
How to Pour a Concrete Sidewalk in NYC
If you have to construct the sidewalks for your house, office, building, or any other property in NYC, you must know all the steps of the entire procedure. This will help you to make sure that the contractors you hired are doing their job properly.
An expert sidewalk repair contractor in New York is equipped with modern tools and equipment. They work on various sidewalk projects every day, so they are fast and efficient. They are equipped with modern tools and a high-grade concrete mixture to help them make perfectly aligned and strong sidewalks.
Steps to Create A Perfect Concrete Sidewalk
Step1: Mark the Boundary
The first step is to make the boundary for your sidewalk using hardboard siding and spray paint or chalk lines. It is important to make reasonable curves on your sidewalks if the path is not straight. The minimum width is 36 inches and can be up to 60 inches.
Step 2: Remove the Obstructions
The path of your sidewalk is cleaned using a shovel from any physical obstructions like plants, shrubs, stones, or overhanging hedges. Manual picking or a broom are used for this purpose.
Step 3: Dig Or Excavate The Soil
A shovel or a hydraulic excavator is used to dig up the soil. The soil must be dug for 6–9 inches in hotter areas if it is very moist. In cold areas, a digging depth of 4 inches is sufficient. Any tree roots that appear in the soil during digging must be removed too.
Step 4: Form the Sides
Thin-plywood, stakes, and screws are used to line the sides of the sidewalks. 4-inch plywood sheets can be installed. This step is important to ensure that the width of the sidewalk stays the same throughout the entire length.
Step 5: Level the Soil
The soil is leveled by compacting it. A rammer is used for this purpose. If not available, the plate compactor can also be used. If the soil is well-compact, it will increase the strength and life of the sidewalk.
Step 6: Install the Steel Mesh
Steel mesh helps to give additional strength to the sidewalks by reducing the cracks. This step involves careful cutting of the mesh. Snips and bolt cutters are useful for cutting the steel easily.
Step 7: Pour the Concrete
The concrete is poured into the prepared land. The concrete mixture must not be too thick or too thin. To get reliable consistency, ready-mix concrete is useful. Its quality and consistency are great to go with.
Step 8: Make the Control Joints
A joint saw or concrete groover is used to cut the control joints. These joints are useful in preventing the expansion of the concrete in hot weather. The joints can be installed about 3–4 times throughout the entire length.
Step 9: Add Final Touches
An edging trowel is used to make smooth edges. An anti-slip trowel and broom are used to make the sidewalks free from slips. Plastic or tarp is used to cover the surface to let it dry and ensure protection from cracks. After 48 hours, the plastic and form are removed.
Conclusion
Even if you have learned the steps of pouring concrete on a sidewalk, you may not have the proper tools and equipment to carry out the process. The choice of materials for sidewalks can also become a problem. Moreover, if any step goes wrong, your sidewalks will not be in the proper shape and size.
But don't be worried. You can get help from us. We have the most expert sidewalk contractors who use quality materials to construct your sidewalks in the shortest amount of time.