The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-12-27
CEMENT SIDEWALKS.

One of the most common and import
and uses of Portland cement is III the
construction OF sidewalks. An article
in the current Record and Guide gives
some valuable Information as to their
proper construction. 1t says:
'If the soil is sandy, and the under
living strata is porous to allow good
drainage, no prepared foundation is re-
ouired, as the walk could be made di-
rectly upon the sand in shallow trench
sufficiently deep enough below the
grade line. Should the sandy land lack
the necessary drainage owing to clay
subsoil. or if the land is clay, there
must be a foundation prepared of con-
siderable thickness. The sole purpose
of this prepared foundation is to pro
vide drainage so that ice and water will
not cause the walk to crack and other
wise get out of order. An excavation
of at least u inches from the grade
line on the top of the wearing surface
should be made Into this shallow
trench broken stone, gravel, clnders, or
even well-broken brick and tile, should
be placed and thoroughly packed down
to the thickness of eight inches and
leveled to make the course uniform
and to conform with the grade, Upon
this concrete for the body OF the walk
is applied.
"Various experienced builders use
somewhat different mixtures, but one
will meet most satisfactory results If
the concrete for the body is composed
of one part Portland cement, PIP parts
clean sand, five parts gravel or broken
stone, the broken stone being small
enough to pass through one-lnch mesh
sieve. The cement and sand should be
mixed together dry and most thorough
ly. The fine stone should be dampened
SO every part of surface is Wet-When
the cement and sand as mixed should
be added and all thoroughly stirred with
water being applied until a goott~ wet
mixture is obtained. Care should be
exercised that the mixing is complete
not partial.
s'The concrete placed upon the foun-
dation should be well rammed into
place and so wet that when compacted
a film of water shows on top, and tight
ly against tho planks which should De
placed at the sides and on line with the
ton of the walk at the beginning.
When properly packed it should be cut
into slabs about four feet square, the
cuts being made through to the under
living material. Retamping should un-
der no circumstances be allowed. The
top coat should be one inch thick, float
ell and travelled smooth.
sToo much trowelling is bad, as 1t
brings the cement to the surface, caus-
ing cracking and scaling by making one
part too rich, another lacking in rich
ness. The joints and edges should be
run smooth by use of a jointing tool,
'sThe surface should then be cut into
slabs The size of and to correspond with
those of the base, so that settling OF
the ground or changes by freezing and
thaWing will not crack the concrete.
After it is travelled smooth level with
the top of the grade. L is best to crease
the surface by means of passing over 1t
some form of light roller made for the
purpose. A perfectly smooth surface
causes the walk to be slippery IN wet
and freezing weather. 1t is popular TO
sprinkle marble dust upon the surface,
which adds greatly to the appearance.
Avoid sprinkling dry cement upon the
top. An important element>in secur-
ing the best results is keeping the new
| walk wet for some time after compile
ton.