How big of a slab could I do by myself?

[quicksandfarmer]

I keep my tractor in a one-car garage in the winter. It's about 13'x18' on the outside, so 12x17 on the inside give or take. The floor is gravel, which is a pain because if I drop anything it's easy to lose. So I've been thinking about pouring a concrete floor. I spent some time calling around to concrete contractors in my area, but I guess it's a small job for them because when I say it's a one-car garage they lose interest.

So I'm thinking of pouring it myself. I've done a little bit of concrete work, the biggest pour I've done was 70 60lb bags, but I had my sons to help with that. For that I rented an electric mixer. This would probably be around twice that. I'm not afraid of the physical work, but what I'm afraid of is not being fast enough and ending up with an enormous mess when the concrete starts to set up before I'm ready.

So I'm looking for tips. It seems like one approach would be to do it in sections. Would it make sense to add a retarder? Since it's under roof I wouldn't have to worry about the weather, but would that invite other issues? Other thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[dodge man]

Is there a reason you wouldn’t order ready mix?

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Is there a reason you wouldn’t order ready mix?

I don't think a truck could access the garage.

I could move the concrete from the truck with my FEL. Probably 9-10 trips. If I can do the whole pour in one step I think that's the way to go. If I have to break it into sections I think mixing my own becomes more practical.

 

[CalG]

Working inside of walls doubles the "troubles" of placing, screeding and floating.

If I were to do such an area I would do so in sections no larger than 8 feet on the big side.

tips?

A 6 foot length of 3 inch steel pipe makes a very useful striking reference. It can be pulled along as the placing goes. Works against structure or out in the mid field.

 

[paulsharvey]

So, what are the walls made of? You really want or need something on the interior to screed from. If block, this can (should) be your expansion joint you nail to the inside bottom of the wall. If it's stick framed, you can place a leave in place, level 2x4 PT, and use that. Pole style buildings are more trouble inside. You can't really attach anything well to the inside od your metal panels, and your lowest purlion is typically atleast 8" up from the bottom

 

[zzvyb6]

I just helped a couple of gals make an 6' x 10' x 5-1/2" slab for their outdoor water boiler/furnace. We used a PTO carried mixer that holds 4 80# bags. Fill, add water, churn, transport and pour. So, I operated the tractor, one of them loaded the mixer, the other moved the dumped mix into position and leveled with a 2x4 and tossed in some re-rod. Cement + water is VERY heavy. Even with the loader, I had some trouble with steering their large JD farm tractor (2155 ?).
I've done a few slabs for barn aprons and sidewalks by myself, so it is possible, but I suggest you get some extra help. It's all about timing before the mix sets up. They bought a full pallet of cement from Menards to get a discount, had a few bags left over, but the slab came out perfect.

 

[paulsharvey]

For ammount of a pour and finish; 1 guy can do 6 yards pretty easily off a truck in a day, or about 1 yard wheel barrow mixing. Mudmixer or regular mix might increase a single man's production to about 2 yards (mudmixer might be 3 yards)

 

[2manyrocks]

There may be a max size you can pour and finish in a day assuming you are physically able to handle it, but what happens if something goes wrong or it's more than you can physically handle by yourself? I guess it could be hard to estimate how quickly you can finish the slab unless it's something you routinely do enough to know how fast you actually are at finishing? The bigger the project, the less time cushion I think you might have working by yourself.

Just my thoughts, and others may be able to offer better ideas.

 

[paulsharvey]

12x17x4"=68 CF=2.5 CY.

12x17x6"=102 cf=3.8 CY

have you Google searched for single yard redi mix, either pick up trailers, or delivered?

 

[paulsharvey]

Also, finish quality expectations matter. Are you good with a bull float and broom, or do you want to crawl the slab and steel trowel?

To me, shed floor, means bull float and broom finish, but some people want it glass smooth.