Cement tips

Noticed quite a few question about cementing, here is a easy guide.

6:1 is good enough for "most" jobs in the allotment/garden

for 1 ton of sand/ballast you will need 6 bags of cement

To work out M3- LengthxWidthxDepth

To work out Ton (approx) Divide M3 by 0.6

General depths

Laying paving Slabs 50mm

Concrete base 100mm

for a proper job 100-150mm of hardcore/type1

Hope this helps someone.

P.s M3 works for topsoil tonage etc

Good stuff.  What about concrete?  For putting in holes for concreting posts and things into the ground, I've always gone for 6:3:1 - stone, sand, cement.  It's always worked for me, but can't really remember where I got this ratio from.  Is it ok d'you think?

Mixing basic concrete as well just for holes, if hand-mixing I never mix it wet on a board.  Too much extra work it seems.  I always bung 2 parts stone down on the board, followed by 1 part sand, half part cement, 2 more stone, 1 more sand, half part cement, 2 stone and finally 1 sand.  That's 6:3:1 and already partially mixed.  A few turns with a shovel, still dry till it's well mixed.  Then I put about 3 inches of water in a bucket, bit more or less depending on the dampness of the sand, then just quickly fill it up with the dry mix.  Let it stand a few mins, give it an odd kick to settle and then bung it straight in the hole.  It saves a wet mass on a board, the mixing-board lasts longer, it's less labour and dead quick I find.  I wouldn't do this for a concrete pad or path, probably use a mixer anyway cos of greater amount, but the dry method had served me well for basic holes.  Give it a try.

give it a drink,hard in 10 minutes  

I was going to make a comment, but thought better of it! :oops:

Quote from: "DD."

Quote from: "shaun"

give it a drink,hard in 10 minutes  

I was going to make a comment, but thought better of it! :oops:

you always twist things around  :roll:  

I've been observing a master in the art!

Boys, BOYS :shock:

I've addid this topic to the Tips sticky (so try to keep it clean)  :roll:

ok, ballast is stone and sand already mixed, use this for post hole and bases etc, for fence posts mix up dry, put in hole, tamp down hard then add some water if the ground is dry, or use post mix but it is alot more expensive if you have a few to do!
if your building a house and dependant on the type of sand you get in your area it may pay to add lime, for garden walls its a waste of time.
if and only if you are mixing a mortar for laying bricks, then a plastaciser like feb is essential, washing up liquid can be used but they dont tell you how much to use ( it needs to be quite accurate) again if its just a couple of courses of bricks then a liffle squirt per bucket of water should be about right.
Cheers Mal

Quote from: "poultrygeist"

Can I just add that if you want cement (not concrete) to be more workable and make it slightly flexible after curing, you can add lime to the mix.
I replace one part sand with an equal part of lime.
eg. for 6:1 mix make it 5:1:1 sand:lime:cement.

Rob

Don't you mean if you want 'mortar'?  Cement is just one constituent of mortar or concrete and on its own won't do anything except go hard and then fall apart.  Sand is the bonding agent in either mixture whilst stone or gravel is the ballast.

Yes

....and I think you've just quoted the wrong post !!