[TowerTalk] Aggregate concrete for tower foundation?

[Andreas Hofmann]

Thanks. Yes, professional is doing the work. I was just concerned about the strength of the concrete. Contractor assured me it is stronger, 4000 psi. The tower is not going anywhere, specs ask for 2500 minimum :)

Thanks everyone for the quick responses.

Andreas

Sent from my Windows Phone
________________________________
From: George Dubovsky
Sent: 7/12/2012 4:27 PM
To: Andreas Hofmann
Cc: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Aggregate concrete for tower foundation?

All concrete has aggregate composition - gravel, sand and concrete. The gravel can be crushed stone or rounded stone, and the "aggregate finish" refers to how the top surface is finished. If you want exposed aggregate, you would want to pick a stone that's attractive when exposed. Usually, you pour the concrete, get the voids out (vibrator, etc), and then finish the top surface as a final step, whether its hard troweling for a slick finish, brush finish (broom finish) for a rougher finish, or you "wash" the top surface to expose the gravel for the decorative aggregate finish. The strength of the concrete is based on the ratio of the ingredients (and that's part of the initial order), not on the finish of the top surface.

Having done all three finshes (and I'm a rank amateur at all of them), the aggregate finish is best left to the real pros if a large area is involved.

73,

geo - n4ua

On Thu, Jul 12, 2012 at 7:05 PM, Andreas Hofmann <Andreas.Hofmann at microsoft.com<mailto:Andreas.Hofmann at microsoft.com>> wrote:
I got a tower foundation planned and dug up. Plan was to use normal concrete (3500psi) that I would at the same time use for a broom-finish patio at the same time.  Now wife things she would like aggregate instead.

Can I use aggregate concrete for a tower foundation? Will it be strong enough?

Thanks
Andreas, KU7T
_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk at contesting.com<mailto:TowerTalk at contesting.com>
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk