How do you set rebar in a sonotube?
How To Set Vertical Rebar in Footings When setting vertical rebar in a sonotube, use a plastic spacer in the center of the sonotube on the bottom. Place the sonotube over the plastic spacer, then insert the rebar on top of the spacer. Once done, you can use rebar wire and punch small holes through the sonotube on top to hold the rebar centered.
How do you use a sonotube to pour concrete?
This process is fairly easy and can be done when the tube is three-quarters full of concrete. Simply push the rebar into the wet concrete until it reaches resistance at the column’s base. Sonotubes are a great tool to have on the job site, especially when it comes time to pour concrete into a column.
Will my sonotube stay in place?
However, if you are using an in-ground footing, your tube should sit evenly on top of it. In theory, your Sonotube should stay in place on its own. However, you may find it necessary to add some wood supports to prevent it from moving about throughout the process.
Do you need a spacer for a sonotube rod?
For sonotubes, you’ll only be placing one stick of rebar unless you want to over-engineer. In that case, you’ll need a spacer beneath to keep the bottom 3” from the ground and a spacer sitting on top to keep the rod centered. A piece of wood fastened to something outside the tube will suffice.
Do you need rebar for sonotube?
We usually recommend that a minimum of two pieces of #4 rebar be placed vertically in an 8-inch-diameter concrete pier supporting a structure. A larger-diameter pier should have four or more pieces of vertical rebar.
How do you secure a sonotube?
Place: Dig a hole to the desired depth. Place the tube in the hole, filling around the outside to secure. If the tube extends more than 2 feet above the ground line, provide additional support with a collar or wooden frame and side braces.
Do you leave sonotube in ground?
Absolutely NOT! Sonotubes are not designed to withstand the pressure and weight of collapsing soil and should never be used in this manner.
How deep should Sonotubes be?
Dig down to the frost line before pouring the concrete. Frost lines vary depending on your region. Start by assuming you want a 10-inch diameter Sonotube that is about 3 feet deep.
Do I need to put rebar in deck footings?
Plain concrete deck foundations without rebar are acceptable under the minimum standards of construction established in the International Residential Code. However, placing reinforcing steel within footings is a relatively easy and inexpensive practice that can provide increased performance.
Can you backfill Sonotubes before pouring concrete?
You can, as you pour your concrete, fill the hole to sonotube level, and add sand or gravel around the outside of the sonotube as you fill it with concrete, that'll keep it from flowing up around the tube.
How long does sonotube last in the ground?
Sonotube commercial concrete forms can withstand rain for up to 72 hours.
How do you waterproof a sonotube?
Just hit it with some fast dry spray paint. Multiple light coats with half an hour between to dry. Common Sonotube varieties come these days with a waterproof quick-release coating on the inside. It will prevent paint or resin from absorbing, but the paint or resin might not stick well.
How many 80lb bags of concrete does it take to fill a 12 sonotube?
You will need approximately either 1 1/2 of 80lb (pound) or 2 of 60lb (pound) bags or 0.785 cubic feet of concrete to fill a 12 inch wide Sonotube per foot deep. So, for 3 feet deep, 4 bags of 80lb or 5 1/2 bags of 60lb or 2.35 cubic feet of concrete will be needed.
Can Sonotubes get rained on?
Rain resistance The new paper's attributes allowed Sonoco to reduce the weight of the forms, making them easier to handle, set, strip and discard. And now with RainGuardTM paper technology,* Sonotube forms stand strong even in wet weather. Set today and pour tomorrow.
What can I use instead of Sonotubes?
screw pilesPro Post Foundations screw piles in return, should be considered as your best alternative to concrete sonotubes.
How long does it take for sonotube cement to dry?
Recommended time for the easiest and fastest stripping is 24 to 48 hours after the pour. Sonotube concrete forms should not be left on the column for more than five days.
How far is sonotube above ground?
Sonotube Builder's Tube concrete forms are built strong to withstand the heavy pressure of wet concrete. Builder's tubes are designed for below-grade use, but may be poured to three feet above the ground line. They are not designed to be stripped. No bracing is needed unless used two feet above ground line.
How many 80lb bags of concrete does it take to fill a 12 sonotube?
You will need approximately either 1 1/2 of 80lb (pound) or 2 of 60lb (pound) bags or 0.785 cubic feet of concrete to fill a 12 inch wide Sonotube per foot deep. So, for 3 feet deep, 4 bags of 80lb or 5 1/2 bags of 60lb or 2.35 cubic feet of concrete will be needed.
How do you set up deck Sonotubes?
1:082:26How to Build Deck Footings with QUIKRETE® - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPlace the quick tube into the hole. And level the form it is best to use the uncut end of the tubeMorePlace the quick tube into the hole. And level the form it is best to use the uncut end of the tube for the top of the footing if possible decks.
How much weight can a concrete pier hold?
The number and size of the piers depends on how much weight the underlying soil can hold. The standard design load in the International Residential Code assumes a 40-pound live load; dead load is commonly calculated at between 10 and 15 pounds per square foot, depending on the materials used for construction.
How to place a sonotube?
This can be done by lifting and placing your chosen tube in the hole so that it is centered relative to each wall.
What are some alternatives to sonotubes?
Sonotube Alternatives: Wooden Boxes and Screw Piles. As previously described, there are some alternatives to using Sonotubes. The first among these is also the traditional method of creating concrete columns, which is to say, using a wood mold.
What Are Sonotubes and What Sizes Do They Come In?
Let’s start with the basics so that you can begin to fully understand Sonotubes.
What is Sonotube mold?
A Sonotube takes the labor-intensive process of creating a column mold and simplifies it. All you have to do is position it, fill it, and remove it. With that kind of ease of use, it’s no wonder why these tubes are used by DIYers and professional contractors alike.
Why are sonotubes so popular?
Given the simplicity with which they can be set up and removed, Sonotubes (and similar products from other brands) have become favored on jobsites around the world. Because of their wide-scale utilization, Sonotubes have begun to come in a variety of sizes.
How to find the volume of a sonotube?
To find the volume of your Sonotube, start by measuring its radius. This can be done by measuring the distance from the tube’s center to one of its edges.
Can you use Sonotube on in ground footing?
However, if you are using an in-ground footing, your tube should sit evenly on top of it.
How long does it take for a sonotube to pour?
If ground water seeps into the hole that you intend to install a Sonotube, or if the soil is saturated, we recommend the use of our Sonotube Commercial form, completely sealing the bottom edge of the tube with duct tape, and completing the concrete pour no more than 4 hours after exposure to water.
What size sonotube do I need for a 4x4 fence?
What size Sonotube do I need for a 4x4” fence post? The rule-of-thumb is to use a tube diameter 3 times the post width, therefore use a 12” diameter Sonotube for a 4x4” post.
How far should you vibrate concrete?
You may then re-vibrate the top 1-2 feet of concrete to avoid a cold joint before continuing to pour. Once you begin your pour again, DO NOT run the vibrator past the joint, and preferably not closer than 2 feet from the joint. You should not pour more than 6 to 8 feet per hour above the joint once you resume pouring.
How to wrap a column?
Wrap the first tube around the column, then wrap the second tube around the first tube with the slit on the opposite side of slit on the inside tube (180 degrees apart). Make sure the slit on the inside tube is closed tight, then screw the two tubes together.
What is Rebar?
Rebar is short for “reinforcing bar”. Rebar is most commonly found as either a steel bar or steel mesh inserted into concrete to increase its tensile strength. This steel gets the name “reinforcing” when used in conjunction with concrete to reduce cracking and movement.
What is rebar used for?
There are many different types of rebar, and you can find many different shapes and forms to accommodate various types of concrete forms. Rebar shaped like hooks or stirrups is often used in different types of footings. Steel mesh is a different version of rebar that resembles a fence and reinforces concrete flooring.
Is Rebar Needed in Deck Piers?
Rebar is mandated in deck piers only in some jurisdictions. The common minimum diameter for deck piers is 12”, but only some localities require #3 – or 10mm in Canada – rebar in the center of the pier, no closer than 1 ½” from the surface on either end.
What Size Rebar for Footings?
For most house and garage footings, #4 rebar – or ½” diameter – is used. Larger is acceptable, too, although adjustments may be needed to ensure proper coverage is still achieved. If you live in Canada, then this is about #13 rebar – 13mm.
How many courses of rebar are there in a footing?
Footings that are poured below grade, with masonry walls on top, will typically have two courses of horizontal #4 rebar, one 3” from the top and the other 3” from the bottom. Any closer to the edge is not allowed. Use of plastic or concrete spacers is allowed to keep rebar off the ground when pouring.
When to use rebar in concrete?
Use rebar in concrete when you are pouring a footing for a home or garage and in concrete slabs that will support a home, shed, garage, or another outbuilding, you’d like to remain structurally sound. Rebar reinforcement in concrete piles holding up decks and other similar structures is also a good idea.
How far should a 4 bar be from the bottom of a footing?
If your footing has a concrete or masonry wall on top of it, then you’ll need a horizontal #4 bar within 12” of the top of the wall and a #4 bar no closer than 3” from the bottom of the footing. This bar will be hooked, with the hooked end protruding into the footing at the bottom. #4 bars should be placed vertically at 48” on center or less and should be at least 18” up into the wall.
Deck supplies
We ordered all our deck material from Morrisburg Building Centre and had it delivered on April 7. That weekend we went ahead and officially started building by starting with the concrete deck footings and sonotubes.
1. Dig the holes
Depending on your type of soil, there are several different options for digging your holes. You can use a post hole auger, which is probably the easiest if you have sandy soil. Our soil has a lot of rocks in it and the post hole auger wouldn’t have worked very well.
2. Frame the footings
On Saturday we built 2′ x 2′ frames for the footings using 2″ x 6″ pressure treated lumber. The holes had to be a little over 4 feet deep to make sure that no frost could get under the footings. We had to place the footings exactly centred where the 6 deck posts would go, and make sure they were perfectly level.
3. Pour the footings and add rebar
We also ordered the portland cement from Morrisburg Building Centre, and a load of gravel delivered for the concrete. Doing a big project likes this during a pandemic can make tool rental a little more difficult. Instead of renting a concrete mixer for this project, we were able to find a used mixed that we bought.
4. Pour the sonotubes
The next day once the footings were mostly dry, we put the cardboard sonotubes over the rebar, centred them in the footings and under the string lines, and made sure they were level. Then we also braced them in both directions using 2″ x 4″s. Then we mixed up the concrete and shoveled it into the sonotubes.
5. Backfill the sonotubes
After letting the concrete cure for about a day, Tony backfilled them using the mini excavator.