Building an apron

[mleichtle]

I’m thinking of getting a mixer, like this one http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200314905_200314905 I’m planning on doing my apron and patio in 3’ x 3’ or so sections over the course of, well, a long time. It will give me a tiled look, I can do each section my self, and I don’t have to dig up the whole drive way, back yard, and walkways at one time. Most important, I’m thinking I’m saving money. Any truth to this? Any thoughts? I got the idea from a house I looked at, the driveway was 10’ by 10’ squares broom finished and edge troweled to look like a picture frame. I thought I could do the same thing on a smaller scale, dig a little, pour a little, and so on, and so on, for a couple years.

Well, now that I got my thoughts down on paper it doesn't look like such a good idea after all.

 

[bobbyd]

You'll pay more for materials in the long run. Even if you can find quickcrete 80 lb bags for $2, thats $108 per cubic yard. I think they're closer to $3 in this neck of the woods which wood be $162 per yard. You can get it from the ready mix supplier for between $70 and $80 here. If you can find a ready-mix supplier close by and they wouldn't charge you a short load fee, you could order one yard at a time which would do about 81 square feet or 9'x9'. This is doable for one person. Plus you wouldn't have to buy the mixer.

Edit: 81 square feet at 4" thick.

 

[URY914]

See if you have a concrete supplier around you that has the "U-Cart" concrete trailers. You can buy less then 1/2 to 2 yards at a time and do it as time allows. But let me tell you, working and finshing a yard of ready mix by yourself is a job. Pouring concrete in a hole is simple. Finishing a slab is work. BTDT.

 

[atch]

i have a similar mixer, except that it's larger and older; MUCH older. works fine, though. i do small patches around the ranch but for jobs large enough for a truck to deliver it's less expensive to have it delivered. when i use it, though, i put in some portland in each mixerful. i can't remember right now, but i believe that i use one bag of portland for every 6 bags of sackrete. it richens it up and makes the surface way easier to work with. i learned how much portland to use by trial and error; i guess i'll have to relearn the next time i do some concrete.

around here there is a short truck charge for any order less than 3 yards. i agree with the folks above who suggested doing one yard at a time if you can get the mix without extra charges.

for sidewalks (that can be done a few feet at a time) and small pieces where you just want to pour a half yard or a quarter yard at a time having your own mixer is great.

b-t-w; i learned that moving the mixer to where it can be dumped directly into the form isn't necessarily easier than putting the mixer in a convenient location and wheelbarrowing the 'crete to the job. depends on the job location and the "convenient" location.