Hey everyone! I recently attempted to replace a crumbling outdoor concrete step, only to discover that it was just sitting on dirt without any proper foundation below. I got some materials, including paver stones and rebar mesh, and thought I was all set. However, halfway through my concrete pour, I realized I didn't have enough concrete and had to rush back to the store. When I returned, the first pour was already starting to set and didn't fully cover the rebar. I finished as best I could, but I'm now worried about the quality of this step. What should I expect moving forward, and how could I have handled this situation better?
1 Answer
Don't sweat it too much! Since it's just a step and not an entire structure, the worst-case scenario is that you might need to replace it years down the line. Remember, many concrete jobs are done in stages, which is called a cold pour. Your rebar mesh will help hold things together, and you'll probably just notice a slight color difference when you take off the form. It's a low-stakes issue, so don't worry!
Exactly! It's not a disaster. Just plan better next time. Cold joints like this happen all the time, and as long as the structure isn't significantly compromised, it's usually fine.