Mixing Your Own Concrete

[j.robinson389]

Looking to build a pole barn to store an RV in. After recently being made aware of the updated code requirement here in Ohio, I have come to realize my post holes are BIG!

22" Diameter with 11" of poured concrete in the bottom.

This adds up to a good bit of concrete, (close to 2 yds) and my problem is that my driveway and yard do not allow access of a concrete truck to the site, so what is my best route?

I'm looking at 60+ 80lb bags of concrete. Should I just get some sand, gravel, and cement and rent a mixer. Or just buy bags and rent a mixer.


I figure there is no way I'm going to mix all of this in a wheel barrow!

 

[12ozd]

Wheel barrow access from truck to site?
Got a rental house close, rent a concrete buggy.
Tractor (bobcat) and bucket?
Most larger concrete companies will charge extra for a short load.
Some companies specialize in short load deliveries.
Look into them.
I agree w/ the wheelbarrow part, I would go mixer and bagged.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

You plan on getting an RV in it but can't get to it with a cement truck? Sounds a little strange.

22" diameter by 11" deep isn't close to 2 yards. I'd get sand, gravel and cement and mix in a wheel barrow, one pole at a time.

I don't like bags of concrete. The rock is too small and they don't put enough cement in it.

 

[oscar80]

Rent a bobcat and use the bucket to transfer concrete. That's how they did the patio in my backyard.

 

[RECox286]

If you aren't in a hurry to finish, my choice would be to get some

excersize with a wheel barrow, mortar hoe and bags. Or, see if

the concrete company will split a load for you. I know we used to

get split loads for jobs that were too small for a full load at one site,

and for setting a post you can use what ever you can get that is

left over from another job site. Just be ready with a couple of

wheel barrows, and a helper that knows how to walk upright !

Uncle Bob

 

[oscar80]

For my post hole concrete I used a guy that mixes on site 140 cheaper than the rest.

 

[bullnerd]

Pioneer built my pole building, they use premade " pills" of concrete. Dig the hole , drop in pill, set post, backfill.

 

[j.robinson389]

You plan on getting an RV in it but can't get to it with a cement truck? Sounds a little strange.

22" diameter by 11" deep isn't close to 2 yards. I'd get sand, gravel and cement and mix in a wheel barrow, one pole at a time.

I don't like bags of concrete. The rock is too small and they don't put enough cement in it.

I have a concrete driveway that is not the most robust. Plenty for a fifth wheel or motorhome, but a concrete truck is a little different. The other path would be through the are of the yard that has a leach field in it.


By my math:

11" Deep x 22" Round = 4182 cu in
4182 cu in x 18 poles = 1.61 cu yds I've yet to see a perfect post hole yet. My guess would be at least 1.75 yds

 

[EOC_Jason]

volumetric mixer trucks... They mix on-site and basically you only pay for what you use. For small loads it can be more economical, and they have extra dry ingredients so you won't run short...

I would agree to see about renting a buggy or bobcat if possible. If it's a short distance, wheelbarrows might be okay.

I would not want to mix all that by hand. I think those smaller mixers will do two 80lb bags at once.

We did like 25-30 80lb bags one day for a little slab mixing in a wheelbarrow, that was not fun having to move all the bags with a 2-wheel dolly, dump, etc... Of course it was probably also like 90F+ with the sun beating down on us... 60 would be a bear...

 

[Professur]

A pump truck would be my first thought.

 

[38Chevy454]

Do you have any of the pre-mix places where you use their trailer and tow with your truck? Pretty sure the trailer could be maneuvered into position, just have a couple helpers. Pretty sure the trailers can handle 2 yards

 

[j.robinson389]

I think i'm leaning towards renting a mixer and doing it myself. I just need to price raw materials vs bags.

Seems that bags would take the guess work out.

6 cu ft tow bwhind mixer is only $50/day. I think my dad and I could do that in a day or two at the most.

 

[Lippyp]

I bought a used mixer from Ebay for £80, it's like new and a decent size one, its electric but you can also get gas or diesel ones if you don't have power nearby. It's a damn sight easier on the back than mixing in a wheelbarrow and quicker too. Buy one used, look after it and when you've finished all the jobs you'll have to do then sell it on. Then it's up to you if you do premixed bags or buy seperate sand/cement/stone and mix it yourself. generally that works out cheaper than the premixed bags and you're in control of the mix and size of aggregate etc.

 

[bullnerd]

Check your local concrete guy, I bet they sell the pills.

 

[BillK]

Or just buy bags and rent a mixer.

I have done it both ways and I think for what you are doing I would probably rent the mixer and buy bags.

Looks like right about 4 bags per hole ? If you are not in a big rush, that's really not too bad to do in the wheelbarrow. You could do a couple or more each night depending on how energetic you feel ?

 

[EOC_Jason]

Go to the contractor counter at HD/Lowes, they will probably give you a decent price break on 60 bags...

 

[volleyball]

Maybe sonotubes would allow you to cut the amount of concrete you need to pour. does it need to be 22" all the way for your code?
How much help can you get at once? That will determine how many days it will take you. You can do 1 or 2 or more a day by yourself.

 

[creativecars]

I found an old mixer with a new motor on CL for 100. Have used it to pour a walkway, retaining wall and several other small projects. Buy the sand and gravel by the ton and 94lb bags of cement. Shovels 3-2-1. So far I have mixed about 5 yards and the mixer has paid for itself several times. BTW-you will get a good work out.

 

[bullnerd]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...vYDYDQ&usg=AFQjCNGQuCpZpzjA5qKFAKgOaxNKZ6EIXA

 

[justin1795]

could use one of those powered wheel barrows too. mine they used the cookie and backfilled with dirt.

 

[Woody610nb]

I poured my own piers for my shop. Rented a mixer and 90 bags of 80# concrete mix. It wasn't bad but please listen to this advise. Per pound, concrete mix is the same in 60# bags as it is in 80# bags. Do yourself a big favor and buy the 60# bags. Buy the end of the day the 80# bags get pretty difficult to pick up.

 

[captaindiode]

Lowes had 60 lb bags on sale two weeks ago , and when you figured by the pound the concrete was cheaper in 60 lb than the 80 pound. Home Depot had a special on 60 lb too.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Yeah. Around here, 80 bags is more expensive than having a truck come out. So I would have the truck come out, and he would chute it into the wheel barrow, which I would run around to the back of the house.

I have mixed a bunch of concrete over the years by hand, but you should do the math. Rolling a wheel barrow is quick and easy.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd prefer to have a truck come out and wheel barrow it around or rent the buggy. It's hard work but it'll be done in an hour's time.

I've mixed plenty by hand in a wheel barrow and even more in a mixer to only wheel it around and dump it. Believe me, it is hard *** work and by the end of the day, you'll sleep well.

 

[brass89]

Would one of those 'odjob' 7gal mixers work? looks like a funky bucket you roll around the yard, no electric or gas needed. might be a pia though - says it does 60lbs concrete in 60 secs. Not sure how many post holes you have to fill, might not be big enough for the job (like trying to dig a garden with a hand trowel). They have some handy looking portable electric mixers on wheels like a wheelbarrow, but kinda $$$ (around 300). If you were gonna hire a truck, i'd make sure all the holes were ready and see about one of those pump trucks with the hose - go from hole to hole. not sure how much they charge to wait around (it's not like pouring a solid run/pad). unless they specialize in short loads, it probably will cost more. I don't envy ppl having to carry 60+ sacks of cement on their shoulder to/from any distance. They always feel heavier than they are for some reason.

 

[wssix99]

I have a concrete driveway that is not the most robust. Plenty for a fifth wheel or motorhome, but a concrete truck is a little different.

This isn't exactly correct. The concrete truck will be fractionally full with only 2 yards in it. It also distributes that load over the contact patches of 8 tires in the back. Because of that larger tire contact patch area, the concrete truck might actually be much "lighter" on the driveway than your RV. The concrete company can give you the weight of the loaded truck so you can do the math.

 

[12ozd]

An empty 10 yd truck will run close to 25-30k# depending on config.
4-5 times a 5th wheel trailer.

 

[dutchgray]

Get a used mixer, electric ones are usually cheapest here, a pile of aggregate and enough bags of cement, a pair of wheelbarrows ( you'll only need one but you want a spare otherwise the tire will go in the middle of the job) and a mate or two to help, one mixes the others push it and level it and you get it done. I did a cube and a half just last week with one other guy in two and a half hours, but we do have a big diesel mixer.
Years ago before truck mixers were common my dad would run two mixers and do entire house footings by hand, we have it easy now generally.

 

[akdiesel]

Did 175 80# bags in a two week period. I have a mixer and the cost of the bags were on sale at HD for approx 4$ a bag. Most of my pours were in a location not accessible by wheel barrel or truck. A pump could have been used but since the largest pour was less than 1.5 yards it was not cost effective for a truck / pump.
The only complaint is my left arm lifting and supporting the bags going into the mixxer. Other wise I will continue to mix my own mud if less than 2 yards (approx 90 80# bags).

 

[Lippyp]

This is my mixer, a great investment as they seem to get to a certain price used and stay there so as long as you don't break it you'll get your money back when the job is done.

 

[joeysh03]

Is it just me or does 11" not seem deep enough. That's not even close to reaching the frost line in Ohio. Maybe I'm thinking wrong.

 

[Professur]

Would one of those 'odjob' 7gal mixers work? looks like a funky bucket you roll around the yard, no electric or gas needed. might be a pia though - says it does 60lbs concrete in 60 secs. Not sure how many post holes you have to fill, might not be big enough for the job (like trying to dig a garden with a hand trowel). They have some handy looking portable electric mixers on wheels like a wheelbarrow, but kinda $$$ (around 300). If you were gonna hire a truck, i'd make sure all the holes were ready and see about one of those pump trucks with the hose - go from hole to hole. not sure how much they charge to wait around (it's not like pouring a solid run/pad). unless they specialize in short loads, it probably will cost more. I don't envy ppl having to carry 60+ sacks of cement on their shoulder to/from any distance. They always feel heavier than they are for some reason.

I'll weigh in one these, as I have one. They do a good job for small batches, and they're very very handy for rolling a bucket of mix under a crawl space. But bending over to roll a heavy bucket around the yard on slick grass gets old really really quick. If they'd textured the outside of the bucket it wouldn't be so bad, but they didn't. If you've got a bunch of young kids about, you'll be well served.

 

[see pictures]

Is it just me or does 11" not seem deep enough. That's not even close to reaching the frost line in Ohio. Maybe I'm thinking wrong.

11" of concrete in the bottom of the hole under the post down around 42"