The concrete aesthetic is trending and thus so are concrete mixers. The weather might be unreadable lately but the efficiency and sustainability of concrete patios can not be questioned. With heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and floods being reported worldwide, many people are losing their beautiful backyards and outdoor furniture to disastrous weather.
However, for those trendy and smart individuals, there is a rainbow after the storm as the renovation of an old wooden patio into a luxurious concrete patio has been all the rage lately.
If you’re considering a concrete patio to give your property the revamp it needs, then this article is for you. Keep reading to learn a little more about building concrete patios as well as how to do so with BS Powers reliable mixers.
Concrete Mixers And Concrete Patios
Firstly, let us look at the basics of concrete construction projects. You cannot build an entire concrete patio if you have no concrete to build with. Thus, we should likely have a look at what concrete is and how exactly it can, not only add a more modernistic feel to your backyard, but also provide your patio with resistance and endurance when it comes to weather.
If you are new to anything and everything concrete, there is no need to worry as we’re going to cover everything you need to know to get started. Concrete is a building material used for the construction of secure and safe environments. This building material is sturdy and secure as it is made up of multiple fine and coarse aggregates bound together with cement fluid which hardens over a short period of time.
Concrete can be thoroughly mixed by way of a concrete or cement mixer. A mixer is a machine used for the homogenous combination of cement, aggregates, and water for the intended result of forming concrete. Typically, concrete mixers comprise a revolving drum which mixes all these components, but we will tell you more about that in a moment.
Types Of Concrete
Normal strength concrete combines all the basic concrete-making ingredients. Through this normal strength, concrete is produced which is regularly used for pavements or buildings which do not need highly resistant tactile strength. For the construction of a regular non-extravagant patio, this type of concrete is perfect as it is inexpensive and easy to use. However, this type of concrete may not be very resistant to extreme weather conditions and can therefore deteriorate a little faster than other concrete.
Mixed with cement, sand, and water, ordinary concrete is akin to normal-strength concrete. This concrete also faces the same challenges as the normal strength concrete as it does not withstand heavy vibrations or wind loading wells. It is often used for the construction of dams where the durability rating of ordinary concrete is of a satisfactory level.
Reinforced concrete is very popular in modern construction builds. As the name suggests, this type of concrete is reinforced through the placement of wires, steel rods and cables in the concrete before it sets. Thus, reinforced concrete is aided with extra strength and resistance to harsh external forces through the essence of creating a strong bond to survive compressive forces.
Prestressed concrete is made with a rather special technique. Before the application of concrete, bars and tendons are stressed to form prestressed concrete. This makes the lower part of the concrete unit strong against external forces, which is why this concrete is most often seen used in the building of bridges and roofs.
Precast concrete is made at a factory and then transported to the site. If you are a DIY person building your concrete patio this type of concrete should be fine. However, for more highly equipped and experienced construction workers this concrete may be a waste of time and money.
Any concrete which has less than 1920 Kg per square metre is lightweight concrete. Lightweight concrete is a low-strength concrete as it is made up of natural minerals such as scoria and artificial minerals like clay. It is most often used for an extra layer of external protection against bridges, decks, and blocks.
Types Of Concrete Mixers
Now that you have a better understanding of the different types of concrete and how they can contribute to the building of your patio, let’s take a look at the different types of mixers available to you. For reliable, easy-to-use mixers of various sizes, BS Power has you covered. Our mixers will help you with all of your concrete projects. Keep reading for a quick list of different types of mixers and what they are used for.
Tilting Mixers
This concrete mixer is a twister! A tilting drum mixer means that the drum will be able to discharge the concrete mixer by tilting its nuzzle downwards. The concrete is delivered in a rapid motion through the physics of gravity that pulls the mixture downward enabling the concrete to be obtained in its place without the mixture being segregated.
Non-Tilting Mixers
Through this drum, concrete is produced in one single batch. The entire concrete mixing drum turns around on its axis as the materials are loaded through a charging chute at one end and the combined mixture can exit through a discharging chute. The drum thus has two opposite ends and two chutes instead of one, unlike the tilting concrete mixer. This concrete mixer is also known as the reversing concrete mixer drum.
Pan-Types Mixers
Pan-type concrete mixers are made to provide its user with efficiently mixed dry and wet materials. The pans attached to this concrete mixer are removable and tilted for an easily accessible pan when the time comes for emptying the mixing tray. The pan has a volume of 100 litres depending on the size of the concrete mixer.
How To Build A Concrete Patio With Concrete Mixers
Now that you know the basics of concrete and the concrete mixing process, let us take a look at how a concrete patio is built. First up you will need to lay out and excavate the patio. This will allow you to be able to establish a plan for the patio’s foundation and its ground surface. After that excavation can start where the lines are drawn to mark boundaries and centre lines.
It is now time to place the markers along the layout lines. This will provide you with a temporary benchmark indicating to you a fixed point. The benchmarks can help you establish any elevated levels of ground and thereby will help you level said ground.
For the next step, the builder will go ahead and add a layer of gravel or crushed rock to the marked and levelled ground. The gravel or crushed rock should be laid out evenly. This step is important as fluctuation in the height of the patio’s base can cause cracks to evolve in the patio over time.
Once your forms have been placed to the mark of the diameter of where you would like to spread the concrete let us start pouring the concrete into the frame. Aim the concrete mixer at the spot where you would like to pour the concrete for your patio. Using a spade or mortar hoe to spread out the concrete. you as the builder should be pushing down on the concrete rather than dragging it as this will cause the concrete to crack.
A concrete patio is a large surface which will mean the concrete needs to be jointed. Large slabs of concrete will crack. To control this cracking, joints are set with a guide board to control the joints. Each joint should be one-quarter of the thickness of the slab.
Next up is floating. This floating involves placing a wooden surface upon the concrete after the water sheen has disappeared. A magnesium hand float gives a smoother surface and the likelihood for tearing to occur with a magnesium hand float is far less likely than with a wooden float.
Finally, leave your new patio to dry. If the concrete is not accurately cured then the likelihood of the patio float falling in becomes high likelihood. However, the concrete should not dry too quickly as this may cause cracking which is why it is suggested that concrete be cured by keeping it wet. The best curing happens within three days in cold weather.
Why Builders Use Concrete Mixers
If you are building a concrete patio, you want it to be done fast and well. As a builder, you want to provide your clients with a job well done as soon as possible, and a concrete mixer saves the workers an abundance of time. You need to still provide your clients with quality though which is why it is best not to waste your time on having concrete mixed and laid by hand.
Also, a concrete mixer means you will always have concrete on site. It is best not to waste your time on money when it comes to ordering and waiting on deliveries. Rather mix and pour your concrete at the desired place at the desired time.
It is better to earn money than lose it, no one can argue with that, because we all need money. If you are a builder looking to make a profit, splurging on a concrete mixer will mean that you save and earn more money over an extended period of time. This is because your labour and delivery costs are reduced.
The last and most important reason as to why builders use concrete mixers is safety concerns. Improved health and safety of workers on site means that the work progress does not slow down but rather productivity is increased.
About BS Power
With us you do not invest in mere machines, you place your money’s worth in quality power. When you build that lush-looking concrete patio we would like to know that our machines provided you with the ability to achieve the look you wanted. At BS Power we do not merely get it done, we get it done well!