Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: Leaf on March 25, 2008, 20:30
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Noticed quite a few question about cementing, here is a easy guide.
6:1 is good enough for "most" jobs in the allotment/garden
for 1 ton of sand/ballast you will need 6 bags of cement
To work out M3- LengthxWidthxDepth
To work out Ton (approx) Divide M3 by 0.6
General depths
Laying paving Slabs 50mm
Concrete base 100mm
for a proper job 100-150mm of hardcore/type1
Hope this helps someone.
P.s M3 works for topsoil tonage etc
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Noticed quite a few question about cementing, here is a easy guide.
6:1 is good enough for "most" jobs in the allotment/garden
for 1 ton of sand/ballast you will need 6 bags of cement
To work out M3- LengthxWidthxDepth
To work out Ton (approx) Divide M3 by 0.6
General depths
Laying paving Slabs 50mm
Concrete base 100mm
for a proper job 100-150mm of hardcore/type1
Hope this helps someone.
P.s M3 works for topsoil tonage etc
Good stuff. What about concrete? For putting in holes for concreting posts and things into the ground, I've always gone for 6:3:1 - stone, sand, cement. It's always worked for me, but can't really remember where I got this ratio from. Is it ok d'you think?
Mixing basic concrete as well just for holes, if hand-mixing I never mix it wet on a board. Too much extra work it seems. I always bung 2 parts stone down on the board, followed by 1 part sand, half part cement, 2 more stone, 1 more sand, half part cement, 2 stone and finally 1 sand. That's 6:3:1 and already partially mixed. A few turns with a shovel, still dry till it's well mixed. Then I put about 3 inches of water in a bucket, bit more or less depending on the dampness of the sand, then just quickly fill it up with the dry mix. Let it stand a few mins, give it an odd kick to settle and then bung it straight in the hole. It saves a wet mass on a board, the mixing-board lasts longer, it's less labour and dead quick I find. I wouldn't do this for a concrete pad or path, probably use a mixer anyway cos of greater amount, but the dry method had served me well for basic holes. Give it a try.
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or just use a bag of post mix,set your post pour out the bag into the hole and give it a drink,hard in 10 minutes :wink:
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give it a drink,hard in 10 minutes :wink:
I was going to make a comment, but thought better of it! :oops:
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give it a drink,hard in 10 minutes :wink:
I was going to make a comment, but thought better of it! :oops:
you always twist things around :roll: :wink:
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give it a drink,hard in 10 minutes :wink:
I was going to make a comment, but thought better of it! :oops:
you always twist things around :roll: :wink:
I've been observing a master in the art!
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give it a drink,hard in 10 minutes :wink:
I was going to make a comment, but thought better of it! :oops:
s'funny, for me it's the other way around....... :cry:
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Boys, BOYS :shock:
I've addid this topic to the Tips sticky (so try to keep it clean) :roll:
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Can I just add that if you want cement (not concrete) to be more workable and make it slightly flexible after curing, you can add lime to the mix.
I replace one part sand with an equal part of lime.
eg. for 6:1 mix make it 5:1:1 sand:lime:cement.
If you just want to add a plasticiser and don't have any, add a couple of drops of washing up liquid to the water before mixing.
Good for brick/blocklaying.
Rob
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ok, ballast is stone and sand already mixed, use this for post hole and bases etc, for fence posts mix up dry, put in hole, tamp down hard then add some water if the ground is dry, or use post mix but it is alot more expensive if you have a few to do!
if your building a house and dependant on the type of sand you get in your area it may pay to add lime, for garden walls its a waste of time.
if and only if you are mixing a mortar for laying bricks, then a plastaciser like feb is essential, washing up liquid can be used but they dont tell you how much to use ( it needs to be quite accurate) again if its just a couple of courses of bricks then a liffle squirt per bucket of water should be about right.
Cheers Mal :D
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Can I just add that if you want cement (not concrete) to be more workable and make it slightly flexible after curing, you can add lime to the mix.
I replace one part sand with an equal part of lime.
eg. for 6:1 mix make it 5:1:1 sand:lime:cement.
Rob
Don't you mean if you want 'mortar'? Cement is just one constituent of mortar or concrete and on its own won't do anything except go hard and then fall apart. Sand is the bonding agent in either mixture whilst stone or gravel is the ballast.
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Can I just add that if you want cement (not concrete) to be more workable and make it slightly flexible after curing, you can add lime to the mix.
I replace one part sand with an equal part of lime.
eg. for 6:1 mix make it 5:1:1 sand:lime:cement.
Rob
Don't you mean if you want 'mortar'? Cement is just one constituent of mortar or concrete and on its own won't do anything except go hard and then fall apart. Sand is the bonding agent in either mixture whilst stone or gravel is the ballast.
Yes
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Boys, BOYS :shock:
I've addid this topic to the Tips sticky (so try to keep it clean) :roll:
And you've called it cement as well when really you meant concrete.
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....and I think you've just quoted the wrong post !! :wink:
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....but well spotted. It does need pointing out to avoid confusion.
I'm about to knock up some mortar myself before it rains (using cement....and lime) so I'll leave you to it. :)
Rob
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....and I think you've just quoted the wrong post !! :wink:
Nay I don't think so. If you go to the sticky it says 'cement' and then links straight to this thread which is really talking about concrete (or mortar).
Pedantic I suppose so sorry for that, but I just imagined some young or otherwise inexperienced person, or even a lady going into a builder's yard and saying "Yes, I have an allotment and want to put some fence posts up so I need to make some cement! How much, erm, (checks notes) ballast do I need for 4 holes?" At best they're at risk of a condescending answer, at worst sniggers, and maybe ripped off.
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I'll let you off then ! :)
I see what you were referring to. Quite right that the info needs to be correct or pointless posting it.
I suspect that those same people could well be treated condescendingly and ripped off anyway !
Some builders merchants have a long way to go yet :?
Cheers for the corrections. I have actually known builders who call mortar cement and prob wouldn't realise their mistake. Frightening really.
Rob
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oh dear, i hope my thread has not caused confusion, i am a builder/landscaper/groundworker, we call cement "dust" mortar a "gauge" and ballast/cement i.e concrete muck or a mix.
I do hope this has confused you more. Stop wasting money on lime!!!
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:lol:
I like my lime - and I've got a big bag of it to use up !!
I'm building a porch (very slowly) and with the age of the bungalow and depth of foundations, it needs a bit of flexibility.
Rob
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i just ring hanson :roll: you guys are funny :lol: :wink:
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oh dear, i hope my thread has not caused confusion, i am a builder/landscaper/groundworker, we call cement "dust" mortar a "gauge" and ballast/cement i.e concrete muck or a mix.
I do hope this has confused you more. Stop wasting money on lime!!!
Oh dear indeed. These trade jargons are ok for the trade but will only confuse novices. Maybe that's the idea. :wink: Next you'll be telling them to go and ask for a 'long stand' or a glass hammer.
I've never heard of cement being called dust, or mortar called a gauge. I agree that concrete is sometimes called a mix, but I thought muck was what horses produced and what you spread on your allotment.
I recall being assured that it would be frowned upon and result in a fail mark in City & Guilds welding exams if a gas cylinder was referred to as a gas bottle. Still, loads of people call it a bottle.
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oh dear, i hope my thread has not caused confusion, i am a builder/landscaper/groundworker, we call cement "dust" mortar a "gauge" and ballast/cement i.e concrete muck or a mix.
I do hope this has confused you more. Stop wasting money on lime!!!
Oh dear indeed. These trade jargons are ok for the trade but will only confuse novices. Maybe that's the idea. :wink: Next you'll be telling them to go and ask for a 'long stand' or a glass hammer.
I've never heard of cement being called dust, or mortar called a gauge. I agree that concrete is sometimes called a mix, but I thought muck was what horses produced and what you spread on your allotment.
I recall being assured that it would be frowned upon and result in a fail mark in City & Guilds welding exams if a gas cylinder was referred to as a gas bottle. Still, loads of people call it a bottle.
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And I thought lime was southerners put in their lager :roll: never thought of using it in building. :shock:
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And I thought lime was southerners put in their lager :roll: never thought of using it in building. :shock:
:lol: :lol:
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My point to my last post was not to confuse but to merely state it doesnt matter what you call it as long as you/anyone else knows what you mean
Mal 8)