Tips And Suggestions On Mixing Concrete
Mixing concrete may not seem like a hard thing to do but there is more to it than meets the eye. In order for the concrete to set properly and to prevent it from cracking easily, it needs to have the right consistency. Otherwise, you may end up with a big mess that will need to be cleaned up before it can be redone. This will make the job take a lot longer, cost more money and create a lot of aggravation. To prevent this from happening to you, here are a few tips and suggestions to use that will help you get the right consistency when mixing concrete:
Tips on Mixing Concrete
• Pour the pre-mix concrete into a wheelbarrow or tub. Make sure it’s big enough to hold the mixture after you start adding water.
• Use a bucket or water hose to add a little water at a time to the concrete mix. Use a shovel to mix the water and concrete together. Be sure and get all the way to the bottom of the container and mix by folding the concrete over itself, don’t try stirring it. If you use a concrete mixer the hopper will do this part for you.
• You will need to add the water until all of the concrete is wet but not soupy looking.
• Test the consistency with a shovel by placing it in the concrete and separating it into sections. If water fills the gap, it’s too wet. If the sides begin to crumble, it’s too dry.
When you get the concrete mixing ratios correct, the cement will cure or dry slowly which will prevent cracks from forming as it dries. Plastic is often placed over the concrete after it’s been poured to help slow down the curing process. You can even add water to the concrete while it’s curing by using a water hose and spraying it gently across the area. Be sure and recover it with the plastic when finished. If the consistency is not quite right once the cement is poured, this may help it to cure better so it will look and set better even though the mixing ratios were not exactly right. Performing a concrete slump test will also help you determine if your mixing ratios were correct.
Safety is always a big concern anytime you’re doing home projects and working with cement is no exception. Always wear protective eyewear and gloves to keep the cement off of your hands and out of your eyes. A face mask is also recommended because the dust from the mix can scatter through the air where you can breathe it in. Use proper lifting techniques when pouring the mix into the tub and never get in a hurry. Rushing through projects is one of the main reasons accidents occur.
There are different techniques that can be used when mixing concrete but the tips and suggestions listed above will still apply and can be used to make sure the consistency is correct. The more you mix concrete, the better you’ll become at getting the exact mix that dries perfectly with no cracks. In the meantime, use this information above to get as close to prefect as you can.
