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Can you use a dirt wall as a form when pouring concrete?
It is possible to use a dirt wall when pouring concrete, but the liquid of the concrete will not make neat edges. The wall must be tamped firmly. This will work on shorter projects, but not on taller ones.
What grade of concrete will result in a mix of 3 2 1?
Mixing concrete is a basic skill that all DIY enthusiasts should know how to do. Concrete is one of the most common and inexpensive construction materials on the planet being comprised mostly of sand, gravel and cement. Mixing concrete is similar to baking in that to achieve consistent results it is best to follow a specific recipe. There are a multitude of different concrete mixes for different applications depending on the strength, workability and application for the concrete. Mixing concrete is very much a science for professionals, but to the average backyard enthusiast, learning the basics of concrete is enough to get you started. When mixing concrete you will need to mix aggregates such as sand and gravel along with cement powder and water as a catalyst to begin the chemical process of bonding the ingredients together. Mixing concrete is a function of proportions where you will measure the volume of aggregate used to the volume of cement used. The most common concrete mix used worldwide is the 3-2-1 mix which uses three parts gravel, two parts sand and one part cement. Water is added with the idea that you should use as little water as possible to make the concrete workable for what you need it for. Concrete viscosity is measured by "slump" which refers to a specific test where the amount that a cone filed with concrete will lose its shape once the cone is removed is measured in inches or mm. A concrete with zero slump would be very rigid and dry and inclined to hold its shape, where a concrete with a slump of six inches or more would be extremely wet and not inclined to hold a shape. The 3-2-1 mix is so widely used since you can fill large areas with concrete for relatively cheap. You could potentially use only sand and cement, no gravel, to create what is called mortar. In the 3-2-1 mix the gravel serves as a filler taking up a great deal of space while retaining a relatively high overall strength. The disadvantage of the 3-2-1 mix is that the larger gravel aggregate will often float to the surface during finishing, and is unsuitable for thin or detailed concrete applications. The best overall mix for a DIY enthusiast to memorize and use is a simple 3:1 mortar mix. By using three parts sand and one part mortar you can create the strongest concrete possible as well as concrete that is easy to finish and detail with designs, templates or stamps. By not using the gravel the mortar will have a smoother overall consistency, but will ultimately occupy less volume than concrete made using gravel as well. If you are pouring very large volumes of concrete the gravel could prove to be cost effective however for most DIY projects a 3:1 mortar mix is the way to go. The sand that you need to use for a 3:1 mortar mix should be sharp sand, or masonry sand or jointing sand. Each place that you purchase sand will use a different term so it can be confusing when shopping. All that you need to remember is to avoid play sand. Play sand is sand that has been washed and sterilized (this is ok) and then tumbled to soften all the edges of the individual sand grains (this is bad). The sharp edges of the sand help to hold together the concrete mix better than the rounded edges of the tumbled sand. Ideally you would like to find sand from landscape supply stores which will sell to you by the cubic yard. With a strong trailer you can pick up as much sand as you could possibly need for next to nothing - plus the quality of the sand for making cement will be very high. The applications for a DIY enthusiast to use a 3:1 mortar mix are huge. Everything from fixing broken outdoor steps and stairs, driveways, patios, decks, ponds, waterfalls, artificial rock, statues and much more is possible with a simple mix of sand, cement and water. Start with small concrete projects to get a better feel and understanding for how to work with concrete. Since concrete is so popular world wide, and is a highly advanced science, you will never run out of interesting concrete applications to learn about or try. Combined with being the most affordable construction material on the planet and readily available everywhere - learning to mix basic concrete recipes is a fundamental DIY project. Canadian author and second generation swimming pool expert Steve Goodale has an extensive tutorial series and online following for his instructional information on artificial rock and swimming pool construction and repair.
Purpose of slump test for concrete?
To check the consistency of the concrete; to determine if the concrete flow smoothly into the shape of the formwork. It is a quick check to see if the concrete is suitable for use.
How much will it cost for a 1800 square foot gravel driveway?
It depends on the depth you want the gravel to be and also how much you are charged per cubic yard. However, you will need a minimum of 2,565.5 cubic yards of gravel if you use a 4-inch depth to cover 1,800 square feet. This equates to roughly 28.5 tons of gravel.
What is the use of lean concrete?
Main function of the lean concrete is to provide the uniform surface to the foundation concrete and to prevent the direct contact of foundation concrete from the soil. Lean concrete is used under the foundations.
What is gravel for?
The main industrial use for gravel is to pave roads and paths. Gravel is also used to help make concrete.
Can you use a dirt wall as a form when pouring concrete?
It is possible to use a dirt wall when pouring concrete, but the liquid of the concrete will not make neat edges. The wall must be tamped firmly. This will work on shorter projects, but not on taller ones.
What uses for gravel?
The main industrial use for gravel is to pave roads and paths. Gravel is also used to help make concrete.
Does pea gravel work?
Pea gravel works if you use it at the bottom of an aquarium. You can also use it to make walkways and other concrete surfaces.
What's the purpose of gravel in concrete?
Gravel occupies about 70-80% of the volume of concrete.It makes concrete economicalStrength of the concrete is determined only by the gravel. i.e., the body of the concrete.Property of concrete determined by the type of aggregate used.Shrinkage is less when larger size aggregate is used.
What material do you use to fill in holes in concrete?
Cement mixed with water, sand (gravel) - in other words more concrete.
Is lightweight concrete sturdy enough for a sidewalk?
This will depend on what the use of the sidewalk is. It would not work in a busy urban area, but as a path in the garden it would work well.
What do you use to turn concrete into gravel?
jack hammer, sledge hammer, lots of time, lots of work
Why use sand in concrete?
The sand (ballast) provides strength, hardness, and durability. The cement binds the sand/gravel together.
Why is limestone used as an aggregate?
Crushed limestone course aggregate for concrete is typically sold in competition with natural river gravel. River gravel is usually dug from deposits found in the bends of major rivers which have flowed out of rocky terrain. These stones are usually very hard and typically round because they have been broken away from the hills and then water currents literally "polish" them as they roll down the river. This gravel is found in deposits that also contain sand most of the time. Usually there is more sand than gravel. Many gravel deposits contain stones that are about the correct size to make concrete, so the only prep work necessary is to separate the sand from the gravel and remove any clay, wood or other foreign material. Because it is relatively easy to produce river gravel as compared to crushed limestone, usually the first source of aggregates developed for a community is gravel. As the gravel deposits are depleted and people learn the advantages of crushed aggregate, the use of crushed limestone in concrete increases. Crushed limestone has several important advantages over river gravel as an aggregate for concrete. First, for a given amount of cement in the mix, crushed limestone concrete will have an approximately 10% strength advantage. This strength advantage comes from the fact that cement bonds tighter to limestone than to a slick/smooth gravel and the strength that is derived from the sharp angular faces of the crushed aggregate. Second, because crushed limestone has a lighter unit weight than gravel, it will require about 12% less crushed limestone than gravel to mix a cubic yard of concrete. Additionally, crushed limestone concrete is easier to saw through than gravel concrete. This is because most gravel is silica. Silica is almost impossible to cut with a steel saw. Crushed limestone concrete also has a lower thermal coefficient of expansion than gravel concrete. This means that slabs poured with limestone concrete will expand and contract less than gravel concrete for a given change in temperature. Studies have shown that this thermal stability coupled with limestone's superior curing properties results in greater crack spacing, and less crack width in limestone concrete slabs.
How do you use the word graveling in a sentence?
as defined by Websters...gravelingpresent participle of grav·el (Verb)1. Cover (an area of ground) with gravel.2. Make (someone) angry or annoyed."I'm graveling the sidewalk so we don't slip when we go outside today.""You're graveling Thomas with your bad jokes!"
How do you use a cement mixer?
turn it on, shovel either bagged concrete or sand, cement, and gravel, mix with water and watch it spin. intil u go mad
