What is a cheaper alternative to concrete?

There are a few different types you can find in the home improvement store that can replace concrete cement used for driveways and walkways. These include pea gravel, crushed stone, and quarry process. Cheaper than other surface materials and low-cost to install.

Subsequently, How many feet does a 80lb bag of concrete cover?

6 cubic feet for an 80 lb bag.

Also, What is poor man’s concrete?

We have a few companies locally that offer “poor man’s concrete”. I’m not sure exactly what it is, but I’ve seen it in driveways and such. It’s a white powdery material they dump and flatten out and when it gets wet, it’s supposed to harden like cement. … Prepare the dirt before pouring concrete.

Secondly, Is it cheaper to pour concrete yourself? One of the least expensive ways to get concrete is to mix your own. You can buy bags of the mix from a home improvement store. Typically, you only have to add water for it to be ready to pour. … Otherwise, you risk getting a weaker concrete once it cures, which could lead to cracks or crumbles within a couple of years.

Can I put concrete on top of grass?

You should not pour concrete over the grass directly. For your concrete to harden flat and smooth, it is best to clear all vegetation and pour the concrete on top of smooth and debris-free soil. Leaving grass under your concrete slab can cause some unnecessary issues for you in the future.

24 Related Questions Answers Found

How many bags of concrete do I need for a 10×10 slab 4 inches thick?

Regarding this, “how many bags of concrete do I need for a 10×10 slab of 4 inch thick?”, at 4 inches thick, generally you will need 49 bags of 90lb ready mix concrete, 56 bags of 80lb concrete, 74 bags of 60lb concrete or 111 bags of 40lb ready mix concrete for a 10×10 slab.

How many bags of concrete do I need for 2 yards?

If you’re using 50lb bags of concrete, you’ll need 72 bags to make a yard. If you’re using 60lb bags of concrete, you’ll need 60 bags to make a yard. If you’re using 80lb bags of concrete, you’ll need 45 bags to make a yard.

How many bags of cement do I need for 1 yard?

Pure cement, sand and crushed rock all have about the same density, so a block of pure cement measuring 1 cubic yard of volume (about 3,600 pounds) will contain 45 bags of cement.

What is a good substitute for concrete?


We have collated 11 green building materials that offer alternatives to concrete, and a lower environmental impact.

  • Straw Bales. …
  • Grasscrete. …
  • Rammed Earth. …
  • HempCrete. …
  • Bamboo. …
  • Recycled Plastic. …
  • Wood. …
  • Mycelium.

How long do you leave forms on concrete?

The forms or “molding” that holds the concrete in place until it dries should be left alone for at least two days to ensure that the concrete is completely dry. If the forms are removed too soon, the concrete can begin to sag, crack and collapse, especially if conditions like temperature affected its strength.

What happens if you use cement without sand?

The proper ratio of materials will determine the strength of your concrete. Cement and water act as the paste of the concrete. If you don’t have enough paste, the concrete will dry with a honeycombed surface and may be too porous.

Can you pour concrete over dirt?

Long story short, yes you can pour concrete over dirt.

How many square feet does 50lbs of concrete cover?

60 cubic feet. One 50-pound bag of Quikrete Fast Setting Concrete Mix yields about . 375 cubic feet. For example, if you need to cover 33.333 cubic feet, using 60-pound bags of concrete, divide 33.333 cubic feet by .

Can I do a concrete patio yourself?

You’ll save 40 percent to 50 percent by pouring your patio yourself. (Taking the DIY route also means you can be sure the technical details are done correctly.) You’ll save even more if you mix your own concrete instead of having a ready-mix truck deliver it.

Can I pour concrete directly on dirt?

Long story short, yes you can pour concrete over dirt.

Do you need gravel under concrete?

Whether you pour concrete for a walkway or patio, a strong gravel base is required to prevent the concrete from cracking and shifting. Gravel is especially important in clay soil because it doesn’t drain well, which results in water pooling under the concrete slab and slowly eroding the soil as it finally drains.

What happens if you pour concrete over grass?

You should not directly pour concrete over grass. A concrete slab when poured over grass will crack over the course of time due to moisture ingress, lack of support as the vegetation beneath regresses and lack of rigidity as factors such as external weight, will cause the structure to weaken.

How much area does a 50 lb bag of concrete cover?

Regarding this, how much does a 50 lb bag concrete cover?, as 133 lb concrete = 1 CF, so a bag of 50 lb concrete = 50/133 = 0.375 CF, therefore, a 50 lb bag of concrete approximately cover around 1.5 square feet area upto standard depth of depth of 3 inch for your patio and sidewalk.

How thick does a concrete slab need to be?

Standard concrete floor slab thickness in residential construction is 4 inches. Five to six inches is recommended if the concrete will receive occasional heavy loads, such as motor homes or garbage trucks. To prepare the base, cut the ground level to the proper depth to allow for the slab thickness.

Should you put plastic under concrete?

A concrete vapor barrier is any material that prevents moisture from entering a concrete slab. Vapor barriers are used because while fresh concrete is poured wet, it’s not supposed to stay that way. It needs to dry and then stay dry to avoid flooring problems. … This is why a vapor barrier under concrete is essential.

How do I figure out how many bags of concrete I need?

For concrete, the formula for volume is as follows: length x width x thickness. To determine how many bags of concrete you will need, divide the total cubic yards needed by the yield. Use the following yields per each bag size: 40 pound bag yields .011 cubic yards.

How many bags of cement do I need for 1 cubic meter?

One cubic meter of concrete is equal to 1.308 cubic yards of concrete. If there are 5 1/2 bags of cement in 1 cubic yard of concrete, there would be 7.2 bags in 1 cubic meter of concrete. These are the 94 pound bags of portland cement or 42.64 kg bags of cement. Join in and write your own page!

How do you calculate concrete?


How to calculate concrete:

  • Determine how thick you want the concrete.
  • Measure the length and width that you’d like to cover.
  • Multiply the length by the width to determine square footage.
  • Convert the thickness from inches to feet.
  • Multiply the thickness in feet by the square footage to determine cubic feet.
  • Can I make my own concrete slab?

    For most do-it-yourselfers, the best material for building a concrete slab is ready-mix crack-resistant concrete mix. The wet mix is poured into a prepared wood form, then left to cure. … Two people will mix the concrete in the wheelbarrow, while the third person spreads out the mixed concrete in the form.

    What is the cheapest material to make a driveway?

    Gravel driveways are hands-down the most affordable option upfront. Asphalt driveways place second in cost, followed by cement and pavers. Although gravel driveways are the least expensive initially, they require the most maintenance long-term.

    Why is concrete cheap?

    That’s because modern concrete is basically a mixture of water, aggregate (i.e., small rocks), sand and Portland cement. … But concrete has attributes that cement alone does not. First, it’s more economical. Rock and sand are cheaper than cement alone, so mixing them in makes concrete cheaper than pure cement.

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