Table of Contents
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.
What is the mix ratio for concrete floor?
A concrete mix of 1 part cement : 2 parts sand : 4 parts coarse aggregate should be used for a concrete slab.
Is it cheaper to pour your own concrete?
Whether you’re pouring concrete countertops or a patio out back, it may be cheaper to pour concrete yourself rather than hiring someone. Whether you’ll save much in doing so depends largely on the amount of concrete needed and the amount of time you have to invest in your concrete project.
Do you need gravel under concrete?
Whether you pour concrete for a walkway or patio, a strong gravel base is required to prevent the concrete from cracking and shifting. Gravel is especially important in clay soil because it doesn’t drain well, which results in water pooling under the concrete slab and slowly eroding the soil as it finally drains.
Can you pour concrete directly on dirt?
Long story short, yes you can pour concrete over dirt.
How many bags of concrete do I need for a 10×10 slab?
Regarding this, “how many bags of concrete do I need for a 10×10 slab?”, at 4 inches thick, generally you will need approximately either 74 bags of 60lb or 56 bags of 80lb premixed concrete for a 10×10 slab, at 5 inches thick slab, either 93 bags of 60lb or 70 bags of 80lb premixed concrete are required, while at 6.
How long does it take for 4 inches of concrete to cure?
Your concrete should be solid enough to walk on, without leaving footprints, after anything from 24 to 48 hours. By seven days, your concrete should be cured to at least 70 percent of its full strength.
Can I pour a 2 inch concrete slab?
The minimum thickness for pouring concrete over concrete is 1.5 inches. In most cases, I don’t like to pouring the new concrete less than 2 inches thick. Two inches of concrete (or more) that’s bonded, gives you adequate strength for a wear surface, especially if you’re driving over it.
Does adding more cement make concrete stronger?
To make the concrete stronger, add more cement or less sand. The closer you bring the ratio to an even one-to-one of sand to cement, the stronger the rating becomes.
Can I make concrete with just sand and cement?
Can I make concrete with just sand and cement? No, you can’t make concrete with only sand and cement. Concrete isn’t considered concrete without aggregates like gravel and stone. It’s the aggregates that contribute to concrete having high strength.
How much cement is needed to ballast concrete?
Mixing 1 part cement to 6 parts ballast creates concrete suitable for driveways, paths and patios, and increasing the ratio to 1:8 gives foundation-strength concrete. It is of course possible to add other materials to increase the strength of the concrete – these often include steel reinforcing bars (“rebar”).
How much does it cost to pour a 24×24 slab of concrete?
A typical 24×24 garage slab costs between $3,057 and $5,944 with prices ranging from $5.31 to $8.31 per square foot for a 4” reinforced slab of concrete, and $6.83 to $10.32 per square foot for a 6” slab of reinforced concrete.
Can you do concrete work yourself?
Pouring a concrete slab yourself can be a big money-saver or big mistake. We show you the best techniques and tools so you get concrete forms right the first time.
What is the cheapest way to do concrete?
You can get cheaper concrete by purchasing sub-grade concrete. This usually is available at salvage yards and is clean material. Therefore, you don’t have to worry you’re not getting quality material. You’ll save a lot of money on concrete, and you’ll be doing your part for the environment by using reclaimed materials.
Is sand a good base for concrete?
Simply put, sand isn’t sturdy enough to work well as a subbase for something like a driveway. It is also difficult to maintain a level sand surface when pouring concrete, and therefore difficult to maintain a uniform thickness of the concrete slab.
What should you put under concrete?
You do need gravel under a concrete slab, footing, or patio. Gravel provides a solid foundation for your concrete as it can be compacted. It also improves drainage, preventing water from pooling beneath the concrete.
Can I use 2×4 for concrete forms?
Prior to placing concrete forms: Construct the form with 2×4 or 2×6 lumber and secure in place by wood stakes and deck screws. Excavate the slab area to a depth of about 7 inches, allowing 3 inches for a gravel base and 4 inches for concrete.
Can you pour concrete over gravel?
Laying a concrete driveway over an existing gravel one is possible, but it is not generally recommended. However, if the gravel in your driveway is small enough, it is possible to create a cement driveway over the existing one.
How do you prepare a concrete base?
Preparing the base Step 1 – Mark and measure. Using pegs and string, mark out the area for the base of the building. Step 2 – Dig marked area. Step 3 – Lay MOT stone. Step 4 – Measure and cut timber rails. Step 5 – Spread and compact stone. Step 6 – Cover with sand and damp-proof membrane.
How many bags of concrete do I need for a 10×8 slab?
Regarding this, “how many bags of concrete do I need for a 10×8 slab at 4 inch thick?”, its depend on thickness of slab, at 4 inches thick, generally you will need approximately either 58 bags of 60lb or 45 bags of 80lb (0.98 cubic yards or 26.4 cubic feet or 0.748 m3) of premixed concrete for a 10×8 slab.
How do I work out how much concrete I need?
How to calculate concrete: Determine how thick you want the concrete. Measure the length and width that you’d like to cover. Multiply the length by the width to determine square footage. Convert the thickness from inches to feet. Multiply the thickness in feet by the square footage to determine cubic feet.
How much does an 80 lb bag of concrete cover?
30 cubic feet, 60 pounds of concrete mix yields . 45 cubic feet and an 80-pound bag yields . 60 cubic feet.
