Hand Mixed Concrete - 2 Min tips

As many tips about concrete and hand mixing I can get through in 2 minutes. If you are new to using concrete around the house and garden then there are some important things to understand before 'giving it a go'!

[KY-wvdx]

Invaluable advice. Used your method to concrete in a gate post. The first method ended up cracking using a ready mix. The second attempt also failed using postcrete and the water and mix went straight into nextdoors'! The materials you recommended, the measuring and the visual clues that the mix is ready means I have now have a gate again!!

[johnduncan]

Only thing I would add is gauging, best to use a container to measure you ballast and cement to get exact ratio. The Victorians discovered when building the sewers, you had some parts failing because the variation in strength depending on who was mixing the concrete for footings or mortar for brickwork. So they introduce gauging, everybody used the same mix x buckets of sand to x buckets of cement human error removed.

[gregarrell]

Good advice and I repeat what others have said. Use a bucket, box or other item to gauge the mis proportions. Also, as you said, keep mixing a while before adding more water as I the mix will often become more workable without more water. Best thing I have found for small quantities is use a drill powered paddle or garden auger for mixing. At 72, My back and shoulders are not up to heavy shovel or Larry (mortar hoe) action any more.

[stevec]

Glad that at long last someone mentioned that concrete does not dry - but it cures! Few people seem to know that?

[rogerkretzschmar]

Thanks, helped a lot on my second attempt to concrete in my pergola/ fence posts. Can't believe how easier it was using garden hoe.
One tip from me, if it belongs to the wife, make sure shes busy elsewhere before borrowing it !

[neilevans]

Excellent, never used concrete before, but a bit more confident now.

[johnnyred]

Great to find someone with common sense tips . Thanks

[MLabuk]

Brilliant video mate, concise and informative! Keep it going, thanks

[jonkirkwood]

Too few concrete finishers know the relationship between hydration and strength of concrete. For posts and unreinforced walkways, I stop adding water when the concrete is just workable. It's harder to screed and tamp, but it's worth the work. The Romans figured this out millennia ago.

[aiden]

Great vid. Straight to the point - helped me out massively 👌🏽

[Cspr]

Another good way is if you have one of those Screwfix Titan drills or similar 'cheap workhorses' and a decent mixing paddle. Put all your stuff in a garden rubber bucket and use the drill and mixing paddle to mix it up. It is a lot easier on you and you get a really good mix. I do this method for plaster as well. Though you need one of the more robust mixing paddles, but should only cost £10-£20.

[darattaqwa]

Another beneficial video, all this time I’ve only been using sand with cement, I didn’t even know about ballast, when should we use ballast instead of sand?

[leahchapple]

Thank you for this channel (not sounding sexist) but as a woman who is willing to have a go at any DIY i need to learn how to mix sand and cement (ratio) and other advice in DIY.

[qaduhussain]

Thanks for your informative and valuable information.

[stevebell]

With mastercrete being enhanced, if using other brands often useful to add some plasticiser. For doing concrete bases/slabs easier to trowel up as less water comes to surface. Generally makes shovelling concrete easier too and gets air out quicker when tamping.

[chrisbardellartist]

Great video, could you please do a video on how to lay a basic patio, I have a patch of soil in my garden with rocks in it where the previous owner ripped out a conservatory but it's been left like a mess and want to lay slabs so it looks normal

[larslindgren]

For small batches of concrete it is much easier and less mess to mix it in a plastic bag by massaging the outside of the bag and turn it over till it is mixed.

[somewhereelse]

Hey thanks for these vids. Really helpful for us useless ones! Appreciate them.

[leonmorgans]

Wish I'd seen this before laying my concrete pad for shed! Mix was a bit too dry and I was a bit slow. Consequently I have a poor surface. I'm just going to run a strong (but loose) sand and cement 'screed' over the top and hope for the best 😂😂

[ruaraidhmcdonald-walker]

Perfect! Just the job! What's the best way to dispose of the washings from the barrow/spade/tools etc? Guessing not just down the drain?