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| When you make your first batch, be sure you have some extra dry mix just in case you need to add more to reach the desired consistency (this is especially true if you're mixing mortar). If you're repairing cracked mortar (known as tuckpointing), you'll want the mix's consistency to be almost crumbly. This makes it easier to push into the cracked areas. Concrete and mortar will harden overnight, but they take 28 days to completely set. If the mortar or concrete has a greenish color, it's still setting. If it's gray, it's finished. To clean your wheelbarrow and tools, rinse them off with water immediately after finishing. If the mix has dried onto the wheelbarrow or tools, a few smacks with a hammer will pop the caked material off (with the wheelbarrow, flip it over and hit the underside a few times). |
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Just add water, right? Actually, the process is a bit more complicated. Here's how it's done: Add the mix. If you have a normal-sized wheelbarrow (2 by 3 feet, .6 by .9 meters) you can probably mix two bags at a time without too much trouble. Otherwise, just mix one bag at a time. To avoid a big cloud of cement dust when you open and pour the bags, place a bag so it's standing up like a cereal box on the flat bed of the wheelbarrow. Next, rip open the top (there should be a marked tab to help with this), then gently push the bag on its side, so the open end points toward either the back handles or the front nose. Pull the bag away by its bottom. The mix should slide out without too much trouble. Repeat with the next bag, if possible. Once you have the desired amount of mix, spread it out over the wheelbarrow's bed with your hoe and make a recess in the center down to the bed's surface. Add the water. To avoid adding too much, use your 5-gallon (23-liter) bucket as a measurement gauge. One pre-mixed bag typically takes about 1.25 gallons (5 liters), so if you fill your bucket halfway, that should be enough water for two bags. Pour half of this amount into the recessed area of the mix. Note: The amount of water you use can depend on the weather. Heat, cold, humidity, and dryness can affect the ratio slightly, so go by consistency rather than exact measurements. Mix to the desired consistency. Using your hoe, rake through the watered mix, back and forth across the wheelbarrow's bed. The mix is heavy, and it gets heavier with water, so you'll have to work hard to combine it smoothly. Dry mix can also get trapped under wet mix, so be sure you dig deep with your hoe to stir everything up. Chop up any clumps. Add the rest of your water gradually and be aware of the consistency you want for your particular project. For concrete, you'll want a thick, slushy feel. The wet mix should slide off the hoe's blade when you pull it out. However, don't make it too soupy. If you've mixed all the material and water is still pooling on the surface, then it's probably a little too wet (add a bit more dry mix to fix the problem). Too much water won't weaken the concrete, but it will add to the time it takes to set. For mortar, you'll want a stiffer, more granular consistency. The wet mix should stick to the hoe a few moments before it slides off. If it's too wet, the mortar won't hold its shape. It can dribble over and stain the brick or stone you're trying to set, or slough off the surface of what you're trying to plaster. Apply. Whatever your project, be wary of dumping directly from the wheelbarrow, which can be hard to manage with all that weight. For concrete, you're usually better off shoveling the mix from the wheelbarrow to the spot. For mortar, use a trowel and a small board (called a mortarboard) to carry a lump of mix. Note: If the mix stays in the wheelbarrow for more than 10 minutes, you'll need to remix it and possibly add more water.
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Mix pre-mixed cement
