Perfect Solutions For Small Concrete Needs And Steps To Complete Projects
Concrete is something that requires a lot of finesse to mix properly, pour and smooth just right, and then cure to perfection. As a homeowner, you may have some concrete needs that you think you could handle on your own. Maybe you could, and then again, maybe you could not. Small concrete needs, in particular, require their own solution set, and those perfect solutions start with the following.
Sizing up the Project
If you have cracks in the driveway, you need a filler for that area between walkway and concrete front stoop, or you want to create stepping stones to the garden, then you are looking at small concrete needs. Anything larger or anything requiring whole poured slabs of concrete of considerable size would not benefit from the kind of solutions mentioned here. Once you are certain that your concrete needs would not require several extra hands on deck to complete, then you can attempt to complete these projects on your own (if that is what you want to do).
Using Ready Mix Concrete
For all intents and purposes, this is the go-to concrete option for small concrete needs. It mixes up very quickly in small batches and works perfectly as a crack filler, seam filler, outdoor grout between bricks for brick wall repair, and even for creating stepping stones in the yard. You will need a five-gallon utility bucket, a high-speed auger drill bit for mixing the concrete thoroughly, and a measuring cup to get exactly the right amounts of water to the concrete mix. A trowel for crack filling and brick wall repair is also recommended.
If you are going to use the concrete ready mix to make stepping stones, consider purchasing a number of different stepping stone molds from home improvement or garden and landscaping stores. The molds will help you pour the perfect stepping stones in all styles and shapes to get an idea of how these stones will look in the yard. The ready to mix concrete is affordable enough that you can make several tests of stepping stones until you find the pattern/style you like best.
Letting Things Cure or Chemical Curing
A chemical "painted" over these small concrete projects can help the fresh concrete cure faster. However, ready mix varieties of concrete cure faster and rarely require any chemical curing because the mixes already contain their own curing agents. You can pour and wait for the projects to cure on their own. If you still want to be sure that things will cure on their own and not need a chemical curing, check the ingredients on the bag of concrete mix.
For more information, reach out to a company like Mershon Concrete today.