Possibly stupid question about small concrete slab work

Egon · Jul 1, 2024

SammyNole said:
I just read a couple posts about portable cement/concrete mixers in the "Build It Yourself" section, and they got me thinking.

I currently have a need to do at least one 4" concrete slab, and maybe up to three different slabs for various projects around the house, ranging from 144 sq. ft. to 300 sq. ft., but I have delayed them because of the cost associated with having someone come out to pour my slabs. Of course I would rather Do It Myself! But every time I look into the Quikrete calculator (or similar tool), it shows a range of 81 and 169 80-pound bags required to do these sizes of slabs. That seems pretty ridiculous to me to even attempt to do with a small mixer from Lowe's (4 cu.ft.), or even the PTO mounted mixers from Agri Supply (8 cu. ft.).

I am by no means a builder, and have never poured anything other than a few 2'x2' slab/piers, especially nothing that may require rebar/reinforcing etc. Are these jobs doable as a DIY'er with a basic mixer and hand tools, or am I going to bite WAY more than I can chew to attempt to save some money? They don't have to be anything impressive at all, just basically a hard surface(s) to put stuff on, including my 40hp Kioti and some implements.

If anyone has any tips, books, websites, or videos to point me towards, that would be awesome, too!

Any help is appreciated!

As has been stated time is a big factor. It’s hard work and you may not be able to keep up in a timely mater to get proper finishing and pouring done.

There are limits to one man do it yourself prodject.

4570Man · Jul 1, 2024

There’s no way one guy could mix and pour a 300 sf pad successfully even more so in this heat. A 4x4’ ac or stair pad is the top end of what I would attempt by myself. If it was cool weather you could probably push it a little bigger but mixing concrete is hard work and it doesn’t wait for you. A 300 sf pad is too much for 1 guy even with a ready mix truck.

ultrarunner · Jul 1, 2024

Has anyone used the 1 yard ready mix concrete trailers or the site mix for smaller jobs where everything is on the truck and not mix until onsite?

All the termite contractors use the 1 yard concrete gondolas and we have several in the metro area.

Runner · Jul 1, 2024

I poured the floor slab in my 18 x 24 pole barn using the 1 yd concrete buggies. Worked out great for me. I divided the pour up into six, 6' x 12' sections, with rebar connecting the slabs at the edges. A buggy was just enough for one slab. Wash, rinse, repeat....

I am about 10 minutes away from the rental company where I got the buggies, so the timing was good. After I poured the slab, I floated it, then washed out the buggy and drove it back to the rental yard. By the time I returned, it was ready to trowel.

I have hand-mixed concrete for small slabs before (like 10 or 12 bags) but could not imagine doing a big slab that way, even with a mixer.

4570Man · Jul 2, 2024

ultrarunner said:
Has anyone used the 1 yard ready mix concrete trailers or the site mix for smaller jobs where everything is on the truck and not mix until onsite?

All the termite contractors use the 1 yard concrete gondolas and we have several in the metro area.

I’ve never seen a small batch trailer like that but I’ve used a full size volumetric truck. I hated the thing. It couldn’t place concrete nearly as accurately as the front dump trucks and was way more work.

ultrarunner · Jul 2, 2024

4570Man said:
I’ve never seen a small batch trailer like that but I’ve used a full size volumetric truck. I hated the thing. It couldn’t place concrete nearly as accurately as the front dump trucks and was way more work.

Here are the two kinds I have used…