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Can you do concrete yourself?
For most do-it-yourselfers, the best material for building a concrete slab is a ready-mix crack-resistant concrete product. The wet mix is poured into a prepared wood form, then left to cure. Two people will mix the concrete in the wheelbarrow, while the third person spreads out the mixed concrete in the form.
Is concrete hard to do yourself?
On a small scale, concrete is fairly easy to work with, but installing an entire patio can be a challenge. It is possible to build an attractive concrete patio yourself, but careful planning and preparation is necessary. Once concrete is in place, you’re stuck with it forever; replacement is costly and difficult.
Can you pour concrete directly on dirt?
Long story short, yes you can pour concrete over dirt.
How much does a 12×12 concrete slab cost?
How much does a 12×12 concrete slab cost? The average cost to pour a 12×12 concrete slab that is 4” thick is between $888 and $1,584, with professional labor and materials included.
What is the mix for a concrete floor?
A concrete mix of 1 part cement : 2 parts sand : 4 parts coarse aggregate should be used for a concrete slab.
How thick does a concrete floor need to be?
Standard concrete floor slab thickness in residential construction is 4 inches. Five to six inches is recommended if the concrete will receive occasional heavy loads, such as motor homes or garbage trucks.
Are concrete floors cheaper than wood?
Yes, concrete floors are generally more affordable than hardwood floors. Generally, a concrete floor costs between $2 and $15 per square foot, while hardwood floors cost between $12 and $20 per square foot, according to Floor Critics.
Is it cheaper to pour concrete yourself?
Whether you’re pouring concrete countertops or a patio out back, it may be cheaper to pour concrete yourself rather than hiring someone. The materials needed to pour concrete yourself cost about $1.76 per square foot, based on data from Porch.com.
Is it cheaper to mix your own concrete or have it delivered?
One of the least expensive ways to get concrete is to mix your own. Otherwise, you risk getting a weaker concrete once it cures, which could lead to cracks or crumbles within a couple of years. Consider renting a truck, since mixing the bags one at a time limits your ability to get consistent results.
Can I pour my own concrete driveway?
It’s easy to pour and build a driveway made of concrete in this How To article. It is possible to build an attractive concrete driveway yourself, but careful planning and preparation is necessary. Be sure to place all the concrete at once; a big driveway can be broken down into smaller manageable sections using 2×4’s.
Is pouring concrete a hard job?
Laying concrete is time-consuming and complicated. It is a challenging project that far exceeds the capabilities of the everyday DIYer.
How hard is doing concrete?
High Strength: High strength concrete can withstand a compressive strength of over 6,000 psi (pounds square inch).
Is concrete easy to work with?
Concrete is easy to work with, versatile, durable, and economical. By observing a few basic precautions, it is also safe-one of the safest building materials known. Over the years, relatively few people involved in mixing, handling, and finishing concrete have experienced injury.
Can you pour concrete without rebar?
Rebar is not necessary for every concrete project. The general rule of thumb is that if you are pouring concrete that is more than 5 inches in depth, you are probably going to want to add in some rebar to help reinforce the entire structure. Wire mesh use is becoming much more common for projects like a home driveway.
How many bags of concrete do I need for a 12×12 slab?
Regarding this, “how much concrete do I need for a 12×12 slab?”, at 4 inches thick, generally you will need approximately 1.76 cubic yards or 47.52 cubic feet or 1.35 m3 (either 104 bags of 60lb or 80 bags of 80lb) of premixed concrete for a 12×12 slab, at 5 inches thick slab, 2.22 cubic yards or 59.90 cubic feet or.
How much does it cost to pour a 10×12 concrete slab?
Cost of concrete per square foot Slab Size Square Feet Average Cost 10×10 100 $600 10×12 120 $720 10×20 200 $1,200 12×12 144 $864.
How many bags of concrete do I need for a 10×12 slab?
Regarding this, “how many bags of concrete do I need for a 10×12 slab?”, at 4 inches thick, generally you will need approximately either 86 bags of 60lb or 67 bags of 80lb of premixed concrete for a 10×12 slab, at 5 inches thick slab, either 109 bags of 60lb or 84 bags of 80lb premixed concrete are required, while at 6.
What is the best mix ratio for concrete?
The safest bet for any concrete mix is four-two-one: four parts crushed rock; two parts sand; and one part cement. The four-two-one mix, obviously, has seven parts. Conveniently, when mixing concrete, the ratio can be mixed on any range of scales.
What is a good strong concrete mix?
A strong concrete mix would be something like 1:3:5 (Cement, Sand, Coarse Gravel). In this case, both the sand and gravel are the aggregate.
What is the best ratio of sand to cement?
What Is the Correct Ratio of Sand to Cement for Masonry? For general purposes, mix 6 parts sand to 1 part cement.
Can I pour a 2 inch concrete slab?
If done properly, new concrete can often be poured right over an existing slab. For this to be feasible, the contractor needs to pour at least 2 inches thick, use smaller aggregate, and incorporate reinforcement such as welded wire mesh or fiber mixed into the concrete.
How strong is a 4 inch concrete slab?
A concrete patio slab should be at least 4 inches thick and have a compressive strength of 3,000 PSI. You’re free to make it thicker or stronger, but unless specifically required for your patio build, it’s likely overkill to surpass 4 inches in thickness.
How thick should a concrete slab be Australia?
“Slab” issues that most often arise in disputes between builders and owners relate to the size of cracks that may appear, and the thickness of the concrete slab installed. In Western Australia the most common slab thickness is between 85mm and 100mm.
