When you are planning a concrete project in your backyard, there are several different options you can choose from for acquiring your concrete. Depending on your experience and your access to the required tools for the project, you can do some or all of the work yourself. Here are some concrete source options for your next backyard concrete project.
Mix Your Own Concrete
For a small concrete project in your yard, it may be best to use a bagged dry-mix concrete, which comes ready to combine with water. You can find bagged concrete at most home improvement stores, which is easy to mix up with the required amount of water until the concrete is at the proper consistency. Depending on how much you need to mix up at one time for your project, you can mix it in a wheelbarrow, a five-gallon bucket, or a portable concrete mixer.
If mixing it in a wheelbarrow, empty the bagged concrete into one end of the wheelbarrow. Add a majority of the required water into the other end of the wheelbarrow and begin combining the two in the middle of the wheelbarrow, using a shovel. As you combine them together, add more water until your mixture begins to have the consistency of thick oatmeal. If you accidentally add too much water to the mixture and your concrete is watery, open another bag of dry-mix concrete and use a hand trowel to scoop some into the mixture, mixing it together until it resembles thick oatmeal.
Order Ready Mix Concrete
When you are planning a large concrete installation in your backyard, it can be best to order a batch of concrete from a local concrete supplier. They will mix all the components into your ready mix concrete, adding any stabilizers or additives to help the concrete cure in extreme weather to have it delivered right to your house.
Ordering a large batch from a concrete supplier can help you in pouring the concrete. Pouring the concrete from a large ready mixed batch helps the entire concrete project have the same strength and consistency. If you were to pour your own concrete in small batches you mix yourself, the concrete will set at varying times and it will not be one solid surface. Each batch you mix up may have slight variations in its mixture. For example, one batch may have too much water, another may be too dry. This can cause your concrete to be less strong and not have a consistent look to its surface.
Use this information to help you decide in ordering concrete for your next backyard project. Talk with companies like New Interstate Concrete for more information.
Share26 June 2017
When I first moved into our house, I realized that the place needed a little bit of work. In addition to missing part of the back lawn, there was also an empty RV pad and a missing patio. I thought about what to do, and I realized that the best thing might be to hire a concrete contractor to make things right. After we got settled, we started pricing services. We were able to find an incredible contractor that we knew would do a good job. After he poured the pads, it was amazing to see how much better things looked. Read my blog for ideas on how to finish your property, so that you aren't left looking at an eyesore.