Kneading of concrete: the ratio of the components in the

Concrete without exaggeration can be called a unique material. It can be used at all stages of building construction. In this article, we consider what proportions are necessary for this + concrete kneading as a process, its composition, and we will learn the recommendations of specialists.

General information

The material is so multifaceted in its application that not only powerful foundations, walls and roofs of houses are made of it, but also:

• pavement tiles;
• street vases;
• kitchen countertops.

At first glance, it may seem that there is nothing difficult in its preparation, but this should be done with due regard for a number of points that determine its suitability, only in this case will it be possible to obtain high-quality material. The recipe by which the concrete solution is prepared may include different ratios of its constituent components.

It all depends on where it will be used and for what purpose. However, it is worthwhile to first understand what concrete is, and what characteristics it possesses.

If you do not go into details, the material is a solution of sand-cement mixture and filler. Modern technology provides for the enrichment of concrete with plasticizers.

Such special additives give concrete unique properties.

1. Conventional concrete consists of mixtures of cement and sand, the price of which is quite low.. It is used to create a substrate when laying the foundation. Although its strength is considered insignificant, it does not give reason to subside and reliably protects it from moisture.
2. In stronger formulations, a filler must be added.. For these purposes, most often use crushed stone of different fractions. The purity and composition of the components of a concrete mix can affect the final quality.

Tip: if you have to dismantle concrete structures, you will be helped to cut reinforced concrete with diamond circles with special equipment.

The ratio of components in the composition

The composition of concrete may vary depending on the purpose for which it is prepared.

Consider examples:

1. To lay the foundation, concrete of special strength is needed, to which crushed stone of an average largest fraction is necessarily added. In addition, there should be a sufficient amount of cement-sand mixture to secure the aggregate. So that the material is well compacted and does not contain air bubbles, the solution is made liquid. This makes it easy to spread over the surface. Pour it on a pre-prepared concrete substrate.
2. The small and medium fraction aggregate is added to the concrete used to make balusters and garden décor elements, as well as to fill small structures, such as steps or a porch.

Tip: when preparing a mortar, use the following proportions of concrete mixing in a concrete mixer - mix cement, sand and aggregate in a ratio of 1: 3: 6, diluting such a mixture depending on the required fluidity of the solution with 0.5 or 1 part of water.

But if you do not adhere to this proportion, the result may sometimes turn out to be unsatisfactory, and this will not be immediately apparent, therefore it will be too late to make corrections.

In order not to encounter such problems, it is necessary to make a preliminary calculation, based on the presented regulatory documents. This is due to the fact that the density parameters and binding characteristics of cement, sand and aggregate may be different in each case.

Having made the calculation, you need to choose the method of measuring the components.

This can be done in two ways:

1. by volume;
2. by weight.

It is worth remembering that the first option is less accurate than the weight one. For example, the weight of wet sand in a 10 l bucket will differ significantly from the estimated ratio of volume to density of concrete.

Tip: do not try to do an approximate calculation of the amount of any wet component, it is better to try to dry the same sand and gravel. After weighing a portion of each of the components, you can come to one volume.

What and where to mix concrete

Depending on the amount of material, you can knead the solution mechanized or do it yourself, i.e. by hand. The first involves the use of a concrete mixer or concrete mixer.

The equipment thoroughly mixes the mixture for several minutes, so the solution is more qualitative. You can manually prepare the solution in a normal trough with a shovel, but only in a small amount.

In practice, two types of manual kneading are used:

1. A certain amount of water is poured into the container and the cement is poured. After thorough mixing, add sand and crushed stone. Then the solution is well mixed until a homogeneous consistency;
2. A dry mix of sand and cement is prepared in the container. In the center of the mixture, a hollow is made in the form of a funnel, water is poured into it and the solution is mixed with a spade from the edges to the center of the funnel. Water is added as necessary until concrete of the desired plasticity is obtained.

It is worth noting that with prolonged stirring, the solution begins to delaminate. But if you shorten the time of mixing, the concrete can remain unabated. As practice shows, it is more convenient to knead the solution in the first embodiment.

It should be noted that the process of mixing by hand is very time consuming, so it is better to use a rented concrete mixer. It is better to place it not far from the place of direct construction, in order to prevent the ready-made solution to stratify during transportation.

Tip: if you have to lay communications through the thickness of the foundation, diamond drilling of holes in concrete with professional crowns will help you.

Concrete mixing process

Most concrete mixers have a volume of 200 liters. Therefore, in drawing up the proportion, the total volume of all components must be exactly this parameter. In the construction of private houses, as a rule, they use a gravitational concrete mixer in the form of a drum with blades inside, rotating in a horizontal direction.

Tip: the more horizontally the location of the concrete mixer drum, the better the batch is obtained.

Include the unit, as a rule, still empty.

When loading components into the mixer drum, the following instructions should be followed:

1. Water is poured a little less than it should be.
2. Half of a portion of cement is filled up.
3. Added all prepared gravel.
4. The remaining cement is poured.
5. Gradually sand is poured in small portions.
6. If necessary, add the remaining water.

Three-minute rotation of the drum is enough for making concrete. If you reduce the time of mixing, lumps may remain, but you also don’t need to tighten with the unit off - the solution may begin to delaminate.

The finished composition should be immediately used. For its transportation to the place of work is better to use a wheelbarrow. The remnants of the material that do not fit in the wheelbarrow can be left in the drum, but in this case it is better to leave the concrete mixer on.

Conclusion

Proper preparation of the concrete mix is ​​a prerequisite for creating high-quality construction, especially for the foundation, walls and floors. In each of these cases, the solution must be made according to regulatory documents.

You can prepare the mixture mechanically or manually. The video in this article will help you find additional information on this topic.