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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Pier Footer Concrete Stretcher
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Topeka
Member
# Posted: 14 Aug 2016 13:15
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Got rocks. Lots. River and fieldstone. Round and flat.

How dense can I pack rocks into a Sonotube pour to stretch out the Sakrete?

Get the giggle factor over with, but have fun. It's a seriou$ question for which I need an answer.

Thanks for the forum. I've found useful information and leads for piers and span. I got time to study. I'm not in hurry.

bldginsp
Member
# Posted: 15 Aug 2016 15:27
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I think you would be experimenting. It would probably work, but if not, you got broken piers under your nice new building.

Wash the rocks beforehand so the cement will adhere as well as possible. Maybe you should just use mortar and no sonotube, and just build up the piers that way. Any rebar you can get in there will help.

Post pics

FishHog
Member
# Posted: 15 Aug 2016 15:52
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In my opinion, not worth the risk.
Sure it might work, but sakrete isn't that expensive, so the potential gain isn't worth the potential loss if it doesn't work.
again, my opinion, and you may have other factors that I'm not a aware of.
Rough rocks would be better than smooth in my mind, if you really want to use rocks as filler.

Steve_S
Member
# Posted: 15 Aug 2016 16:11
Reply 


Sakrete premix is already in correct proportions to do what it is intended to do, mixing it with big rocks will compromise it. You should look up Slipform Masonry which will accommodate larger stones and also let's you build walls.

Ref info:
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SolarHomes/Doug/SlipForm.htm

http://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/stone-masonry-primer-zmaz96djzgoe.aspx

https://canadiandirtbags.wordpress.com/tag/slipform-masonry/ This one shows a nice Slipformed Foundation that will be around for a very very long time.

Topeka
Member
# Posted: 18 Aug 2016 14:55
Reply 


All sound reasonable. Better to avoid risk and use the the crete the way it's made. Thanks.

Topeka
Member
# Posted: 13 Sep 2016 17:21
Reply 


Fishhog, you are so right. I did not know just how cheap concrete is. Now I'm wondering, "pour the whole deck?"

Thanks.

I've got a lot of construction experience, but never put anything together to stand up that wasn't made of kindorf.

Later

creeky
Member
# Posted: 13 Sep 2016 20:28
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Steve that slip form is cool.

Littlecooner
Member
# Posted: 14 Sep 2016 07:29 - Edited by: Littlecooner
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The quotes below I copied from Sakrete's website. For a foundation to a building, this is not where you need to save money. You need to build "bullet proof". Sakrete is mixed correctly to provide the strength advertised and changing the mix does change the strength. I would use the 5000 psi mix in the sonotube myself, very small price difference per bag here at my "big box stores". I would also add a few pieces of rebar ( min of 4) to that tube. They need to have about 2 inches of cover and are there for tension ( wind shear on the building). Besides, a piece of rebar works great for a redneck concrete compactor as you make your pour in the tubes. ( concrete needs compacting to reach the design psi strength). Proper construction techniques are small no cost items that can greatly enhance the final product. Please note, making a really soup like mix by adding a bunch of water to concrete makes a nose dive on final psi once cured. One big reason to get the 5000 psi mix to start with as most people just keep putting in water to make it easy to work, not understanding they are destroying the strength of the product. make it like dough and place it like it is designed and the cabin will not fall one day because you saved $15 on the mix and were so lazy you kept adding water until you could pour it in the tubes.

If you want to use all those round stones, after the piers are formed and cured, any surface visible after construction looks absolute great if you encapsulate them with that stone, laying like brick using mortar mix and take the time to leave no cracks so all you see is stone.





Sakrete manufactures concrete mixes with higher than average compressive strengths. Sakrete Maximizer is a special formulated mix that once cured, provides 5500 psi, and yields 67% more coverage than the standard bagged concrete mixes.

Sakrete 5000 Plus High Strength Concrete Mix offers a psi of 5000 and formulated for applications as thin as 1.5 inches. This material is also our recommended material for concrete countertop application and is endorsed by Cheng Concrete.


- See more at: http://www.sakrete.com/products/High-PSI-Concrete.cfm#sthash.ydUsyK6a.dpuf

Ontario lakeside
Member
# Posted: 14 Sep 2016 09:45
Reply 


Frank Lloyd Wright made slip forming into an art form.

http://www.archdaily.com/123117/ad-classics-taliesin-west-frank-lloyd-wright

tverga
Member
# Posted: 15 Sep 2016 09:34
Reply 


So you save a few bucks on Sakrete now but if it fails in 5-10 years what is the cost to replace? 100x the money you saved.

Collect the rocks and make a wall, a shed, an outdoor fireplace at least it will be above ground and easy to repair.

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