Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    grj2000's Avatar
    grj2000 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    May 9, 2014, 05:42 PM
    What is the difference between city sidewalk concrete and backyard concrete?
    What is the difference between city sidewalk concrete and backyard concrete?

    The sidewalk concrete is indestructible.

    The junk used for backyards and home walkways if junk that cracks and splays after a year or two. Why?
    Fr_Chuck's Avatar
    Fr_Chuck Posts: 81,301, Reputation: 7692
    Expert
     
    #2

    May 9, 2014, 06:12 PM
    A lot will have to do with the prep work of the ground before you pour. Also, concrete has various tensile strength. The mix of rock and sand, the amount of water. All makes a difference. Also, what reinforcement (often re-bar) is used.

    Following that, is trees near, that will cause root problems.
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
    Uber Member
     
    #3

    May 9, 2014, 07:58 PM
    There is no special certain City Sidewalk concrete or Backyard concrete.

    Concrete comes in various strengths... based on application. Jim-Bob might mix the cheapest stuff he can find in a wheel barrow with too much water slop it in between 2X4's way too thin and without any reinforcement, without properly screeding or floating the concrete, etc, City Sidewalks are usually built by people that actually know what they are doing.

    Learning how to work with concrete correctly takes a lot more time than 5 minutes reading the lable on a sack. IT takes years to be really good at it, if you are taught by people that know what they are doing as well.
    smearcase's Avatar
    smearcase Posts: 2,392, Reputation: 316
    Ultra Member
     
    #4

    May 9, 2014, 08:03 PM
    If you are talking about concrete on private property versus concrete in public rights of way, the difference can be night and day. The backyard concrete may not be any particular design, placed with a high slump (too much water), placed on unstable soil/foundation, not thick enough, allowed to dry out during cure period, etc. Public concrete was probably placed by a contractor or public works crew subject to specifications and inspection. One of the biggest differences in durability is probably the air entrainment usually added to public concrete, which vastly increases the performance in areas subject to freeze/thaw cycles.
    Concrete has high compressive strength and much lower low tensile strength, in comparison, and reinforcing steel is placed in areas where higher tensile stresses are encountered.
    The sidewalk concrete is not indestructible, basically nothing is indestructible. With the correct mix, and the correct additives and design, and good specifications, foundation, and curing, backyard concrete can be superior to sidewalk concrete.

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Problems with New concrete sidewalk [ 5 Answers ]

On 5/15/12 A friend built a frame for my new sidewalk in my front yard with one step at the front door of house. A cement Truck came delivered the cement. The friend smoothed out the cement. He did not use a trowel to smooth out the surface he used a flat peace of wood, when he was done the surface...

Plants that lift concrete sidewalk? [ 1 Answers ]

I have a manila palm tree and I wondering if the roots of this can lift a concrete sidewalk(city & county property)

Cost Per Square Foot to pressure wash concrete sidewalk [ 2 Answers ]

I need to have my driveway and sidewalk cleaned for my company that will be in town in the next few days!

How do you bore under a concrete sidewalk? [ 2 Answers ]

Can someone tell me how to bore underneath a concrete sidewalk? This is a "standard" looking sidewalk, I guess 4" thick and about 30-36" wide. (Yes I forgot to measure) I need to run a 4" black corrugated drain pipe underneath the sidewalk for a gutter downspout runoff. I've heard you bang a...


View more questions Search