I am putting in a stamped concrete patio, and I want to build an outdoor kitchen/bar on it. The kitchen would have about 30 square feet of countertop/bar space, and would be frame construction with granite tile countertop, stucco or stone veneer sides, maybe a cedar pergola over it, and a built in grill - to give you a rough idea of the weight.
This is to be built at the edge of the stamped concrete patio, where the slab meets the timber retaining wall (about 18" above the lower grade, if it matters) and the slab will butt up against the timbers and be flush with the top of them. Currently, it is going to be a 4" slab, 3/8" rebar on 24" centers in both directions, 3/4" aggregate and fibermesh in the mix. Will this be strong enough, or should I thicken the edge of the slab? Thanks! Nick
Knowing your location, climate and soil type would help with your answers. In AZ a lot of the soil is as good as a gravel bed for supporting a slab. If the ground doesn't freeze the 4" slab will be good for the light loading you're thinking of. These conditions will also set the kind and spacing of control joints as well. How big is this patio slab? If you have a control joint that is just in front and parallel to the counter, you will avoid the efrfect of the extra weight in that area of the slab. Any relative movement due to the weight will be restricted to the part of the slab under the counter.
JdN
Posts: 7400 | Location: Elkader, IA, USA | Registered: Mar 07, 2004
