How much cement/sand ?

[David A]

Morning all, I need to work out how much cement and sand I'm going to need for pond and garden rework. Basically I'm upgrading the pond and putting a new patio in. I can work out the perimeter of the wall and the height (therfore no of breeze blocks. I also will know the area of the patio. I'll be putting the patio down over a full layer of cement i.e. not in blobs.

My question is how much sand/cement will I need to order - how do I work it out? What ratio (3 builders sand to 1 cement?) do I use?

Any tips?

[David A]

Anyone?

[Incorrigible]

4 or 5 to one; sand to cement for mortar

I'm not entirely sure you're going about it in the right way though, more info req'd

HTH

[Hammerwerfer]

It has been a while, but I seem to remember 7 to 1 as the proper ratio. I'm sure google could help you though.

[dickymint]

4 or even 5 to one will be fine. Also use some plasticiser in the water and mix it fairly thick. Why use a full layer of cement? "dot and dab" is fine.

[TheEnd]

The patio is slabs, right?

you'd probably need a ton bag of sand, and spread it over the area about an inch and a half to 2 inches thick, if you get 3-4 bags of cement, mix that through it whilst dry and it'll be rock solid.

getting sand in 25kg bags will cost a fortune, and if that ton isn't enough, you can always get another.

[dickymint]

TheEnd said:

you'd probably need a ton bag of sand, and spread it over the area about an inch and a half to 2 inches thick, if you get 3-4 bags of cement, mix that through it whilst dry and it'll be rock solid.

What on Earth are you talking about?

[TheEnd]

pond with a patio.
the patio is slabs?

slabs go on sand.

[dickymint]

TheEnd said:

pond with a patio.
the patio is slabs?

slabs go on sand.

My slabs would go on hard-core which would then be compacted with a "Wacker Plate" then cemented down so as to stay in their desired place for longer than a week

[poj]

3 sand to 1 water,this mix will allow you plenty of time to make any minor adjustments to levels or even to take a holiday and return to the task once fully refreshed,the savings made on cement could be spent on more beer.

[Fetchez la vache]

If you have a reasonable size to do, then unless you already have a mixer, it's a pain in the arse to mix it all yourself.

By the time you factor in (if you need to) hiring a mixer, even a small one, then you might as well actually get the stuff delivered ready mixed, to be honest.

Oh, and the mix ratio will differ depending on what finish you want - smooth will be less gravel, if you're not bothered about the finish as it'll be covered anyway, just up the gravel content a bit...

[dickymint]

Fetchez la vache said:

If you have a reasonable size to do, then unless you already have a mixer, it's a pain in the arse to mix it all yourself.

By the time you factor in (if you need to) hiring a mixer, even a small one, then you might as well actually get the stuff delivered ready mixed, to be honest.

Oh, and the mix ratio will differ depending on what finish you want - smooth will be less gravel, if you're not bothered about the finish as it'll be covered anyway, just up the gravel content a bit...

Gravel? He's mixing cement not concrete!

[albundy89]

Replies to this post so far,with the exception of dickymint,prove that you should not be allowed to buy a bag of cement without first proving competence with such a dangerous substance. Would you let a child tamper with your new ferrari,I think not.A little knowledge is really a dangerous thing,get someone who knows what they are doing,rant over.

Minimum 150mm hardcore,vibrating plate,slabs laid on dabs using 6 to 1 sharp sand cement,pointed with 3 to 1 building sand/cement or pave fix,job done.

[mrmaggit]

albundy89 said:

Replies to this post so far,with the exception of dickymint,prove that you should not be allowed to buy a bag of cement without first proving competence with such a dangerous substance. Would you let a child tamper with your new ferrari,I think not.A little knowledge is really a dangerous thing,get someone who knows what they are doing,rant over.

Minimum 150mm hardcore,vibrating plate,slabs laid on dabs using 6 to 1 sharp sand cement,pointed with 3 to 1 building sand/cement or pave fix,job done.

Harsh but fair. Although for domestic paving 100mm hardcore should be sufficient.

[David A]

albundy89 said:

Replies to this post so far,with the exception of dickymint,prove that you should not be allowed to buy a bag of cement without first proving competence with such a dangerous substance. Would you let a child tamper with your new ferrari,I think not.A little knowledge is really a dangerous thing,get someone who knows what they are doing,rant over.

Minimum 150mm hardcore,vibrating plate,slabs laid on dabs using 6 to 1 sharp sand cement,pointed with 3 to 1 building sand/cement or pave fix,job done.

Cheers thats the answer needed. My only other dumb question is I'm going to bed the bottom of the pond liner on building sand (the usual way to do it) and would therefore rather not have to buy a maxi bag of building and a maxi bag of sharp. Could I mix the cement with building sand for dabs or does it need to be sharp?

Dave

[mrmaggit]

David A said:

albundy89 said:

Replies to this post so far,with the exception of dickymint,prove that you should not be allowed to buy a bag of cement without first proving competence with such a dangerous substance. Would you let a child tamper with your new ferrari,I think not.A little knowledge is really a dangerous thing,get someone who knows what they are doing,rant over.

Minimum 150mm hardcore,vibrating plate,slabs laid on dabs using 6 to 1 sharp sand cement,pointed with 3 to 1 building sand/cement or pave fix,job done.

Cheers thats the answer needed. My only other dumb question is I'm going to bed the bottom of the pond liner on building sand (the usual way to do it) and would therefore rather not have to buy a maxi bag of building and a maxi bag of sharp. Could I mix the cement with building sand for dabs or does it need to be sharp?

Needs to be sharp sand for bedding slabs on, building sand for pointing/laying bricks

Dave

[David A]

mrmaggit said:

David A said:

albundy89 said:

Replies to this post so far,with the exception of dickymint,prove that you should not be allowed to buy a bag of cement without first proving competence with such a dangerous substance. Would you let a child tamper with your new ferrari,I think not.A little knowledge is really a dangerous thing,get someone who knows what they are doing,rant over.

Minimum 150mm hardcore,vibrating plate,slabs laid on dabs using 6 to 1 sharp sand cement,pointed with 3 to 1 building sand/cement or pave fix,job done.

Cheers thats the answer needed. My only other dumb question is I'm going to bed the bottom of the pond liner on building sand (the usual way to do it) and would therefore rather not have to buy a maxi bag of building and a maxi bag of sharp. Could I mix the cement with building sand for dabs or does it need to be sharp?

Dave

Needs to be sharp sand for bedding slabs on, building sand for pointing/laying bricks

Ok ta, now wondering if I can bed the pond liner on sharp or if it will be, well, too sharp!

[mrmaggit]

David A said:

mrmaggit said:

David A said:

albundy89 said:

Replies to this post so far,with the exception of dickymint,prove that you should not be allowed to buy a bag of cement without first proving competence with such a dangerous substance. Would you let a child tamper with your new ferrari,I think not.A little knowledge is really a dangerous thing,get someone who knows what they are doing,rant over.

Minimum 150mm hardcore,vibrating plate,slabs laid on dabs using 6 to 1 sharp sand cement,pointed with 3 to 1 building sand/cement or pave fix,job done.

Cheers thats the answer needed. My only other dumb question is I'm going to bed the bottom of the pond liner on building sand (the usual way to do it) and would therefore rather not have to buy a maxi bag of building and a maxi bag of sharp. Could I mix the cement with building sand for dabs or does it need to be sharp?

Dave

Needs to be sharp sand for bedding slabs on, building sand for pointing/laying bricks

Ok ta, now wondering if I can bed the pond liner on sharp or if it will be, well, too sharp!

No, you'll be fine. Just make sure the liner is Butyl, otherwise the sunlight (hah!) will degrade it.

[David A]

mrmaggit said:

[

No, you'll be fine. Just make sure the liner is Butyl, otherwise the sunlight (hah!) will degrade it.

Sort of, going to use this stuff again - http://www.flexibleliningproducts.co.uk/75502.html greenseal epdm rubber, have it at the moment and its great!

[spikeyhead]

If you've got some old carpet or underlay, that's also great under the liner, especially on the vertical bits.