Concrete has many uses, most commonly in construction. This versatile building material is relatively inexpensive, but requires some effort to produce.
Plan
To avoid problems in concrete production, you need to carefully plan the project in which it will be used. Determine the exact dimensions of the area to be concreted, enter it into the plan, provide a drainage system corresponding to its size.
Raw materials
For the production of concrete it is necessary to use Type 1 or Type 2 Portland cement. The first of them is a general-purpose cement, the second contains a moderate amount of sulfates and is used in aquatic and earthy environments. You will also need sand, gravel, and water.
Capacity for making
If you are implementing a small project, you can make your own container for mixing ingredients, it can be made from ordinary boards. Another option is to purchase a small container, such as a wheelbarrow. If you need a lot of concrete, consider renting or buying a dedicated concrete mixer.
Form
In order to prevent the concrete from spreading, it is necessary to build a special form from the boards. When making such a shape, make sure that the fastenings between the boards are secure and that the boards themselves are strong enough to support the weight of the concrete. Make sure that the form is installed level, use a level for this. Be sure to observe the dimensions of the future concrete structure, use the building plan for this.
Mixing ingredients
Prepare a dry sand and cement mixture. To do this, mix cement and sand in a 1: 2 ratio. Add crushed stone to the resulting mixture at a ratio of 1: 5. Crushed stone will not spoil the strength characteristics of concrete, but make sure that there is enough cement mixture to create a crushed stone adhesive mass. Excess crushed stone can also lead to unevenness in the concrete surface. Gradually fill the solution with water, achieving the required level of concrete plasticity. Continue stirring the mixture until smooth, until no dry bubbles remain. This process can take about 1-2 minutes, then the hydration process begins, which causes the concrete to harden.
Fill
Pour the prepared mixture into the prepared mold. Do it so that no voids remain, the concrete settles evenly and occupies all of its space. Use a flat wooden board for this. At the end of the process, the concrete surface must be flat and smooth.
Drying
When finished pouring concrete, leave it for a while to harden. If the surface of the concrete is such that you must walk on it, lay boards or plywood sheets on it to avoid leaving marks.
