O/T concrete mixing advice please

[OzMike]

I guess that scenario would depend on access to the site to be concreted.

Sounds like a rear garden to me.

Use a wheelbarrow then.

 

[CAPTAIN GREALISH]

bulk bag of ballast 5 cement will do the job

 

[The Clamp]

Really, well good luck to you. Just learn from the advice given instead of using the info satnav style and learning nothing. Have fun.............x

Self edited

 

[thedevonseagull]

A dumpy bag will usually be around 850Kg (not a ton), but one bag should suffice along with 6 bags of cement. If you chucked a handful of fibres into each mix, that should stop it from cracking.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

You would be better off putting a 2.4m x 2.4m x 100mm high shuttering ply timber surround around the area to be concreted.
I would get 2 x 2.4m x 1.2m steel reinforcing grids as well, make sure what you have there is compacted and then get one of those 'Concrete Taxi' type firms around with ready mix in their little mixers and pour it in whilst incorporating the reinforcing sheets about midway through the height of the mix.
Then get the driver, who is normally a skilled concrete layer to smooth over the top before he leaves.
Whist it is drying sprinkle water from a hose over it periodically to stop it cracking.
When dry knock out the timbers, voila concrete pad.
In quick time, with little mess and no waste.

I agree with all you say, but reinforcing it. Seems a bit OTT for your own garden and like i said i would not want to be digging that up a couple of years when you decide you no longer want a hot tub there perhaps you want to change it into a flower bed or lawn.

Having said that if he is thinking of selling in a few years, he may not worry about the long term 2.4 x 2.4 metre slab of solid concrete in his garden!!

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

Get some cheap paving slabs - easier and probably more pleasing on the eye ....

 

[OzMike]

I agree with all you say, but reinforcing it. Seems a bit OTT for your own garden and like i said i would not want to be digging that up a couple of years when you decide you no longer want a hot tub there perhaps you want to change it into a flower bed or lawn.

Having said that if he is thinking of selling in a few years, he may not worry about the long term 2.4 x 2.4 metre slab of solid concrete in his garden!!

I thought you were going to put a hot tub on it, do some research and find out how much it weights when full of water and people,
I'd reinforce it and the steel mesh is as cheap as chips.

 

[Titanic]

Hot tub base

and there we have it... this isn't about concrete mixing at all... it is a "Look at me I've got a swanky new hot tub" thread

 

[Deleted member 2719]

I thought you were going to put a hot tub on it, do some research and find out how much it weights when full of water and people,
I'd reinforce it and the steel mesh is as cheap as chips.

No it's not me with a hot tub.

I am much more of a shed man, some where that you can do things in rather than sit about drinking Prosecco.

I have not seen the base of a hot tub but surely all this weight would be spread over the whole base size of the tub, therefore spreading the PSI.

However i am no structural engineer, but when i have built things i generally i go too heavy duty to regret it later!

 

[OzMike]

No it's not me with a hot tub.

I am much more of a shed man, some where that you can do things in rather than sit about drinking Prosecco.

I have not seen the base of a hot tub but surely all this weight would be spread over the whole base size of the tub, therefore spreading the PSI.

However i am no structural engineer, but when i have built things i generally i go too heavy duty to regret it later!

I've built 2 x houses, carports and a couple of big sheds since being here.
I put reo in everything as it is cheap, takes little effort to incorporate and increases durability.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

I've built 2 x houses, carports and a couple of big sheds since being here.
I put reo in everything as it is cheap, takes little effort to incorporate and increases durability.

I totally agree in the price the effort and the strength are all positive, but my theory is hot tubs will come and go, when you do not want one anymore or can't afford to replace the broken one years down the line, will you want to dig up a bomb proof slab of concrete?

Just my thought, from a man who has only built houses in lego.

 

[Since1982]

Our hot tub has sat comfortably on paving slabs for nearly 10 years on levelled ground at both our current and previous house.