Mix Ratio For Good Concrete

A common mix ratio for good concrete is 1-2-4. So what exactly is a 1-2-4 concrete mix? It's quite simple - one part portland cement, two parts sand, and four parts gravel, along with just enough water to make a damp mixture and the minimum amount to reach a good viscosity for placement. If too much water is added to the mix, the finished strength of the concrete will be compromised and weakened.
It does not matter what kind of measuring device you use for each "part" of the mix - whether you use a spoon, shovel, bucket or wheelbarrow - as long as you use the same thing to measure each portion, you will be able to make good concrete for your projects.

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[melvinmantis]

I’m so glad that you are taking the time to create these videos. I’ve spent almost 3 years researching, learning, creating, failing, experimenting etc in an attempt to take my creative ability and a bag of concrete or what have you and successfully make a small business that can pay the bills, and perhaps more. An actual chance to live a lifestyle that is better suited for me. I’m still working on this idea and I’m now six months, unemployed, and continue to put forth a full time effort towards this possibility.
At first glance these videos told me plenty of the things that I feel I’d already managed to learn over the last couple of years, but as I continue to watch and learn from you a lot of the knowledge you possess is remarkable and humbling. I feel that all of these fundamentals and “instructions” are so beneficial. You truly touch base with so many of the areas in which I’ve had to self teach and learn from others, undoubtably, providing me with a combination of good and bad advice and so forth. So I am really & truly grateful for this information and look forward to viewing all of the videos that you are making. My only regret is that I couldn’t or didn’t find a substantial amount of resources of this caliber three years ago. Your videos are direct, full of proper information in detail and put together wonderfully. I commend you and hope others take notice and benefit from your channel and your knowledge of these topics in a way that I was not able. My apologies for the novel. I am going to get back to watching your videos and re/strengthening my personal knowledge. To better improve my small business plan and my concrete products. Cheers and thanks. 😊

[enirigby]

OMG Finally someone made this cement ratio easy! Thank you so much!

[The.Destroyer.Of.The.Worlds]

Thank you for these videos. Very well explained

[JoshBeards]

3:2:1
3 parts coarse aggregate
2 parts fine aggregate
1 part Portland cement
Water to cement ratio of ~0.4 is optimal.

Measured by weight, not by volume. Measuring by volume creates "bulking." Concrete is still made that way with that very ancient ratio. The modern ratio may vary slightly as 3.1:1.9:1, but it's still the same general ratio. It only varies slightly today because we've developed concretes more suited for their intended purpose.

A foundation concrete can have more coarse aggregate. An exposed decorative surface may have less coarse aggregate and more fine aggregate to help with finishing the surface.

[odiesclips]

Are you saying:
1 part Portland
2 parts sand
4 parts gravel??
If so, the visual container sizes are confusing? Thanks.

[GerardDonnelly-yxbh]

Thank you so much for this info.
Great presentation, intelligent and informative.
Many thanks. Regards Gerry.

[asadsaeed]

Thanks for the wonderful video n very clear explanation, emphasizing on the important points, please would you like to say something about the size of gravel as it comes in various sizes for different application.
Anything regarding the strength and economy factor, as you are an experienced and knowledgeable man.
Regards

[relardztv]

Waoowh super amazing good job because of your vlog tutorial I got some knowledge from you about concrete mixer

[aflj]

It isn't that simple. It depends on the size of the gravel. Sometimes you use multiple sorts of gravel, of different sizes.

Essentially, you need to use a mix where the amount of slury resulting from mizing water and cement is enough to coat all sand and gravel particles completely (but not more than that). Computing the ratios is complex, and by necessity imprecise, because gravel and sand grains are naturally not uniform in shape, which is why some experimentation is also needed. Therefore, different countries have developed different recipes for concrete, prescribing the quantities of cement, sand, different grades of gravel and water that go into mixes destined for different kinds of works - it makes no sense to use the same grade of concrete in a walkway and in a high-rise building's basement. Those recipes differ slightly, from one place to another, because the kind of aggregate (sand and gravel) that's available also differs, and the recipes take those differences into account.

What's damaging for concrete is to make it too wet. Once it sets, the water that isn't needed to react chemically with the cement to bind sand and pebbles together evaporates and leaves microscopic empty spaces behind. Those empty spaces weaken concrete.

What also makes concrete weak is too much cement. Concrete's strength doesn't în fact come from cement. Cement is just a rather soft binder between much harder particles. The hardness and strength of concrete comes from the stones and sand particles that lock the stones in place. You can easily test this by creating a small block made solely of cement and water - it will turn out brittle and weak.

One more important thing for concrete is the kind of sand that you use. Desert sand, or sand that was used for years in a sandbox or on some walkway, or beach sand, is not good for concrete. That sand was rolled around by wind and other forces for a very long time, and its particles have lost any sharp edges. Sharp edges on the grains of sand and gravel used in concrete are very important for concrete's strength. Without those sharp edges, there's no interlocking. Without interlocking, concrete's strength relies mainly on the binding properties of cement, which, as discussed above, is a rather weak material on its own.

[chinchillinchannel]

On a bag of Portland cement it says the mix should be 1:2:3 not 1:2:4. Why is there an extra scoop of gravel in your mix?

[arendvanderbliek]

A better mix ratio for concrete is: 1:2:3 according to the best bridge builders in the world, The Dutch Construction way and recomendations

[collegecall]

I want to build some weightlifting weights using concrete. What mix should I use?

[johnterpack]

Couple questions:
I just watched a video on a plasticizer. Now I'm curious as to the effect those have on strength. Because the change in viscosity from adding the plasticizer was insane. Do you know if that impacts the final strength?
Also, does the sand component make a difference? I'd like to use pumice and/or pearlite for different cosmetic effects in countertops. But would that hurt the strength of the concrete relative to ordinary sand? Assuming, of course, a standard 1-2-4 mix with minimal water. My understanding is that the sand is basically just a lattice for the cement and so shouldn't matter much.

[robertbiswanger]

I was always told 1-2-3 as well. As to water, you hear the term pour/poured concrete all tbe time. Concentrate is placed not "poured", if you can pour concrete its crap. Wet enough to form a tight ball when squeezed and hold shape. Any wetter and you lose strength.

[jamiebishop]

Since when did Seth Rogen become so helpful?!

[darylaguirre]

i taught the more cement the better, Im glad that I saw this..

[telestruct]

Thanks for your informative video.
Obviously you are using weight
-based proportion of 1:2:4, my question is what is the same volume-based proportion would be to get same strength. Thank you

[itsJoshW]

Straight to the point video, like it. This poses a question that I think you may be able to aid with as I cannot find much research on this (Or it's a bit outdated and based in older-internet forums, which I prefer to go to people I can verify actually know what they're discussing, verses anonymous person online, or classic mentality).

I'm looking at making DIY pavers, specifically out of plastic forms from Amazon; These would be more akin to a small side-walk like pavers in a backyard you would find at Home Depot, except DIY.
My question:
Would it preferably be better to simply purchase the premix of of Type N or Type S Mortar Mix, or would I obtain better visual results from a custom mixture of Portand Cement / Sand / Gravel mixture?


For basic background: The forms are 15"x15"x3", to simplify, it's also not a singular "slab" of this size, as each is broken up. And I have experience already with concrete work, however it's not particularly a job, it's more of a hobby and DIY improvements on my house.

Thank you!

[ChaosForLunch]

thanks ... what are the ratios for concrete for board formed concrete ... where you want the texture of the grain to cast in concrete ?

[sharonglazier]

I have 2 questions: For the ratio 1-2-4 what would be an approximate water amount? Second question Will you show us how to make air crete?