Good basic info, thanks Steve! Working with dry block though does absorb some moisture, so for workability on a warm dry day, I've noticed the mortar getting too stiff just from the capillary action of dry concrete block, so I keep it between those two batches in terms of moisture content. And it seems to have a fast gelling stage that happens 10-15 minutes after mixing a batch, making it suddenly stiffer. I wish we could use the Roman method of tamping lightly moistened concrete mix into forms, that definitely lasted the test of time, as the earliest Arc of triumph was done that way. 🏟️🏛️
I find your videos very useful. I have a question I hope you will answer. How thick can you pour a mix like this before you should add aggregate like crushed stone. I have large holes in my garage floor approaching 2" thick where the concrete has spalled badley. Should I do this in layers, perhaps adding aggregate to the lower layer? Or should I just use a sand and portland mix or a topping cement?
I went too wet on a small slab pour my first try and on my new project making garden bed long bricks i am worried i almost went too dry. Gonna hydrate it soon as its setting up now. I will probably put them in a wheel barrow with water if they fit
i made mine slightly wetter for fundation repairs of a wooden house, at the top where i had to get it propperly under the old fundation. does it weaken the concrete alot?
Your explanation here is very, very helpful. BUT, it may also be helpful to intentionally create a 'not so perfect' bond' on purpose so viewers can hear the hollow sound as opposed to the 'not hollow sound' with the hammer. Thank you for your work.
Hi Steve, my pool builder just sprayed the gunite three days ago and I heard that you need to wet down the concrete a few times a day for about a week which my builder did not tell me to do but I took it upon myself to spray it with garden hose to keep moist. I just got a call from him today to put a garden hose in the pool and start filling it up before the plaster? I have not seen this being done before in the research I've done, is this normal and what's the reasoning behind it? He said it help with the curing, is it because winter is coming up and temps are starting to drop into the freezing temps at night like 32-33°f Any info on this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for all the great vedios I have watch every one lol
Hi there i made cement in a pie plate and stuck driftwood in to make a craft , i had the water on top can i put dryer stuff on top to seal the cracks? ( i did it yesterday pulled it out today figured it will dry better but fell apart 😬😫🤣any ideas will help thank you ❤
@@israelclayman4489 well I should say it depends what climate your in , we're am in Ontario Canada we build pools very differant then the states , must more frost up here
@@israelclayman4489 why? Because if it freezes, it will greatly sacrifice the strength of the cement. Also concrete needs to properly cure for a month and the temp needs to not get to cold and interrupt the curring process. There are ways to speed up the drying process but ultimately it will weaken it to some extent. It's better to wait until the ideal time and not have to worry about it in the future but most people are not willing to wait.
I've been casting some pots that are quite detailed so the mix I've been using is wet. I have also been using a pigment to get a darker colour and the efflorescence is spoiling the finished item. Is this because my mix is so wet? Do you have a way to remedy this?
@@Swimmingpoolsteve I just watched. It definitely opens a new path for me to try. I'm from the UK and sometimes it's hard to find our equivalent. Do you have any recommendations? I guess I can always try dish soap to start with.
ahahaha concrete will setup under water.. a 5000 psi concrete with 20 gallons too much of water will still be 4000 psi when it dries.. how silly.. the problem is the volume.. if you keep the same amount of solids in the same space, water doesnt matter
You make mixing concrete seem like some kind of mystic formula. Then you open pre-mixed bags. You offer very little advice on actually mixing concrete. So I'll tell all your subscribers how it is done. Mixing concrete by hand in the UK with a cement mixer is an art in its self, but once mastered, it is as easy as taking a dump. The lowest general mix is 4 or 5 sand and aggregate mix (commonly known as all in) to 1 cement, the magic is in adding the right amount of water to the mix. Too much water and the concrete will take a long time to go hard, and difficult to work. Too little water and the concrete will be very hard to work and will dry green, and take a very long time to properly cure, both of the above will result is a very weak and dusty final finish. The colour of the mix should be a light gray colour and will pour and work with easy, but be stiff enough to stand up. Get the mix right and the concrete will go rock hard overnight and will cure a whitish colour. It is not hard to get a consistent mix, I recommend using buckets to measure out the premix ingredients before putting it into the mixer for a consistent mix every time. When the mix is too dry, simply add a little water, too wet, simply add a little more all in and cement. If the concrete is green and hard to work, add more cement only and possibly a little more water to get the whitish colour required. Never change the cement product being used half way, each cement product produces a different colour mix.
Spend the last half hour searching to find a video with this kind of content…thank you very much. 🧱 my only confusion is, where does the gravel enter the equation?
Good basic info, thanks Steve! Working with dry block though does absorb some moisture, so for workability on a warm dry day, I've noticed the mortar getting too stiff just from the capillary action of dry concrete block, so I keep it between those two batches in terms of moisture content. And it seems to have a fast gelling stage that happens 10-15 minutes after mixing a batch, making it suddenly stiffer. I wish we could use the Roman method of tamping lightly moistened concrete mix into forms, that definitely lasted the test of time, as the earliest Arc of triumph was done that way. 🏟️🏛️
Steve simple and clear.well done
Found both channels on my concrete journey
Can not agree more what a great video
Thank you! Very helpful.
I find your videos very useful. I have a question I hope you will answer. How thick can you pour a mix like this before you should add aggregate like crushed stone. I have large holes in my garage floor approaching 2" thick where the concrete has spalled badley. Should I do this in layers, perhaps adding aggregate to the lower layer? Or should I just use a sand and portland mix or a topping cement?
I went too wet on a small slab pour my first try and on my new project making garden bed long bricks i am worried i almost went too dry. Gonna hydrate it soon as its setting up now. I will probably put them in a wheel barrow with water if they fit
i made mine slightly wetter for fundation repairs of a wooden house, at the top where i had to get it propperly under the old fundation. does it weaken the concrete alot?
Your explanation here is very, very helpful. BUT, it may also be helpful to intentionally create a 'not so perfect' bond' on purpose so viewers can hear the hollow sound as opposed to the 'not hollow sound' with the hammer. Thank you for your work.
Hi Steve, my pool builder just sprayed the gunite three days ago and I heard that you need to wet down the concrete a few times a day for about a week which my builder did not tell me to do but I took it upon myself to spray it with garden hose to keep moist. I just got a call from him today to put a garden hose in the pool and start filling it up before the plaster? I have not seen this being done before in the research I've done, is this normal and what's the reasoning behind it? He said it help with the curing, is it because winter is coming up and temps are starting to drop into the freezing temps at night like 32-33°f
Any info on this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for all the great vedios I have watch every one lol
What would be the process and materials if needed for foundation Parging.
Some areas are pretty worn, probably 1/2 inch deep. Thanks
Frank
Hi there i made cement in a pie plate and stuck driftwood in to make a craft , i had the water on top can i put dryer stuff on top to seal the cracks? ( i did it yesterday pulled it out today figured it will dry better but fell apart 😬😫🤣any ideas will help thank you ❤
Couldnt tell how much water poured in from the orange bucket
so the humidity of the day i pour my concrete? does this help my dry mix absorb water from the bed
no aggregate? not concrete
Is it okay to have your pool deck poured in winter time
No
@@shanesimmons6079 why?
@@israelclayman4489 well I should say it depends what climate your in , we're am in Ontario Canada we build pools very differant then the states , must more frost up here
@@israelclayman4489 why? Because if it freezes, it will greatly sacrifice the strength of the cement. Also concrete needs to properly cure for a month and the temp needs to not get to cold and interrupt the curring process. There are ways to speed up the drying process but ultimately it will weaken it to some extent. It's better to wait until the ideal time and not have to worry about it in the future but most people are not willing to wait.
I've been casting some pots that are quite detailed so the mix I've been using is wet. I have also been using a pigment to get a darker colour and the efflorescence is spoiling the finished item. Is this because my mix is so wet? Do you have a way to remedy this?
Yes, this video should help you th-cam.com/video/7mGo37Tkm5c/w-d-xo.htmlsi=rsc8yqFxehV_EKmx
@@Swimmingpoolsteve I just watched. It definitely opens a new path for me to try. I'm from the UK and sometimes it's hard to find our equivalent. Do you have any recommendations? I guess I can always try dish soap to start with.
Newbie. What’s the other substance.
3 concrete to 1 ??
Thank you! 🍞
3 parts sand, 1 part portland cement
Québec M.T.L love 😅
It should look like porridge not soup
Is this a script being passed around?
ahahaha concrete will setup under water.. a 5000 psi concrete with 20 gallons too much of water will still be 4000 psi when it dries.. how silly.. the problem is the volume..
if you keep the same amount of solids in the same space, water doesnt matter
You make mixing concrete seem like some kind of mystic formula. Then you open pre-mixed bags. You offer very little advice on actually mixing concrete. So I'll tell all your subscribers how it is done. Mixing concrete by hand in the UK with a cement mixer is an art in its self, but once mastered, it is as easy as taking a dump. The lowest general mix is 4 or 5 sand and aggregate mix (commonly known as all in) to 1 cement, the magic is in adding the right amount of water to the mix. Too much water and the concrete will take a long time to go hard, and difficult to work. Too little water and the concrete will be very hard to work and will dry green, and take a very long time to properly cure, both of the above will result is a very weak and dusty final finish. The colour of the mix should be a light gray colour and will pour and work with easy, but be stiff enough to stand up. Get the mix right and the concrete will go rock hard overnight and will cure a whitish colour. It is not hard to get a consistent mix, I recommend using buckets to measure out the premix ingredients before putting it into the mixer for a consistent mix every time. When the mix is too dry, simply add a little water, too wet, simply add a little more all in and cement. If the concrete is green and hard to work, add more cement only and possibly a little more water to get the whitish colour required. Never change the cement product being used half way, each cement product produces a different colour mix.
Not pre mixed bags. Sand and Portland cement. Thank you for your comment.
Spend the last half hour searching to find a video with this kind of content…thank you very much. 🧱 my only confusion is, where does the gravel enter the equation?
We are making a concrete floor, and a good ratio is: 1 part of cement, 3 of sand and 2 of gravel. The floor got perfect:!