Do-It-Yourself Concrete Guide - Concrete, Landscaping and ...

1 Kuert Concrete , Concrete ChooseConcrete?Here are some of the benefitsto choosing Concrete for your home: Concrete isdurable and will last many years ifproperly maintained. Concretedoes not need to be sealed every year, therefore it is easy forhomeowners to preserve with minimal maintenance. Concrete has a lighter color and higher solar reflectance than dark pavements, such as asphalt. These properties reduce heat absorption and minimize the urban heat island effect; while also helping to enhance exterior lighting. At the end of its life cycle, Concrete can be recycled. Concrete can also be produced with recycled or reclaimed materials.

2 These qualities make it a very environmentally-friendly product. Concrete is incredibly versatile and can be produced in a variety of colors and finished ina variety of shapes, patterns and textures. you re looking for a new driveway, sidewalk, patio, or pool deck; Concrete is an excellent option for homeowners looking to improve their home s beauty and increase its value. The following Guide can help homeowners tackle their own Concrete a g e | 2 Concrete RecommendationsThe recommendations contained in this Guide were compiled based upon Kuert Concrete s years of experience in the Concrete industry and commonly accepted industry best practices that generally meet or exceed the recommendations of the American Concrete Institute (ACI).

3 Ifyou have any questions or concerns regarding the contents of this Guide ; it is highly recommended to consult with a Concrete professional, which we can happily connect you to ConsiderPouring Concrete can be quite the undertaking, please consider hiring a Concrete contractor if you are uncomfortable with the process set forth in this Guide or any of the considerations mentioned below. Please contact Kuert Concrete for a recommendation on a reputable professional in your area. Call our dispatch line at (574) or email a customer service representative at for assistance. Placing Concrete is physically demanding. A wheelbarrow of Concrete can easily weigh several hundred pounds.

4 Make sure you have adequate help for the size and scope of your project. Concrete is perishable and you will have about 60 minutes to have the truck unloaded. This is another reason you should ensure you have adequate help and all of the tools necessary to complete your project when the truck arrives. Concrete is caustic to skin and eyes and will cause burns. Always ensure you have proper personal protection: including rubber boots, rubber gloves, and eye protection. If you do come in contact with Concrete , wash immediately with soap and water. Ready-mix trucks are big and heavy. A fully loaded ready-mix truck can weigh almost 80,000 pounds.

5 Our drivers will ask you to sign your delivery ticket which provides consent for the truck to enter your property and owner acceptance of liability for any damage to your property and our it YourselfIf you are still comfortable trying to manage your own Concrete project after taking into account the considerations above, please review the rest of this Guide to help prepare for and complete each of the ProcessThis Guide will provide you with an overview of each step listed below:1. Preparing for Your Pour2. Preparing Your Subgrade3. Ordering Your Concrete4. Placing Your Concrete5. Finishing Your Concrete6. curing and Sealing Your ConcreteStep 1: Preparing for Your PourPreparation is imperative to the success of your DIY Concrete project.

6 You will need to lay out precisely what you want to do and make sure you have all of the proper tools and supplies to complete the project. Once the Concrete is batched into the truck, you take ownership of the product and it becomes your responsibility to place and finish the Concrete . P a g e | 3 soon as water is mixed with the cement it initiates a chemical reaction which causes the Concrete to set or become hardened. You will have about 2 hours from the time the Concrete is batched before it has completely set. This is why it is so important to have everything prepared before the Concrete arrives. This includes securing any necessary permits and contacting your local utility companies to have buried cables marked.

7 You must also determine how the truck will access your project. You will need to ensure the truck will have overhead clearance from trees and power lines and be aware that the weight of the truck can damage your yard, sprinkler system, driveway, sidewalk and septic tank. Please use caution when directing the truck off the street and onto your property. Please visit Our Trucks page for the dimensions and weight of our will likely need the following tools to complete your project (depending on your project, this may not be an exhaustive list): Rubber gloves, boots and safety goggles Concrete forms Nail stakes and nails (double-headed is recommended) Shovel Hammer and sledge hammer Saw Tape measure Level Square String-line Large wheelbarrow (if direct access for truck is not available) Sub-grade compactor (tamper, heavy roller, or vibrating compactor) Screed board that extends beyond the width of the forms Hand float Concrete placer (come-along) Bull float with a handle long enough to reach across the Concrete Concrete broom (if broom finishing)

8 With a handle long enough to reach across the Concrete Edger Jointer, groover, or Concrete saw Trowel (for finishing non-air-entrained interior floors) curing and sealing materials and equipment (refer to manufacturer s recommendations for application)Kuert Concrete also operates a construction supply division that can provide you with almost all of the tools and supplies listed above. Many of these tools and supplies can be delivered with your ready-mix Concrete order. Please contact Kuert Supply Center at(574) for questions, pricing, or to place a supply 2: Preparing Your SubgradeThe ground that will be beneath the poured Concrete is referred to as the subgrade.

9 You must remove all grass, plants, roots, rocks and loose or soft dirt from your project site. Replace this with a proper subgrade material like fill sand or crushed aggregate. Make sure that the compacted subgrade is at a uniform depth (generally four inches, but follow your county or city requirements) below your anticipated finished grade. When the Concrete truck arrives, slightly dampen the subgrade so moisture is not drawn out of the Concrete when it is placed on the a g e | 4 the SubgradeIt is very important that this step is completed properly. Improper subgrade compaction can cause unwanted settling and cracks in your finished Concrete project.

10 Moreover, heavy wet Concrete will compact the loose subgrade and cause a miscalculation of Concrete quantity. The subgrade should be uniform, hard, free of any foreign material, and well-drained. If you have a large project, like a driveway, consider using a vibrating compactor to complete this step. A heavy roller or hand tamper can often be used to compact subgrade for smaller the Concrete FormsAfter you have prepared the subgrade, you will need to set your Concrete forms. Your grade should be on a slope so that water is able to drain from the Concrete surface. It is recommended to have a slope of 1/8th inch per linear foot.