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Can I pour concrete 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.
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.
How do you prepare ground for concrete?
To shore up the subsurface, sprinkle a thin layer of cement sand onto the gravel and dampen it with water. Do not leave any standing water and allow the dampened sand to dry for about an hour before pouring the concrete. Ground preparation is key to pouring sidewalk, driveway or any other concrete slab.
Can you pour concrete directly on dirt?
Long story short, yes you can pour concrete over dirt.
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.
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 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.
How many 80lb bags of concrete make a yard?
One 80lbs bag of Quikrete Concrete Mix will yield approximately . 60 cu ft. So it will take 45 bag to equal one cubic yard of concrete.
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.
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 thick should a concrete slab 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. To prepare the base, cut the ground level to the proper depth to allow for the slab thickness.
Does a 4 inch slab need 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.
What’s the best base for concrete?
What is the Best Base for a Concrete Slab? Most people build a driveway or a patio so in that case, a good choice would be a mix of coarse and fine aggregate which will create a compactable base. Overall, a mix of crushed stone and stone dust is the best base material for any concrete flatwork.
What is the minimum thickness of a concrete foundation?
For masonry or concrete construction, the minimum foundation wall will be 6 inches. The minimum reinforced concrete footing thickness will be 6 inches or 1-1/2 times the length of the footing projection from the foundation wall, whichever is greater. REQUIREMENTS.
How many bags of cement do I need for 12×12?
To determine how many bags of concrete you will need, divide the total cubic yards needed by the yields, at 4 inch thick, for a 12×12 slab you will need 1.76 yards of concrete, so number of 80lb bag of concrete = 1.76 ÷ 0.022 = 80 bags, No. of 60lb bag = 1.76 ÷ 0.017 = 104 bags & No.
How many inches of gravel do you need for a concrete slab?
How Much Gravel Do You Put Under a Concrete Slab? You will need 3 inches of gravel under a concrete slab that is 4 inches thick. More gravel is better, but 3 inches is the minimum amount of gravel you should have with a 4” slab. Use ¾” washed and screened gravel, then compact it to level.
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.
What is a cheaper alternative to concrete?
There are a few different types you can find in the home improvement store that can replace concrete cement used for driveways and walkways. These include pea gravel, crushed stone, and quarry process. Cheaper than other surface materials and low-cost to install.
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 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.
