Most Common Mistakes When Pouring Concrete

If you stay clear of the common mistakes, your concrete will appear great and last for a long time.

Pouring Concrete Mistakes

The majority of concrete projects fail because of mistakes that could be avoided when mix-up or pouring. The more severe the winters you reside in, the more crucial it is to stay away from the types of mistakes that you'll be learning about here. Incorrect concrete techniques can cause flaking, degrading, or premature failure. Make sure you avoid the most common mistakes made when pouring concrete, and you'll have a job that you can admire for many years to come.

Concrete Too Wet

This is perhaps the most common concrete error to make since properly mixed concrete appears dry and isn't able to flow or trowel correctly. Don't fall for it. It should be possible to make an eight-inch diameter and four-inch tall pile if properly mixed. If it's less than this, the concrete's strength is going to decrease.

Concrete Too Dry

While it's not as common as concrete that is too wet and dry, it isn't an ideal solution either. Portland cement constitutes the primary ingredient in concrete. Cement requires sufficient moisture to fully cure. If troweling a sample of concrete fails to create an even, dry and muddy surface after three trowel strokes, the concrete may be too dry.

Pouring Too Thin

Concrete is durable and long-lasting; however, only if it's strong enough. Are you pouring the concrete slab to make an outdoor floor or DIY patio? It is the most popular use for DIY concrete pouring. Make sure that you do not create a slab that is less than 4 inches for any use. Six inches are the recommended thickness for concrete slabs that will be subject to any type of traffic that is heavy.

Expecting Reinforcing Mesh to Stop Cracking

It's not a good idea for the concrete project to fail; however, don't place your faith in the wire mesh that is typically employed for concrete reinforcement. It's not going to stop cracking, but it will help hold the concrete pieces that are cracked.

Mixing concrete with reinforcing fibers as well as rods for reinforcement laid on the 12x16-inch grid pattern significantly minimizes the risk of cracks forming. Additionally, after two weeks of the pouring process, you can make use of a masonry saw to cut one-third of the thickness of the concrete slab. Cut these in the 10 ft. by 10 ft. grid. The slight cracks that develop will be reflected in the cuts of the saw and disappear behind them.

Using Old Cement

Portland cement, which is the main ingredient in concrete, is a perishable product. Do not use cement or just-add-water concrete mix older than one year old for any project that you are concerned about. Even the latest cement with hard lumps shouldn't be used in concrete. These lumps are a sign that the cement has become damp and has lost some ability to set.

Failure to Use Fibers

Many DIYers don't know about concrete reinforcement fibers. These short, thin fibers of plastic provide lots of strength and resistance to any concrete work. Add one milliliter of fibers to every mixing drum of concrete. Mix like normal. The fibers are distributed throughout the mix and help to bind the concrete that has been hardened. They can make a huge difference.

Corrosion-Prone Reinforcing Rod

Concrete is durable in compression; however, it is fragile when any force attempts to break it. This weakening in tension is one reason why concrete is usually reinforced using metal rods. The issue is that the majority of rods for reinforcing concrete consist of bare steel, which is susceptible to rusting from water that gets through the concrete.

As steel rusts in the process, it expands, which causes the concrete to break off and split under pressure from within. This is the reason why an iron reinforcing rod that is corrosion-proof should be employed to ensure the long-term stability of concrete construction projects. Utilize galvanized, epoxy-coated, or fiberglass rebars for any concrete slabs that are ground-level.