Week 10 (15-19 Dec 14) Slab Cure, First Cut polish

After the slab was poured, it needed to cure for one week before the concrete polishers could do the first cut.  The process took three days and produced approximately 2 tons of concrete dust, of a similar consistency to flour.

We are using Revolution Concrete Polishing (http://www.revolutioncgp.com.au/)

The construction joint between the two slabs is designed to allow movement between the two slabs.  It is working as designed with a difference of approximately 3mm between morning and afternoon. The gap is visible as a dark line directly below the coin.

With the run up to Christmas the country is slowing down for a two week break.  As such work is grinding to a halt on site.  We were able to get the slab down for the garden shed and 45,000 litre water tank at the back of the block.

Week 9 (8-12 Dec 2014) Concrete Slab Pour

The weather has not been helpful over the weekend and meant that the we were unable to get the slab ready for pouring on Tuesday. However, we were good to pour on Wednesday.

The floor box for a power point in the lounge was mounted so it was flush with the surface of the slab.  A hole was dug under the location and the XPS foam formed a continuous layer of insulation around the box. 

Spare FRP dowels were hammered through the XPS insulation into firm ground.  The dowels provide a solid base with little thermal bridging.

Additional temperature sensors were added directly above the previous sensors mounted at the base of the piers.  This will allow a measurement the difference between both sides (above and below) of the XPS

Wet area earth bond and Kordon termite barrier

The first slab ready to pour

A small rain shower arrives after the slab screeded.  Fortunately, it was only a small shower and did not cause any damage.

The next day the slab had cured enough to setup the other pours.  The formwork was removed from the construction joints and Intello membrane taped to the previously poured slab. This is to provide an airtight barrier when the join expands and contracts.

A pocket of intello is left to allow movement after the second slab is cured.

In the areas where the garage slab sits on the main slab, there is 20mm polypropylene packers to provide a thermal break as the garage slab is outside the thermal envelope and not insulated.  Also, more of the FRP dowels are used to reduce bridges.  The packers have an approximate R value of 0.7.

Pouring garage slab.