comparing cost of ready mix and bags

ormus

i even got 1 cubic metre ready mix, delivered!
sod mixing that by hand.

for a front door porch slab.

theGrinch

well its gonna be a challenge for sure. not sure what Im letting myself in for, but as last as it keeps raining I can keep putting it off

dry mixing it, getting extra labour in and use of a mixer should win it.

wallbash

Because we are a really nosy bunch.Can I ask have you costed the options .
Also the area and depth of the patio , are you planning .... to park a car on it ??

Seems a big job , are you paying the 'extra labour' lots of beer money . Have you got a mixer or planning to hire ??

Yes far too many questions .

mikey72

You can't mix 8 cubic metres fast enough. The first part of the slab will have gone off well before you finish later in the week/month.
A normal cement truck holds about 6 cubic metres, so you would need two loads, and some skill in offloading and leveling together.

That's a 30 ft by 30 ft 4" slab roughly.
Patio in the front garden? I'd build a house.

lagi

Agree with mikey, 8 cubic metres is way too much to mix up by hand. You would need a couple of mixers minimum and some hefty labour. You need to get the truck in, and even that will be hectic if it needs barrowing to location.
Again, check your measurments as this is one big slab.
This is a no brainer, you won't really save much and within an hour you will be regretting it.

theGrinch

its gonna be fine. dont worry :-)

I've done 2.5 cubic metres (wet mix) in a day (was 30c in june 2009) before. I will have three extra pair of hands plus a mixer and october weather is cooler.

the tiler prefers a dry mix to spread before a water can over as it will give more control. dry mixing is alot easier. after talking it over this one wont be about cost, but finish.

thanks for all the comments and I will let you know how it goes. I may be eating my words.