Home Repair and Paint Guide

Concrete projects require a lot of work. The area to be filled has to be excavated and leveled, then very sturdy forms erected that won’t bow under the weight. For strength, rebar (reinforcing bar) and/or steel wire mesh has to be installed in the area before concrete is poured. If you are working a small area such as short sidewalk or patio, you could probably do the work alone. But larger projects will require several helpers. And if the cement truck cannot park right next to the area, things get even harder. You will either have to rent a concrete pump (expensive), motorized concrete vehicles (can be difficult to find), or wheelbarrows and a bunch of fast workers.

Don’t let the cement truck back into your driveway unless it is built to handle the load. A truck carrying several cubic yards of material can easily weigh as much as 30 tons. If your driveway cannot handle this load, it will crack in several places and then you’ll have a repair job on your hands. 

A typical construction wheelbarrow of concrete can weigh around four hundred pounds. Pushing that thing around is hard work. If your yard is not level, it gets even more interesting. You’ll be straining up the slope, or chasing the wheelbarrow down the slope.

Again, if the truck can park right next to the area to be filled, then you are way ahead of the game. You can control how much concrete is poured in each section while you (and helpers if needed) move it around. Be sure to fill all voids. Use a steel rod if necessary and flow the mix into every part of the area. Leaving voids will make the concrete extremely weak in that area and cracking will occur. Keep in mind that concrete trucks are allowed a limited time on the site. If you go over that limit, you will be charged an additional fee and it is based on the amount of overtime used.

Once the concrete is dumped, it will have to be screed off. This is done with a long aluminum or wood straightedge that is pulled across the wet concrete in short “sawing” motions. The screed is placed across the concrete (using the top of the forms if possible) to remove excess concrete. It also shows where the material is low. This task requires two people.

For large projects, a third person is needed to handle dumping of the mix and using a concrete rake to move the material to the correct height. If this job is not handled properly, you will have a very tough time with the screed.

High temperatures will accelerate the curing process. If you don’t move fast enough, the mix will set before you are finished working it. Ask the concrete company add chemicals that will slow this down. Do not add water to the concrete mix. This dilutes the cement and will make it weaker.

Be very careful about getting wet concrete on your skin. It is alkaline and can cause burns. Don’t let the material get into your eyes. Keep pets and children away from the area. Above all else, be careful! All things considered, you should probably investigate hiring a contractor to handle large projects. Small areas like a patio or short sidewalk would be within the ability of most homeowners that are good with tools, but the big stuff is best left to people with the necessary equipment and skills.