DIY Concrete Mix for a Slab Basement
Creating concrete mix for a slab basement may sound like a job meant only for the professionals, but it is very possible for a homeowner to create the mix by themselves and still have professional quality material. Knowing the types and the amounts of all the needed ingredients is the key when it comes to preparing concrete mix for a home slab basement.
Items needed:
- Safety goggles
- Rubber boots
- Protective clothing
- Gloves
- Wheelbarrow
- Spade
- Cement
- Gravel
- Sand
- Water
Instructions:
- Mix the accurate amounts of the materials inside the wheelbarrow with the spade. First the cement, the gravel, the sand and followed last by the water. Most commonly, the measurements of these materials is marked at one part cement, two parts sand and three parts gravel. The bag that the cement originally came in should have measurements labeled on it, along with the measurements for water.
- Fill the wheelbarrow three-quarters of the way high to ensure the materials will stay inside of the wheelbarrow and not spill over the edges. If less material is needed at the time then less can be created by reducing the parts accurately. To fill the wheelbarrow three-quarters high the materials should be stirred in with the spade at two parts cement, four parts sand and six parts gravel. This will be an accurate ratio of that which was described in step one.
- Add water to the mix inside the wheelbarrow gradually. Generally the amount is to use the amount of half a bucket. The bucket should be a common household bucket. The cement bag will list specific measurements.
- Stir the materials until they are evenly mixed together. Once the concrete is finished the rest of the project can be continued.