2 Recipes for Concrete Patch Mix

For a simple concrete patch, there’s no reason why you can’t do it yourself. Many people overlook the skill-set required to mix up a good batch of concrete. Given that concrete is an incredibly valuable tool for building, it probably deserves more consideration. With a rudimentary knowledge of concrete, there are a great many projects that you can complete with ease. Mixing good concrete can be compared to baking good bread, in that the process is simple, but it’s possible to get it very wrong. As with baking bread, it’s best to follow a set method and recipe. There are many different ways of mixing concrete, and which is used usually depends on the task at hand, as there are different strengths and consistencies available. For the average enthusiast, learning the basics is enough to get started and produce concrete that’s good enough for many jobs done around a normal property.

Here are 2 recipes for-set concrete patch mix that will help you on your way to finishing small jobs that require you to mix your own concrete. With either of these recipes, you should be able to do what needs to be done and get simple yet excellent results.

First Recipe

Things you need for this recipe are masonry sand, gravel, type 1 cement, water and mixing bucket. To get concrete, mix gravel and sand with cement powder, and the relative proportions of these ingredients will determine your end product. Proportions are measured in terms of volume aggregated against the amount of cement used. The most commonly used concrete mix across the world employs the 3-2-1 mixing method. This means 3 parts gravel, 2 parts sand and 1 part cement.

The principle when adding water is that you should use as little as possible, just enough in fact to be able to apply the concrete once it’s mixed. Putting some in a cone shape and measuring how much it loses its shape can determine the usefulness of concrete that’s been mixed. The more it loses its shape, the wetter it is and how likely it is to hold its shape when you apply it. This change in shape that you measure is called the slump. In measurement terms, 0 means rigid and dry concrete, and 6 means the polar opposite.

Second Recipe

In order to prepare the recipe, you will need masonry sand, mortar, water and mixing bucket. Perhaps the best mix for minor DIY jobs is a mix of 3 parts sand and 1 part mortar. With this recipe, you can produce concrete that will remain extremely strong and allow you to finish with neat designs or smooth surfaces. Lack of gravel in the mix makes for a much smoother concrete that’s easier to work with.

Concrete is an inexpensive building material used the world over, consisting mostly of gravel, sand, and cement. All those wishing to make simple home improvements should know how it’s made. By trying both of these recipes and gaining experience you’ll develop a feel for what works best for your DIY jobs.