| Author |
Message |
    
Chad
Advanced Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 833
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 12:01 pm: | 
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So I have this big hole in the ground and a tower to put in it. The former is made for the hole and I need to pour concrete in it. How do I calculate how many bags of concrete mix I will need to purchase? I REALLY don't want to be cut short, I don't live close to many home improvement places so I'll need to try as best as possible to get it done with one shot. I know my cubic footage roughly, is there a formula about Lbs per square foot?
Chad |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1489
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 12:20 pm: |
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3X3X3 hole is 1 cubic yard. I used 44
80Lb bags of Sakrete.
On the bag of concrete it will tell you
how many bags you need.
JIM/PA/CEF 375 |
Chad
Advanced Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 834
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 2:02 pm: |
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Whew, that's going to cost me :P
Chad |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 2895
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 2:06 pm: |
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1-800-READY-MIX...44 bags hand mixed in that little black tub will take you WEEKS!!!!
remember the built-on-steroids pro wrestlers, the 'road warriors'? well, that's what OUR road warrior LOOKS like after mixing those 44 bags by hand  |
Chad
Advanced Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 835
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 2:44 pm: |
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Problem with redi-mix is that I live outside a metropolitan area, delivery is not going to be cheap with today's gas prices. I may rent a trailer mixer and pull it home 
Chad |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1491
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 5:43 pm: |
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We had 1 guy mixing the cement in wheel
barrow, i guy near hole, 1 guy ripping open cement bags and pouring in wheel barrow.
Took 2 1/2 hours for 44 bags... |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1492
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 5:47 pm: |
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I did develope quite a set of forearms
and biceps that day. |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1495
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 6:45 pm: |
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ohhh- and 1 guy pouring in the right mixture
of water. Total cost of 44 bags was near $200
If you look hard enough you may find a place that pre-mixes cement into 55 gallon drums, only half full of course. You estimate how much you need and haul the drums to your hole.Clean the drums out and return. Very reasonable prices can be achieved by doing it this way. Good Luck!  |
Chad
Advanced Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 836
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 9:17 pm: |
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I mean really, I dug the hole, moved and CAREFULLY distributed the dirt where the wife wanted it (flowers involved).
So as far as I'm concerned putting it in the back of the truck and not having to haul it for acres will ber easier then the initial "expedition."
The 55 gallon drum thing sounds like a good idea... I'll look!
Chad |
Hollowpoint445
Senior Member
Username: Hollowpoint445
Post Number: 1237
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 11:14 am: |
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Sounds to me like you need to buy cement, sand, and gravel - and rent a portable mixer. That's got to be cheaper than paying for delivered concrete, and cheaper than pre-mix bags. I've never done it myself, but how hard could it be? Mix it in batches and pour it right into the hole.
I saw Tommy Silva do it on This Old House once. He said he does it when they only need a yard or two of concrete. Of course he owns the portable mixer and has been a contractor for decades... |
Airplane1
Advanced Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 772
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 2:33 pm: |
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1part sand, 1part cement, 1 part stone.
sounds easy? |
Hatchet
Intermediate Member
Username: Hatchet
Post Number: 114
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 8:00 pm: |
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Most places deliver free with a 1 yard minimum |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1496
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 8:16 pm: |
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We were leaning toward a cement mixer and
mixing at first.
But, the cleanup is alot less with bags and
much less hassle is involved in my opinion.
Just need the right amount of people for the job.
Actually in my area a cement truck would of
delived the yard of cement for the same price as i paid for the bags. But, they are in to much of a hurry in this area and want to dump and run.
And i didn't want to have to clean up spills, fix yard after truck put deep ruts in it. |
Wildrat
Advanced Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 887
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 8:33 pm: |
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My cement was just over 200 bucks with the Fiberglas additive. If I were you I would start making some phone calla and be sure to ask about the Fiberglas additive. I called at least 5-6 companies till I found one that was honest with the prices. Saving a few bucks getting bags is not worth the trouble and the strain on the body mixing and pouring, plus if you get the premix it'll be stronger. Make sure you keep the surface of the cement wet for at least the first 72 hours. It will be much stronger. If you don't know much about cement go on Google and you will learn a lot about cement. Also it sounds easy but it's not and it's not much fun, it's much more fun watching the guy back up, listen to the hopper thing, watch him put the Fiberglas in and the move the lever and watch the liquid go into your hole. Make sure you get a long pole that you can use to stab the cement as it's going in the hole, so that all voids get cement and there's no air pockets and other things. Then just smooth the top, let dry, while keeping the surface wet, and then put your initials and graffiti on it and then let it dry the rest of the way. |
Tech291
Moderator
Username: Tech291
Post Number: 392
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 8:49 pm: |
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Roger,
that doesnt sound like a good mix.proper would be 1 part portland cement,2 parts masonary sand and 3 part gravel.1-90# bag of portland is 1 cubic foot so that may help Chad calculate how much he needs.
Jim,
$200 plus all that labor?in our area 6000psi with fiber and limestone instead of river gravel(much stronger)is only $70 delivered with a 1.5 yard minimum.
Tech291
CEF#291/CVC#6
KC8ZPJ |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1499
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 9:24 pm: |
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Wildrat- Bags did not save money for us.
As a cement truck was about $5-$7 cheaper
here in Pa. Just the way we wanted to do it
givin the circumstances we had. We wanted to take our time and do it correctly. The cement truck drivers around here dump and run. And the fiberglass pre-mix was 3500 Lb per square inch strength in this area, compared to 5000 per square inch strength out of the bags.
Also do not place rebar any closer than 4-5 inches from the edges of the cement. Top/bottom/
sides/ |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1500
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 9:32 pm: |
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Cheap in your neck of the woods Tech 291.
1 yard of fiber that is offered here is
3500 Psi and cost $194.00 (1 yard delivered).
I called for higher PSI, but, 3500 seemed to
be what everyone had. Only found 1 company
that would deliver just 1 yard. Others had a
5 yard minumum. Hardware store where we bought bags was only 2 blocks away. |
Chad
Advanced Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 845
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 9:49 pm: |
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I checked around 2 yard minimum and they don't like it that small, diesel is killing them doing small jobs. That, and a big rig does not fit down the driveway due to low hanging wires.
I'm mixing premix with water, and putting it in the hole. I got an electric vibrator to knock the bubbles out of it. The first section is in the hole and plumb, I have help and enough sick time that if I can't move the next day I'll call in due to pain. I'm in pretty good shape, I may complain a bit but heck, why not. This baby is getting done.... SOON! I'm sick of looking at an un-powered radio and a coil of coax laying on the ground
Chad |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1505
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 6:22 am: |
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Good Luck Chad! I felt the same way looking
at my empty hole.  |
Airplane1
Advanced Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 773
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 8:48 am: |
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WHOOO, I am sorry. Dennis I stand corrected, You are right and I knew that. guess my hand did`nt type what my head was saying!!!! LOL!
AP |
Wildrat
Advanced Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 889
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 3:42 pm: |
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I did not say the bags were better. I don't know about that one yard, the hole I had took over two yards. I don't think you will have too worry about your tower coming down because of the trucked in concrete. You know where I live and I don't think the tower will tip because of the base, it's more likely to tip because of the wind in my case especially if I don't get out there soon and string them guy ropes. |
Chad
Advanced Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 851
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 6:45 pm: |
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If I'm losing 36' of tower because I only used one yard of concrete I have MUCH worse things to worry about At which point I will be in the storm shelter covering my posterior |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1512
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 10:36 pm: |
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It shouldn't go anywhere Chad under normal
circumstances. Excluding Tornados ect.
My neighbor has a 40ft tower. They used
a 2x2x3 hole. Been standing there solid
since 1972. |
Wildrat
Advanced Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 891
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:29 pm: |
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I dug a big hole,my boys did not believe I dug it with my back the way it is. It took all day, but I did it.The ground is soft here anyway. If I were still in Georgia, I would have waited for the boy's to dig, but if that were the case I would still be waiting. |
Chad
Advanced Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 856
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 4:03 pm: |
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It's in the hole and curing. Stayed home with a sick kid today so I had the lumber yard deliver the goods.
I'm not saying I want to jump out and do it again today but it was not the hardest work I've done. I do believe I'll feel it in the morning It took right at a yard sans 1.5 bags. From start to finish it took about 4 hours with cleanup doing it solo and working straight thru. Now I'm going to go to the front yard and lay under the 'ol oak tree on the hammock, I'm tired!
Final coat of paint goes on while the mess cures and I'll be on the air again!!! Woo-Hoo!!!!!!!
Chad |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1519
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 6:30 pm: |
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Glad to hear it's done! Not bad 4 hours solo!
Go lay down and rest... |
