Concrete preparation. The proportions of the main components

Concrete is an artificially created material obtained from three components: a binder, aggregate and solvent. It is quite difficult to imagine our life without this building material; it is used for the construction of building foundations, the creation of concrete decorative elements, sidewalks. It is widely used in various fields of human activity. This is a relatively inexpensive material, and its distribution is justified from an economic, environmental and functional point of view.

Concrete preparation: proportions

The binder is cement - a mineral powdery binder, which forms a plastic “dough” when water is added. The mass dries out over time and becomes stone-like. Designs come in varying degrees of operational load. The proper preparation of concrete depends on this. Proportions in its composition cement as a binder and other components are of particular importance both financially and functionally. Main types: Portland cement, slag and alumina. In order not to make a mistake with the choice of material and not get confused in the cavalcade of brands and destinations of a particular product, get advice from the seller or read the instructions.

Water is needed for breeding concrete. You should be careful with this component. A large amount of water not only affects the structure of the mass, but also worsens its styling. The same result is obtained if its disadvantage is present. When concrete is being prepared, the proportions of water to other parts must be strictly observed.

The third component is placeholder. Two materials can act at once - gravel or crushed stone. Gravel is a rounded fragment of loose sedimentary rock ranging in size from 2 to 20 mm. It allows making concrete preparation more economical. The proportions of this component in its composition are directly proportional to the desired degree of strength of the manufactured material. There is no need to overspending cement; adding the right amount of one or another ingredient will fully ensure the reliability of the structure. Gravel is marine, river, lake. Crushed stone performs a similar function. These are fragments of rocks or artificial stone materials with an average size of 5-25 mm. In some places, gravel is cheaper, in others, gravel. Depending on your region, you can choose material that is more affordable.

The table below shows the volumes of all components necessary for the preparation of concrete by hand. The proportions are given averaged, taking into account the fact that the main ingredient is cement, the total weight is 1 ten-liter bucket (16 kg).

It should be noted: the smaller the size of the aggregate, the more water and cement are required. For large volumes, the preferred option is this: preparing concrete in a concrete mixer. The proportions are similar, the order of adding the ingredients is as follows: water, then cement and gravel.