Concrete Garden Path

SeanoChuinn

Hello all, was hoping to pour a simple concrete garden path, no real heavy traffic other than footfall and a few wheels barrows! I had 2 questions floating around in my brain and was looking for some advice on.

1. We poured a large yard with a coloured and mat stamped finish last year and I'd like to finish this path the same. The concrete guy threw in the dye for the yard pour as it was a couple of full loads. Their unlikely to throw a dye in this time as it cubing out at only 4.5 meters. Anyway, the question - could I trowel in a dye by hand to the surface and then throw the release agent on when it's ready to stamp or would that not be recommended?
   
2. Was thinking 70mm would be enough for a path of this type. There is already a stone path there which will need to be reduced down to allow for 70mm but it would basically then be sitting on top of top soil with something between 60-80mm at best of 804. Would I be smart to put a bit of light gauge steel in it, might save cracking later?

Thanks everyone.

deandean

I'd go for 100mm thick, with two lengths of the smallest (6mm?) re bar laid in.

For the colouring - it really needs to be mixed into the concrete. Maybe you could mix on-site enough coloured concrete for the top 20mm?