Someone I hired to do my walkway used cement to rentrain the pavers edge, instead of edge restrainters. I found it very strange. I even pointed it out to him. He said it ok. Who am i do defy an experient brazilian mason.The cement is now cracking. My brand new walkway will not make thru the winter. I have already started my complain process.
martin couch's answer is good. Edge Retainer (Curbing) This concrete should have at least one rebar running through the centre of it lengthwise.. Also about every 10 feet (3 metres) should have a stress cut.slot filled with a meterial that will keep expand and compress. These stress cuts control cracking most of the time. This edging will crack; without the stress cuts, it will crack anywhere. With the stress cuts most of the cracking will be at the cuts which will not be noticeable. About every 30 feet (9 metres), instead of a stress cut, the concrete should have a piece of tar impregnated tentest or other material to act a an expansion joint. This helps to prevent buckling when the weather is very hot. Brazilian or not, he should know the proper way to construct curbing. One point to note; if you had this job quoted on (estimates) and hired a contractor with a price much lower than anyone else, you received what you paid for. All quotes should be within approximately 10% of each other as long as you gave each contractor the same specs. An estimate which is 15% or more below the rest is one to defininately one to avoid
Actually, you mean concrete, not cement. Should be fine, it's done all the time. What are the dimensions? He may have mixed the concrete improperly (wrong ratio or too wet). We need more info. about the whole installation-soil, slope, drainage, radius if it's curved, etc.. A photo would be really helpful.
