10'x10' Concrete Slab??

[ColoradoToy91]

Planning on extending the patio in my backyard. Truck minimums in this area are 1.5 cy and up and access is via a 36" gate.

Am I crazy to think I can mix sack concrete and pour this in a day?

I am looking at renting the largest mixer that will fit back there (holds/mixes 300lbs of concrete) and going to town on basically a full pallet of 60 lb bags.

Thoughts and advice before I tackle this project?

 

[sherlocktk]

Me and my buddy did a 10x12 with the harbor freight mixer (1 90 lb bag at a time) took 60 bags, did it in ~ 3 hours moving from left to right. Then about 2-3 hours of finishing. You only work 50% of the time finishing.

Hardest part is finishing it having low experience, and wrong tools. Edges are easy (basically 3' in) but finishing the center is really hard without the right tools. I ziptied a finisher to a broom and it kinda worked but not nearly as nice as I would have wanted.

 

[davo727]

You and 2 friends yes.

 

[Sh40674]

we have minimums around here as well, however you can usually get them to deliver a smaller amount with a decent fee applied to the bill

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

See if anyone else is planning a small pour close by so you can split a truck.
It is possible to mix on site, having 2 or 3 guys is a big help.

I'd forget the 60 lb bags. Buy bags of portland cement. I have a gravel pit mix the sand and gravel, then load it on my truck. Pretty easy to shovel the sand and gravel straight from the truck into the mixer.

 

[jkwilson]

we have minimums around here as well, however you can usually get them to deliver a smaller amount with a decent fee applied to the bill

^This

Just ask them what it would cost to get what you need delivered.

10'X10'X4" is around 1.25 yard, but if you over dig by an inch you'll need a yard and a half, so it's not crazy to order that much. You definitely want to order some extra unless you are extremely accurate in your leveling of the base.

Have some kind of stoop or pad ready to pour just in case you have extra.

 

[hh76]

Can the truck get back to the pour, or would you have to wheel it? If so, I'd probably just mix myself, either way you'll have a tough day of work.

I spent a couple summers working for a pool company. Many 10hr days mixing 80# bags of plaster. Not terrible once you get the hang of it, of course I was in my early twenties back then.

 

[brownbagg]

yes you are crazy, its almost double in price and four times longer than ordering a truck

 

[Bluedodge]

I've done a couple of pads larger than that solo. It's not a big deal, wear a decent dust mask.

Buy a HF mixer and have at it for an afternoon. Sell it on CL when you're done.

 

[jbwilkins]

You also might check around and see if anyone has a 'batch truck', it can be called a volumetric mixer .....It designed to mix on site and is perfect for the smaller jobs.....

http://cementechus.g.gl.calls.net/?...paign=google&_vsrefdom=bdQLVUdfikO4F8bKX0D2Rg

 

[captain14]

Is it feasible to pour the perimeter and then fill
In the middle in sections if you have to mix by hand at a later date?

 

[Wanna Ride]

If you can get the ready-mix truck for a nominal extra charge, it's well worth the cost. I've done several small projects that were at about one yard, and the fee was like $50 extra. But if they mixed and brought 1.5 yard and I didn't use it all, they'd dispose the excess for free. They also let me use their bull-float and form pins for free every time I order material. All of my recent projects (in the last ten years), have been sidewalks, deck stair landings, etc. but I like my sidewalks to be 48" wide and they're all in the 30' length range. My next project will be the new mower shed, and that pad, like the OP's, will be about 10'x10'.

Advantages of a small town and a local, family-owned shop, I suppose.

I've considered renting a mixer, or buying the HF mixer and selling it when I'm done, but the above options were always simpler.

 

[chops101]

There are smaller trucks for the homeowner market, it doesn't have to come in a 12 yard truck.
I had a 7 x 12 front porch poured with a truck that maxed out at 5 yards I think.

 

[ColoradoToy91]

Me and my buddy did a 10x12 with the harbor freight mixer (1 90 lb bag at a time) took 60 bags, did it in ~ 3 hours moving from left to right. Then about 2-3 hours of finishing. You only work 50% of the time finishing.

Hardest part is finishing it having low experience, and wrong tools. Edges are easy (basically 3' in) but finishing the center is really hard without the right tools. I ziptied a finisher to a broom and it kinda worked but not nearly as nice as I would have wanted.

I have all the finishing tools (bull float, edger, etc). I was planning on using my buddy's mixer that can do 4 80 lb bags at a time. So about 11-12 mixes to complete the slab

You and 2 friends yes.

Probably just me and my father, but I can enlist more help probably

we have minimums around here as well, however you can usually get them to deliver a smaller amount with a decent fee applied to the bill

I'll call around some more

See if anyone else is planning a small pour close by so you can split a truck.
It is possible to mix on site, having 2 or 3 guys is a big help.

I'd forget the 60 lb bags. Buy bags of portland cement. I have a gravel pit mix the sand and gravel, then load it on my truck. Pretty easy to shovel the sand and gravel straight from the truck into the mixer.

Local supply has sand and gravel premix for about $25 a yard. I'll look into the portland price. Issue is that all the supplies would be in the front of the house and the pour is in the back

^This

Just ask them what it would cost to get what you need delivered.

10'X10'X4" is around 1.25 yard, but if you over dig by an inch you'll need a yard and a half, so it's not crazy to order that much. You definitely want to order some extra unless you are extremely accurate in your leveling of the base.

Have some kind of stoop or pad ready to pour just in case you have extra.

Good idea on digging anoter inch

Can the truck get back to the pour, or would you have to wheel it? If so, I'd probably just mix myself, either way you'll have a tough day of work.

I spent a couple summers working for a pool company. Many 10hr days mixing 80# bags of plaster. Not terrible once you get the hang of it, of course I was in my early twenties back then.

Truck cannot get back there at all, window well prevents the use of wheel barrows on one side and the other access is river rock and a cement slope

yes you are crazy, its almost double in price and four times longer than ordering a truck

Thoughts on a larger concrete buggy rental and having it truck delivered?

I've done a couple of pads larger than that solo. It's not a big deal, wear a decent dust mask.

Buy a HF mixer and have at it for an afternoon. Sell it on CL when you're done.

Thank you

You also might check around and see if anyone has a 'batch truck', it can be called a volumetric mixer .....It designed to mix on site and is perfect for the smaller jobs.....

http://cementechus.g.gl.calls.net/?...paign=google&_vsrefdom=bdQLVUdfikO4F8bKX0D2Rg

I found one local company that has miz trailers that do up to 1.25 yards on site and then I would have to wheel barrow it back there. Something to consider for sure

Is it feasible to pour the perimeter and then fill
In the middle in sections if you have to mix by hand at a later date?

Sure, but I want to get it done in one swoop

If you can get the ready-mix truck for a nominal extra charge, it's well worth the cost. I've done several small projects that were at about one yard, and the fee was like $50 extra. But if they mixed and brought 1.5 yard and I didn't use it all, they'd dispose the excess for free. They also let me use their bull-float and form pins for free every time I order material. All of my recent projects (in the last ten years), have been sidewalks, deck stair landings, etc. but I like my sidewalks to be 48" wide and they're all in the 30' length range. My next project will be the new mower shed, and that pad, like the OP's, will be about 10'x10'.

Advantages of a small town and a local, family-owned shop, I suppose.

I've considered renting a mixer, or buying the HF mixer and selling it when I'm done, but the above options were always simpler.

Thank you for the advice

There are smaller trucks for the homeowner market, it doesn't have to come in a 12 yard truck.
I had a 7 x 12 front porch poured with a truck that maxed out at 5 yards I think.

I'll look into the also

 

[ColoradoToy91]

Here is a picture of the property. There are access gates to the back on both sides, but only one side is it feasible to bring a wheel barrow through. Anyone know how many trips 1.5 yards would be?

 

[ColoradoToy91]

Called about every ready mix company in Denver and most were in the $150 yd range and $200+ minimum load charges under 4 yards


So I kept search and found this- mixes one yard as I drive home and come with materials for $185. I reserved it for Monday, think it will make my life easier

 

[minytrker]

Its a 5 yard minimum here and $125/yd. I ran short on my ramp into to the shop by about 1.5 yards, I have a very expensive corner on the slab now!

 

[TheOtherChris]

Called about every ready mix company in Denver and most were in the $150 yd range and $200+ minimum load charges under 4 yards


So I kept search and found this- mixes one yard as I drive home and come with materials for $185. I reserved it for Monday, think it will make my life easier

That's COOL.
We have a batch truck here locally that will mix it as it comes out the chute. Very handy for less than 10 yards as it only mixes what you need.

 

[Wanna Ride]

Here is a picture of the property. There are access gates to the back on both sides, but only one side is it feasible to bring a wheel barrow through. Anyone know how many trips 1.5 yards would be?

My second-to-last concrete project was about 1.5 yards and we had to wheelbarrow it into place. I can't recall for sure, but I want to say it was about 8-10 trips. There was three of us doing it, and I think we each did about three trips. But hell... I could be completely wrong, that one was about six years ago, and countless other non-concrete projects ago.

That portable mixer looks pretty trick. I think that'd be the route I took, in your situation.

But just a tip... check your wheelbarrow tire BEFORE the morning of the pour. Don't ask why, just check it.

 

[MrA]

My second-to-last concrete project was about 1.5 yards and we had to wheelbarrow it into place. I can't recall for sure, but I want to say it was about 8-10 trips. There was three of us doing it, and I think we each did about three trips. But hell... I could be completely wrong, that one was about six years ago, and countless other non-concrete projects ago.

That portable mixer looks pretty trick. I think that'd be the route I took, in your situation.

But just a tip... check your wheelbarrow tire BEFORE the morning of the pour. Don't ask why, just check it.

I would say you are about right. My wheelbarrow is .33 yd., buy you really only want to push about .25 yd. in it, and that's pretty heavy. OP never mentioned what he PLACING. concrete IS NOT poured. It is PLACED. A yard of mud would be 27 sacks out the orange or blue places. Minimum one guy mixing, one guy placing. Both guys would need to be fast and know what they're doing. i did my 5 yard patio with sacks. 3 guys on wheel barrows mixing, 2 guys placing and finishing. You're going to pay one way the other. Nothing cheap or easy about concrete.

 

[Wanna Ride]

You're going to pay one way the other. Nothing cheap or easy about concrete.

You're right, it's not cheap. But it's a good value, when you consider how much you get, how durable it is, and the service it provides. It's definitely the most bang for your buck, in terms of a construction material. I don't think there's any other material that can offer the durability and longevity as concrete. Shingles don't last that long, doors and windows don't, lumber, plywoods, siding, fencing, etc.

If I had my way, my entire yard would be concrete. Front, sides, back... everything. I'd paint all of it in the back yard green, and everything else natural concrete colored.

 

[DougWil]

Good call, because you can never get a low slump (low water to cement ratio) mix from one of those dinky mixers.

The result is watery, low strength, high shrinking concrete.

 

[MrA]

You're right, it's not cheap. But it's a good value, when you consider how much you get, how durable it is, and the service it provides. It's definitely the most bang for your buck, in terms of a construction material. I don't think there's any other material that can offer the durability and longevity as concrete. Shingles don't last that long, doors and windows don't, lumber, plywoods, siding, fencing, etc.

If I had my way, my entire yard would be concrete. Front, sides, back... everything. I'd paint all of it in the back yard green, and everything else natural concrete colored.

Grading, digging, Base preparation,vapor barrier, re-enforcement steel, form work, delivery, finish placement labor. It is a great building product, will build up any surface you desire. It is heavy. Ancient Romans invented it, they had thousands of slaves to mix it, move it around. That delivery system never worked after their demise. The recipe was lost, not rediscovered until late 19th century. I recently read that the ancient Roman concrete was superior to modern mixes, having used volcanic ash.

 

[RickP]

I would say you are about right. My wheelbarrow is .33 yd., buy you really only want to push about .25 yd. in it, and that's pretty heavy. OP never mentioned what he PLACING. concrete IS NOT poured. It is PLACED. A yard of mud would be 27 sacks out the orange or blue places. Minimum one guy mixing, one guy placing. Both guys would need to be fast and know what they're doing. i did my 5 yard patio with sacks. 3 guys on wheel barrows mixing, 2 guys placing and finishing. You're going to pay one way the other. Nothing cheap or easy about concrete.

^^^ That sounds about right - it's a LOT of work!

I've seen motorized concrete carts used at construction sites:

I've never used one, but I wonder if you could rent one?

 

[COBRA5LADDICT]

can you post up the company contact on where to rent these small mixers? i am in denver

 

[e36jon]

I am in-process on a bunch of concrete jobs around my house and I finally broke down and bought a mixer (The bigger Kushlan. I hope to get rid of it on Craigslist when I am done.) and 60lb. bags of concrete. I'm doing all of the 'small' projects myself and will hire out the big bits, as I couldn't get anyone to quote on the smaller jobs, much less get the concrete delivered. The Kushlan will fit through a 32" doorway, and it's pretty mobile when full, allowing you to get the mix where you need it for the most part.

My $0.02: It's harder than it looks to get pro results! I am slowly working my way through every possible mistake with rebar bending and tying, form prep, finishing, etc. Also, with just myself and one friend, both in our 50's, 30 60lb bags was all we were good for. Hard to overstate how heavy concrete is... I've been doing a bunch of solo 10-12 bag jobs (fence-posts / footings) and getting it mixed and placed and then getting everything cleaned up before it sets is 'just' possible (for me).

Good luck and please post your results so I can maybe skip a mistake or two on the next pour...

Jon

 

[Jess]

We have a place on a remote island. Everything is expensive to bring over, so redi-mix is out of the question for a small pour. When possible, we have a tandem of gravel brought over on the barge and stored for future use. The 10x10 is not too bad if you have a couple of guys and can borrow or rent 2 mixers. One guy mixing and the other wheeling and placing. Last year, I did 3 yards for a floor in under 4 hours. If you can get an extra buddy to wheel or finish, it will go easier. You likely won't save a lot but its possible.

 

[ColoradoToy91]

can you post up the company contact on where to rent these small mixers? i am in denver

Mile High Rental & Sales  
3.8
Ready Mix Concrete Supplier
Address: 4817 S Broadway, Englewood, CO 80113
Phone: (303) 789-2537


placed the concrete today, everything went great

 

[ColoradoToy91]

Staked out and removed about 6" of builder fill, compacted the colorado clay
https://scontent-ord1-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13240701_10154950655349478_2321687325945636795_n.jpg?oh=440b6f28da26efefbbf63bb012cf5e7b&oe=579C1297

Filled with base, plate compacted, repeated 4x with 1" of fill per compation using water as needed:
https://scontent-ord1-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13227119_10154950655344478_7117748125658106158_n.jpg?oh=33ee0a578e47f7738b512dbb68441f79&oe=579E2F08

3/8 rebar, probably over kill and could have gone with just mesh, but whatever:
https://scontent-ord1-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13254224_10154950655399478_2608330453400152739_n.jpg?oh=344489668abec176b6c25d22b2233ca5&oe=57E23142

Finished product, brushed finish- been keeping it wet and currently tarped due to hail/heavy rain moving through:
https://scontent-ord1-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13267773_10154950655404478_8400976172854779059_n.jpg?oh=be23a2091ba9755ce21dafeba98e3c9c&oe=57D4EE6D

 

[DougWil]

Looks good!!

Small suggestion, put the perimeter bars out closer to the perimeter. 2 inches from edge of form and put a bent bar at the corners.

 

[ColoradoToy91]

Looks good!!

Small suggestion, put the perimeter bars out closer to the perimeter. 2 inches from edge of form and put a bent bar at the corners.

Thank you for the advice! Never done this before, but I will apply your assistance in the future (not that i hope to do any concrete work soon)