How to Mix Concrete – Step by Step DIY Guide

There are many great projects a DIY person can do without the assistance of professionals. Some examples include the following:


* Making your own decorative concrete patio
* Pouring supports for fencing
* Pouring steps
* pouring small slabs for sheds
* Making your own decorative pathway stones
* Pouring a small sidewalk
* Making cement ponds
* Pouring your own support columns for a porch

concrete-patio Image credits: Concrete Network

The list can go on and on. You are only limited by the scope of your imagination. Keep in mind that concrete can also be colored, so decorative work can be done even from a plain concrete.

Origins of Concrete

Dating back to the time of Ancient Egyptians, cement (one of the parts comprising concrete) was used in structural formation and as a binder for stone. The Egyptians used a limestone cement and it worked well, but it took weeks to cure properly.

Although concrete has been in existence for a long time, its widespread usage did not really gain popularity until the time of the Roman Empire. The Romans created a blend of cement that rivals what we use today. If you look at the ancient buildings structures, many are still preserved in a wonderful shape, which is more than 2000 years after their construction.

The aqueducts, the Parthenon, and many other ancient buildings were made in whole or in part with the use concrete. Unfortunately, shortly after the fall of the Roman Empire, the formula for cement was lost, and was not until 1824, when Joseph Aspdin created what is now known as Portland cement. Today, concrete is used more than any other man-made building material in the world.

Concrete Mixing Tips and Good to Know Facts:

Concrete is not flexible, therefore it has zero tensile strength. When it comes to impact or load weight, concrete is very strong. In order to strengthen concrete, a material known as a re-bar can be used. Re-bar can be made of steel rods, or a steel mesh, which when properly set in concrete, gives it a much added strength to a project such as a sidewalk, pouring of a concrete slab, or a support column.

Concrete is a somewhat porous material, so it is recommended to apply a concrete sealer after a full cure (about 3 days) for a longer project lifespan. When pouring a sidewalk, or slab, it is important to cut in expansion joints. This gives room for the concrete to expand and shrink without cracking. Expansion joints can be added once the material is slightly firm. You can use a thin straight edged piece of metal, or wait until the cure, and then use a tile saw.

Preparing a strong foundation for a concrete pour:

When laying a slab, sidewalk, or a concrete step, make sure you prepare the location in order to provide a firm foundation for the concrete. Dig down about 6 inches deep, and lay a layer of about 2-3 inches of crushed stone in the bed. Then pack it down as firmly as possible. You can tamp it, or rent a roller to assist you in this process, or if you have enough room, you can actually drive your car’s tires over it.

Concrete Mixing and Pouring Project – Proper Planning and Preparation Tips:

The bigger the project, the more help you should have. You cannot delay the curing process of the concrete, so once it sets, you are all done. A good rule of thumb is to have one extra person for every five bags of concrete you plan to mix.

To give you an idea of how far an 80 pound bag of concrete would go, a one yard of concrete is approximately 48 bags of cement. This can provide enough concrete mixture to cover a sidewalk that is 21 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 4 inches deep.

Concrete Mixture Area Coverage and Prices:

As you can see, 1 bag does not go very far, and it is a lot of hard work mixing that much. Many concrete companies require a 2 yard minimum for delivery, and concrete mixture prices will range based on your location, but a ballpark price is $400.00 for 2 yards of concrete delivered.

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