Transporting/moving a concrete tub deck

[live4ever]

As part of our ongoing and perpetual bathroom remodel, the wife and I poured a concrete tub deck.  It's down in the garage curing at the moment, but I'm planning how we're going to move it around for polishing and then eventually get it upstairs and installed without it breaking.  The arms are about 54" long and 6" wide, and the concrete is 1-3/8" thick.  The front is 4" wide, and the back is a seat that is about 16".  Overall dimensions are ~3'x6'.  It weighs about 175 lbs, which could be worse, but it's no joke. 

I assume it should be carried vertically so as to minimize flex, like a stone slab.  This is "high-performance" concrete (reinforced with fibers, low water content, etc.) so theoretically a good bit stronger than your average bag mix, but I still don't want to take any chances.

I was thinking of placing wood cross-supports (capped with foam at the ends) in the cutout to support the top arm while being carried.  Just looking for thoughts/tips...

 

[andyman]

take the roof off remove the floor & hire a crane [big grin]

 

[rdesigns]

As part of our ongoing and perpetual bathroom remodel, the wife and I poured a concrete tub deck.  It's down in the garage curing at the moment, but I'm planning how we're going to move it around for polishing and then eventually get it upstairs and installed without it breaking.  The arms are about 54" long and 6" wide, and the concrete is 1-3/8" thick.  The front is 4" wide, and the back is a seat that is about 16".  Overall dimensions are ~3'x6'.  It weighs about 175 lbs, which could be worse, but it's no joke. 

I assume it should be carried vertically so as to minimize flex, like a stone slab.  This is "high-performance" concrete (reinforced with fibers, low water content, etc.) so theoretically a good bit stronger than your average bag mix, but I still don't want to take any chances.

I was thinking of placing wood cross-supports (capped with foam at the ends) in the cutout to support the top arm while being carried.  Just looking for thoughts/tips...

Take this in the spirit of "nothing-is-impossible-to-the-man-who-doesn't-have-to-do-it-himself," but I think that if you provide some decent handholds, a couple of reasonably strong men ought to be able to carry it upstairs without much trouble. 175# isn't all that heavy compared to the many cast-iron bathtubs (300#) that I and one helper used to carry upstairs to 2nd floor bathrooms on a routine basis.

 

[duburban]

As part of our ongoing and perpetual bathroom remodel, the wife and I poured a concrete tub deck.  It's down in the garage curing at the moment, but I'm planning how we're going to move it around for polishing and then eventually get it upstairs and installed without it breaking.  The arms are about 54" long and 6" wide, and the concrete is 1-3/8" thick.  The front is 4" wide, and the back is a seat that is about 16".  Overall dimensions are ~3'x6'.  It weighs about 175 lbs, which could be worse, but it's no joke. 

I assume it should be carried vertically so as to minimize flex, like a stone slab.  This is "high-performance" concrete (reinforced with fibers, low water content, etc.) so theoretically a good bit stronger than your average bag mix, but I still don't want to take any chances.

I was thinking of placing wood cross-supports (capped with foam at the ends) in the cutout to support the top arm while being carried.  Just looking for thoughts/tips...

just do it, talk to me when your looking at a 2" thick 4'x12'

 

[ccmviking]

To keep it from breaking while moving it clamp some lumber to the concrete that will act as splints/supports.  To get it up stairs you should try those forearm forklifts.

Chris...

 

[Vi_k]

take the roof off remove the floor & hire a crane [big grin]

+1  [big grin]

 

[Tinker]

Build a new tub room at ground level and just slide it over.
[wink]
Tinker

 

[live4ever]

Thanks guys.  Yeah, it's not the total weight I was concerned with, just want to make sure not to stress/flex it too much, which would ruin hours and hours of work.  The clamped 2x4s was a "duh!" moment, thanks Chris.

Currently have it on dollies to move it about the garage during the polishing process (needs to be mobile bc wife insists on garage parking!).   

 

[Alan m]

how are you polishing the concrete.
im sure we would all love to see that.
is it special concrete. special agrigate etc

 

[live4ever]

how are you polishing the concrete.
im sure we would all love to see that.
is it special concrete. special agrigate etc

Heya Alan,

I thought long and hard about using my various Festools to accomplish the polishing, but then just bit the bullet and got the Makita 4" wet polisher.  I have a RAS and could have used that, though didn't want to polish wet with it. 

There are many suppliers of concrete additives/plasticizers etc. and I went with Blue Concrete's system.  I used pea gravel and two types of sand for the aggregates, though don't intend to expose any.  Reinforcement is in the form of PVA fibers only (no rebar or mesh).  I'll post some pics of the polishing steps.  I had a bit more pin-holing than I'd like out of the mold - probably due to insufficient vibration and that the mix was pretty dry.  So filling with a slurry now then will move to polishing.

I'm now building the mold for the matching vanity top.  I'm going to try to spray the topcoat this time and then handpack the rest, a la Buddy Rhodes' article in FHB.  Overall it's a fun process for sure...but would love this damn bathroom to be done!

 

[Tinker]

Never having used the fiber reinforced concrete (it was only just starting to be used for tilt ups and heavy use floors when i was getting out of the masonry and concrete business) my first inclination as I read your post, was it would be risky to pick it up with no wire or rods reinforcing.  I do remember that the fibers ad a lot of strength for such purposes as you are using.  I have no knowledge first hand about such concrete and would hope we hear from you after you have it in place.

After my first post a day or two ago, I also got to wondering about the fibers, especially any that might be exposed.  With cement past supporting errant fibers, those fibers might well become miniature (almost microscopic) daggers. Especially at the corners.  I think it would be wise to wear heavy gloves while moving.  Again, i am not 100% sure of what I am saying.  just something to be aware of as a possibility.
Tinker