The concrete used for piers must be of high quality, but not too wide. A concrete pier is also mostly made up of layers of concrete and resin, which work together to create the intended structure.When thinking about how to choose the best concrete material for your pier project, you should make sure that it has been approved by the ASTM standards. Most often, these materials are made to withstand wet conditions and various weather elements rather than heat rays or earthquakes.
Concrete for piers are available in different colors and shapes. You can choose from a wide range of concrete formwork products and services depending on your project requirements. Meet with one or more of our experienced concrete professionals to learn the best techniques and detail on how to install concrete piers
The most effective concrete for piers is a mixture of portland cement and lime. Portland Cement is the basic ingredient of any concrete. When applied to a firm slab, it sets up as a solid matrix that binds together sand and stone or aggregate particles. Lime adds its characteristic alkaline characteristics which increase the strength and durability of concrete, with effect after effect. Lime is desiccated organic matter that has been heated at 500-800 degrees Celsius until its moisture content falls below 5% (as in dry concrete). Modern building materials such as Portland cement are made by heating limestone (magnesium silicate) with surface area and acidity. Lime combines readily with water to form hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2), but reacts slowly with air to form calcium dioxide.
The key to a strong foundation is a good concrete mix. The type of concrete you use for your piers will depend on the type of building you’re trying to build, as well as local code requirements. The following discussion highlights some common questions about choosing the right concrete for your piers.
concrete reinforcing fibers
Reinforcing fibers are made of glass and are added to concrete mixes to make them stronger. They are used in concrete piers, slabs and footings. The use of reinforcing fiber can reduce the amount of steel needed for the same strength.
rebar spacing in concrete piers
If you’re building a concrete pier, it’s important to pay attention to the spacing of the rebar. The strength of your concrete will depend on how closely you place your rebar, so it’s important that you follow these guidelines:
- For piers less than six feet tall, use ¼” rebar spacing.
- For piers between seven and fifteen feet tall (up to six inches in diameter), use ⅜” rebar spacing.
- For piers taller than sixteen feet (more than six inches in diameter), use ½” rebar spacing.
pier and beam vs continuous footing
Pier and beam construction is a more expensive option than continuous footing. Pier and beam construction allows for more flexibility in positioning of the foundation, so it can be used in situations where a property has a slope or changes in elevation. The pier-and-beam method also works well for long span foundations such as bridges or other ambitious building projects.
Concrete piers are much more rigid than concrete slabs because they are not subject to as much movement from seasonal changes in temperature and moisture content like continuous footings are. Piers have higher bearing capacity than slabs because they distribute the weight over a larger surface area, which reduces their bending moment (the amount of force required to bend something).
best concrete for concrete slab
You will have to choose a concrete mix that has the following:
- A high compressive strength. This is the amount of pressure that can be applied to a sample before it breaks apart. If you use an extremely weak mix, then your piers may not be able to support your pier caps or other structures built on top of them. It’s worth noting that there are different methods for calculating this value than the method used by most manufacturers. You should consult with an engineer or contractor so they can help you choose a mix based on their experience with various projects in your area and any unique conditions at your site such as groundwater levels and depth of frost penetration into soil beds where concrete slabs might rest against walls, etc., which could affect strength performance over time due to vibration forces caused by traffic/footfalls above ground level after construction has been completed (stressing forces).
- A high modulus of rupture (MOR). This is essentially about how much force it takes before cracks start forming at certain depths within these materials; if these cracks get too large then they may cause structural failure during earthquakes or other natural disasters like hurricanes where winds would blow through doors opening up inside houses made out wood frames while driving rainwater underneath their foundations onto water table levels below ground level causing flooding damage underneath those homes near riversides where riverbanks overflow their banks destroying homes built along those banks duely constructed overtop dirt floors instead expecting regular maintenance throughout their lives because contractors don’t want liability issues so they go cheap when building new ones hoping nobody notices until after everything’s been moved into place.
post footings depth
Post footings are used to support a post that’s attached to the ground. The depth of post footings depends on a few things: whether the footing is driven into dirt, sod, or concrete; what type of wood you are using (2×6 or 2×8); and what climate zone you live in.
To determine how deep your post footings should be, use the table above as a guide. For example, if you live in Zone 7b and have an 8″ diameter X 6′ tall pressure treated lumber stake going into good soil (i.e., not over clay) with no frost line issues then according to this chart your stake will need at least 3/4″ (0.75″) of concrete below it for stability.
using the right type of concrete for your piers will help them last longer
The type of concrete you use is important. It should be reinforced with rebar, spaced at least 24 inches apart, a minimum of 16 inches deep, and 6 inches thick (poured in one pour).
If you don’t follow these guidelines your piers will likely not last as long or could even fail prematurely.
Final words
Concrete is an amazing material that can be used in a variety of ways. It is durable, easy to work with and relatively cheap to buy. It can also be used as a foundation for your home or business building. If you plan on using concrete piers as part of your construction project then it’s important that you choose the right type of concrete for these supports.
