Question about pouring a small concrete pad.

[thestrangebrew1]

Do I need to use rebar on a small pad? My pool pump is on a small slab and my sand filter is on another 1. There's about a 2' gap of open dirt between them. I want to fill in that gap, and then extend the pad about 2' and just have 1 pad for both. The equipment is currently exposed so I'll probably put up a fence and a cover of some sort to protect it.

I've never formed a pad before but I know generally you should use rebar, but for something that's maybe going to be 3x4' and 4" thick, is rebar necessary? Thanks.

 

[Tim_Derr]

I would use wire mesh https://www.homedepot.com/p/42-in-x-7-ft-Remesh-Sheet-5901028/206261747 or fiber mesh for a small pad

 

[Rifter]

i would for sure use either wire mesh, or maybe you could get away with fiber reinforced concrete.

 

[Tim_Derr]

i would for sure use either wire mesh, or maybe you could get away with fiber reinforced concrete.

i've never used fiber reinforced concrete but it looks like it would do the job

 

[Billb2]

You're thinking about putting it in. Think about taking it out.
To remove a 2-4" thick pad with rebar in it you'r need a jackhammer and a backhoe.
Frame it up and pour, that's all you need to do.

You could even just buy two premade AC condenser pads and stake them to the ground.

 

[Tim_Derr]

You're thinking about putting it in. Think about taking it out.
To remove a 2-4" thick pad with rebar in it you'r need a jackhammer and a backhoe.
Frame it up and pour, that's all you need to do.

You could even just buy two premade AC condenser pads stake them to the ground.

ur reading comprehension isn't very good

 

[Billb2]

Why?

 

[Tim_Derr]

Why?

[I want to fill in that gap, and then extend the pad about 2' and just have 1 pad for both.

 

[Greenman]

For the six bucks it costs, put in the rebar.

 

[Billb2]

1.) Stop screwing around with halfast repairs and pour the pad you need.
2.) Rebar in a 2" strip of concrete?????

 

[Greenman]

1.) Stop screwing around with halfast repairs and pour the pad you need.
2.) Rebar in a 2" strip of concrete?????

2 feet. It's between two other slabs.

 

[Billb2]

Whatever. Rebar is a waste.
50 years ago my dad put in a slab for a pool in the backyard where we were living. 25 x 25 feet and 12 inches thick with 2 layers of 1/2" rebar. (A cement contractor friend owed him a favor.).

That house has been sold 4 times since then, no one has put up a pool and the slab is still there - to expensive to remove!

 

[thestrangebrew1]

That wire mesh looks good. I think I'll go with that instead. Thanks!

 

[Greenman]

Whatever. Rebar is a waste.
50 years ago my dad put in a slab for a pool in the backyard where we were living. 25 x 25 feet and 12 inches thick with 2 layers of 1/2" rebar. (A cement contractor friend owed him a favor.).

That house has been sold 4 times since then, no one has put up a pool and the slab is still there - to expensive to remove!

The simple reality is that concrete has great compressive strength and poor tensile strength. Steel solves that problem. Steel also prevents differential movement when a slab cracks (and all slabs crack). For the OP it probably doesn't matter as it's a small slab. If I were doing it I'd drill rebar into both existing slabs to tie the whole thing together, but I have equipment that most homeowners have never heard of.
I live in earthquake country and the only concrete that doesn't get rebar is fence posts. We don't use steel mesh either because it always ends up at the bottom of the slab where it does nothing.

The patio you mentioned would be easy to take out with a bobcat and an excavator with a hammer on it. Both of which would be on the job if they were digging a pool. Break it up in an easy day, 7 dump truck loads to the landfill. Probably get it done for under $6k.