Ray-CA]

When our garage was poured (28x30-6inches thick with stem walls and footings) they pumped the mix with 3/4 gravel about 140-ft with no problem.

The pump was big and truck mounted, not one of the little trailer ones so maybe that made the difference.

I'd call a few more contractors for bids etc.

Ray

 

[matt_i]

The person who pumped for my floor and foundation walls showed me little metal shards that were added to the mix, and came from some kind of a previous pour he had done. I used pea gravel mix for the walls, a recommendation from the ICF manufacturer. The floor mix was a standard angular aggregate. This is a dedicated pump truck made by Schwing. I am pretty sure he could have parked in front of my existing garage and done the entire pour going over the roof to the back. Awesome piece of machinery for sure, and incredibly labor saving as compared to the all out physical labor of pouring footings the old fashioned way.

 

[wssix99]

I used pea gravel mix for the walls, a recommendation from the ICF manufacturer.

They do that, not for the pumpability, but so that the mix will get around all the rebar and form ties. On our house, (due to the cost of pea gravel) we did some experimentation with 1" crushed stone in non-critical areas, but it was a total disaster. (We had a good number of voids.) We then switched to 3/4"-1" "chips" and it was great. The chip concrete has also been really durable. It's a total ***** to try to chisel out - not like pea gravel concrete, which I've found a lot easier.

 

[grissom]

In that case you may want to consider the big picture strategy of using local contractors to do the work rather than someone from out of the county. I've heard some horror stories about rich guys/outsiders who used contractors from far away which alienated the locals, so when they wanted help in the future they got blackballed. My experience is to use local contractors, make sure you have a clear line of responsibility so someone is on the hook to deliver you a quality product, and treat them well.

I received a call from him yesterday and he says the truck should be able to get in and with the chute be able to fill the wall framing

With regards to the contractor he is a local and my neighbor used him 30 yrs ago to build his house. He does not do the concrete or roofing himself anymore, all those subs are local and so would be the material suppliers.

 

[HemiRamOn22s]

Most pumps will pump normal aggregate or pea gravel. The Pea Gravel usually has to be a little heavier mix so you dont have to use alot of water. All of the floors in my house are 3500 mix with fiber and pea gravel. The floor in my shop is 4000 lb mix with pea gravel. Alot of crete guys like to use pea gravel because its easier to work with.