OT - Mixing Concrete
Turbo Mini Forums

Morning Chaps,

Right ive all about finished the extension of my garage so ive now got to go about laying down some concrete, theres not a massive amount to do, the bit Im doing will simply have the Orange mini parked on it, and the other will be a bench area, the pre exisiting area will be where I work on the cars.

Now could anyone advise on Mixing and Methods?

Im trying to keep costs low so ill be mixing by hand probably in a wheel barra. To remove the air from the concrete once its laid ill be mouting a sander to a piece of plywood to vibrate it all.

Any advice would be much appreciated..

Ta

Mike

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

Use a shovel, keep turning it over and chopping it up until it is all the same colour and consistency.

I would do it on a flat sheet of something rather than in a barrow. Be uner no illusion its hard work mixing it by hand but it can be done.

If I can save a few quid im not put off by some graft lol.

I can draft in some muscle to help me, what should I be using?

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

I've mixed it on some old hardboard in the past. Might be able to give you a hand if it's at a weekend. It's not hard, just a bit laborious.

Turn all the materials together so they are evenly mixed in a pile. Make a small hole in the middle and put some water in. Cover the water over with the mix and then chop it about with the shovel. Turn it over, until it is fully and evenly mixed in then repeat adding water a bit at a time until it is the right consistency. Easy. The key is getting the mix to be consistently mixed before adding more water and only adding water a bit at a time.

Just make sure your form work is good, then with a mate drag a plank over the top of it as you bang it up and down, you will see all the air come to the top.

Also you can rent a mixer from HSS for £17.25 for the weekend. Thats what i would be doing!

simon.

I have started posting on Instagram also my name on there is turbomk1golf

Nothing is impossible it just costs more and takes longer.

Simon I may just do that.

I was thinking of having a ton of ballast delivered.

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

What part ballast to what part cement do I need?

Isnt it 3 parts ballast 1 part cement?

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

what sort of cash is that mate? and have you priced up ready mixed stuff? as it may work out better.

I have started posting on Instagram also my name on there is turbomk1golf

Nothing is impossible it just costs more and takes longer.

This sounds like a fair area size - do not under-estimate how much work is involved in this.

To get rid of the air, you can simply 'poke' the concrete with a length of wood before final polish.

Having said all that, could be worth finding out how much a local spot mix would charge - they may not be much more than doing it yourself and a hell of a lot quicker

Any Good for you.

General use and foundations.

High Strength Concrete Mix Ratio
•Cement = 1 part.
•Sand = 2 parts.
•Stone or gravel = 3 parts.

This concrete mix ratio will give you high strength concrete plus water tight properties making it great for ponds, and structural uses such as concrete panels and building slabs.

General Use Concrete Mix Ratio
•Cement = 1 part.
•Sand = 2.5 parts.
•Stone or gravel = 3 parts.

This concrete mix ratio will give you concrete that is great for paths, floors, general land scraping, and driveways.

Foundations and large volume Concrete Mix Ratio
•Cement = 1 part.
•Sand = 3 parts.


•Stone or gravel = 5 parts.

Foundations are the main use for this concrete mix ratio where a large amount of concrete is used to fill up strip footings trenches. This concrete mix is used in house foundations, to make solid and stable, when filling from bed rock to ground level.

Mortar Mix Ratio

Mortar is a mix of sand, cement, lime and water. When mixed properly it forms a bond between masonry surfaces such as bricks and concrete blocks of all different sizes.
•Cement (using General purpose cement) = 1 part.
•Sand = 6 parts.
•Lime = 1 part.



Lots of good info on here mate

http://www.renovationrobot.com.au/concrete...ncreteslab.html

Edited by madmk1 on 12th Nov, 2012.

I have started posting on Instagram also my name on there is turbomk1golf

Nothing is impossible it just costs more and takes longer.

hire a mixer there cheap as chips and its still hard graft

as an alternative, what about laying paving slabs? may find some second hand for much cheapness

the cost of having it delivered and barrowed in will probibly equal the cost of raw materials, hire of the mixer and the effort to mix it.

Buy it in and let them barrow it ito the hole. Just make sure you have everything ready beforehand, and the forms if any are sturday and level.

I priced up having stuff delivered, renting mixer and grafting when I did down the side of the house.

In the end we had mix on site truck and had it down and done in 25 minutes. I took 3 days before I could walk again though!

I agree with sprocket. I am a landscaper and use readymix where possible,
I cubic metre of concrete contains around 2 ton ballast 16 bags of cement so will cost around £100 so you will be mixing it and saving zero i am afraid.
If you are driving a car on it i would ask for a paving mix.
If you still mix yourself you may wish to fit steel re-enforcing mesh or alternatively buy a bag of fibres to add to the mix to stop any cracking.
Make sure the area you are laying on is firm and not soft, we would always dig out on compact m.o.t. type 1 stone first to a depth of 120mm below the concrete but we have to guarantee our work. Hope this is of some help. Definately a no go mixing by hand the mix will not be as consistant as it is diferent batches and no two shovel full is the same. It will cost you more money, If its too wet it may shrink and crack.
Hope this helps Steve

Patina=old and knackered and won't clean up

Having it delivered is slightly out of the question as i have no where for all the gear in my garage so im having to work around it all as i go. So i doubt anyone is gunna want to do that except me.

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RLBHO9BU2eQ

Can it be more easy?, sweadish laguage...

Less then 8", is too small...

+ another for hiring a mixer, we extended the concrete in our garage and borrowed a mixer, aquired lots of aggregate and sand mix and bought the cement. I t was a lot of work! Dont forget it may be worthwhile putting in some sort of damp proofing in while your at it, we did it ghetto style using shrink wrap pallet wrapping and its definitely drier on the new side of the garage.

Edited by Richspec on 12th Nov, 2012.

Here for the craic..

Supercharged Arden powered

Good find Andy. Wonder if they would do a TM discount?

I had that thing in the boot of the focus rolling around, it kept hitting the ole ole ole button randomly!!!

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/