How to make concrete

• Ingredients for making concrete are

  • Cement

  • Sand (Coarse)

  • Aggregate (20mm and down size)

• Concrete mix 1(cement):1.5(sand):3(aggregates) must be used. Other concrete mixes used primarily for PCC are 1:2:4, 1:3:6 and 1:5:10

• As far as possible concrete must be mixed in a mixer machine and not hand mixed

• If hand mixing, ensure that the ingredients are dry mixed completely before adding water

 

Steps for making concrete are:

• Identify a levelled and clean surface for mixing concrete. The place should be as close as possible to the location where concrete is to be used.

• Place concrete mixer at the edge of the identified place and cover the surface with either a metal sheet or a ply board sheet.

• Pour half the quantity of stone aggregates based on the mix ratio into the mixer.

• Follow this by pouring  half the quantity of coarse sand into the mixer

• Pour entire quantity of cement into the mixer

• Follow steps 3 and 4 again by pouring balance quantity of aggregates followed by balance quantity of sand into the mixer.

• Let the ingredients mix for some time in dry state.

• Pour water slowly into the mixer in intervals watching until the mix appears workable.

• Do not use excessive water as it reduces the strength of the concrete.

• Keep some dry mix separately and mix it in case you find concrete to be excessively soupier.

• Empty the concrete from the mixer onto the surface prepared in Step 1 and 2.