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[Bentley]

Was going to do the pour today, but Kristin comment on temperatures and what they should be.  I had to use the old internet and was educated that the ideal pour temperature is between 50-60°.  That would not have been a problem for the pour, but as I read more I came to realize that it takes anywhere from 30-48 hours for the concrete to set and that those temperatures should not be below 44° and really should stay above 50°.

Well, it is to be 22°, and I guess below freezing temperatures in that 1st 48 hours can wreak havoc on the concrete.  So it is to be above 50° starting Friday at about 11 am till early Sunday morning.  Will shoot for the pour then.

Pad is ready, about a inch and a half of gravel...no rebar, but a 56 sq ft, 5 inch pour, I figure some Hog wire will give it just a bit more added strength, and it was just lying around!

 

[Bentley]

My part is finished.  Many cramps involved with this project, last night being the worst!  And yes, you cannot broom finish a pad after 2 hours, that had set up in 50° weather...as you can see, it did not go well. But all you will see is the wood frame anyway, so I guess it really does not matter, except for pride.

[Brushpopper]

You really need a hot tub if you mixed all of that by hand.  If you did, how many bags did you use?

[Bentley]

Ended up being 35, 80 lbs. bags.  Mixed 4 to 5 at a time in the bucket of the tractor and it was a muther!  I would be in it right now for my shoulders if it were set up!

You really need a hot tub if you mixed all of that by hand.  If you did, how many bags did you use?

[hughver]

I know that you are a self admitted cheap screw, but you know that they do rent small portable cement mixers. 

[Bentley]

Yeah, but the $35 one only did 2 bags and the $75 one only did 3.  I could do 5 in the bucket, so I figured why rent!

I know that you are a self admitted cheap screw, but you know that they do rent small portable cement mixers. 

[ZCZ]

Cement work is hard work. I worked one summer during college as a brick layer tender. We were building fireplaces. Had to keep a guy going on the inside of the house with brick & mud building the fireplace and a guy on the outside building the chimney. I heard a constant barrage of “more mud!” And “more brick!”  Went thru pairs of jeans fairly quickly as the lime in the concrete would eat thru them.
Al

[GREG-B]

"Yeah, but the $35 one only did 2 bags and the $75 one only did 3.  I could do 5 in the bucket, so I figured why rent!"

I've mixed concrete in the bucket before and the hardest part is mixing in the bucket.  The mixer, although mixes fewer bags at a time, does most of the work.  Next concrete job I do, I will buy one off of Craigslist, do the job then resell it on Craigslist.  Even if I have to take a 20-30$ loss on it, perhaps I will be able to walk the next day.

[Kristin Meredith]

Yeah, I think by about the third mix in the bucket he was thinking "I should have let Kristin rent the mixer".  But he was also convinced his 5 bag in the bucket was going to go so much faster.  Mybe would have if they could have mixed every batch as quickly as the first

[Bentley]

Well, it has had 49 days to cure and tomorrow they install the spa.  Assuming the water temperature can get to 104° in 6 hours I know what I will be doing tomorrow evening after wood splinting!

[MP09]

Enjoy and post pics of the finish product...

[pmillen]

Enjoy and post pics of the finish product...

Yeah, but skip the photographs of you in it.   

[hughver]

I could do 5 in the bucket, so I figured why rent!

When I was young enough to mix small batches of concrete, I always did it  a 6 cubic foot wheel barrel. As I recall, I could do several 80 lb. bags at a time.

[Bentley]

Well it is filled, cover on and heating to 104°.  The salesman said about 6° an hour and the water started at 54°, so I am shooting for 7pm!  Will take some pictures tonight, as it has these colored lights that I was not aware of and they should look good in the dark!

[Bentley]

Freaking heater did not seem to work for the 1st 3 1/2 hours, so here we are 6:30 pm and it's 74°.  That is probably 4 more hours, will see how I feel at 10:30!