Concrete can be prepared manually and using a concrete mixer. When you need to cook a small amount of the mixture, it is best to mix everything by hand.
In order to measure the right amount of materials, it is most convenient to use two large buckets. One of them needs to be adapted for cement, and the second to use for sand and coarse aggregate. Shovels are most convenient also to use two.
Manual concrete preparation requires maximum accuracy when measuring the amount of ingredients. To do this, it is better to ensure that the level is according to the bucket rim. When filling the tank with cement or sand, loose particles need to be compacted by tapping the side wall. It is best to mix the material with shovels.
As for the mechanical method, the preparation of concrete in this case involves the use of concrete mixers of cyclic action, which differ in the way of mixing the constituent ingredients.
The mixture in the concrete mixer should mix for several minutes. Then you need to tilt the mechanism so as to pour a little mixture into the wheelbarrow, thus checking its readiness. It is not worth stopping the drum.
If you need to learn how to prepare concrete for the foundation, you need to familiarize yourself with this in detail. So, it is better to use crushed stone or sand as a filler. The proportions are as follows: sand-cement - 3: 1, and sand-crushed stone - 3 (4): 1. As for water, it should be added with extreme caution. The fact is that concrete, which is most optimal when building a foundation, must be plastic. Because the material is stacked, but not poured. Therefore, the higher the degree of rigidity, the stronger the foundation will be as a result.
Note that if you are preparing concrete using wet materials (after rain, for example), then you should know that they already contain about 20% of the liquid. Therefore, it remains to add only 80%, and not 100%.
Please note that in the production of concrete, the shelf life of cement is of great importance. The longer it is stored, the lower its brand, which automatically reduces the quality of concrete.
Concrete preparation requires appropriate storage of materials. So, if you have sand left, you need to store it in the same container in which you purchased it. The loose components must be kept separate from each other, and they need to be placed on a hard surface or a thick plastic film. Moreover, from above this pile should be covered with the same film and secured with a load.
Cement storage requires more stringent conditions. So, paper bags with this component must be placed on a pallet that is placed on the bars. This way they will not touch the ground. The best place to store is a dry barn or garage. If it is not possible to place the cement in the room, it must be covered with plastic wrap and fixed with bricks. If the bag of cement is not fully used, the remaining part must be put in a plastic bag.
Today, the preparation of concrete is not always possible at home, because there is a marketable ready-mixed concrete. As a rule, it is used in cases where a large quantity is required. You need to unload it directly near the production, so that later you do not carry the mixture in a wheelbarrow. However, if the unloading takes more than half an hour, the supplier may require an additional fee.
Today, there are a number of companies that prepare the mixture on the spot and bring along individual ingredients. You just have to transport the concrete and pour it. In this case, no waste remains, and payment is made only for the used amount of material.