[Red Squirrel]

I bought a bag of cement to fill in a small area in a floor. If I'm reading this right, do I really need to buy 2 more bags of another product and 3 bags of another? Or am I missing something?


(click for larger version)

It also does not mention how much water to put. Did I buy the wrong stuff?

From my understanding cement = no aggregate, concrete = cement with aggregate. Can I just use this stuff directly as cement? Don't really need aggregate for a floor right?

 

[Bondo]

I bought a bag of cement to fill in a small area in a floor. If I'm reading this right, do I really need to buy 2 more bags of another product and 3 bags of another? Or am I missing something?



It also does not mention how much water to put. Did I buy the wrong stuff?

From my understanding cement = no aggregate, concrete = cement with aggregate. Can I just use this stuff directly as cement? Don't really need aggregate for a floor right?

Ayuh,.... You bought the glue, 'n ya need the aggregate to go with it...

Bring it back, 'n get sackrete or whatever premixed bag stuff they've got...

just portland will not work, mixed with only water, 'n poured in yer holes...

 

[Red Squirrel]

Damn, was afraid of that. Time to go back, and I was JUST there today too! Going to see if they have the Sacrete, I've used it before and it was simple. This was the first thing I saw and figured it was the right stuff.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Ok I got the right stuff, Quickrette mix made for fence posts and floors. Just add water. It's the faster setting stuff though, but it's the only thing they had. There was a skid with 3 standard mix but they looked in pretty rough shape. The skid was probably temporary set against a snow bank and some probably got wet. Thsi stuff has instructions for floors/walkways so at least I know it's something it's meant for. It's just more specialized for fence posts because it's fast setting.

 

[oh'mike]

That will work for you----

What you going to use to mix it in?

I often mix right on the floor---but that can be a learning curve----

 

[Red Squirrel]

Not the most practical but I have some kitty litter buckets. Only one really big one, which I already used for this failed project. but I should be able to get the worse of it out by scraping it. This stuff actually says I can mix it right in place but I rather use a bucket to ensure I got the right consistency.

I will have to figure out how to properly measure as it goes by bag but I wont be able to do a bag at a time, maybe 1/3. Though how important is it to be dead on? As long as it's a muddy but not runny consistency right? This stuff sets in about 20-40 minutes, so I'm going to have to be fast as I should technically be done all of it within that time so I don't end up with different layers.

Also, am I safe to only scrape out like 2-3 inches out of my old work (in the other thread)? That bad concrete is still hard, just not hard enough that it stays together if scraped. It's basically like clay.

 

[oh'mike]

You will have to be the judge of what you remove--
As to liquid---I mix by eye---adding liquid as I mix until it goes from a dry mix to one with just enough liquid that it can be tooled---to much water and it becomes weak and can't be troweled well.

I do the 'volcano' pile method some times----

This is how that one works---pour the mix onto the concrete floor---in a pile like a mountain---using a flat shovel---make a hole in the top ,like a volcano.

For water--I use a bucket and a big sponge----fill the center hole of the pile with water--use the flat shovel to add dry powder from the outside of the pile,to the wet center-----make the hole again--add more water---more dry powder---and repeat until the whole pile is wet---

Use that shovel to 'cut ' the pile and mix--add a little water until the consistancy is stiff but workable---then shovel it into the hole---

Use the sponge to clean the floor---

This is much easier to do than to describe---and not as messy as you would think--

 

[stadry]

it it were me, i'd remove it all down to freshly exposed original conc,,, if i remember correctly, your problem began w/mixing in a bucket together w/improper measurement of mix water,,, time to change mix method

 

[Red Squirrel]

Ended up doing pretty much that, there's a bit that I left in, but most of it was 4 inches and more so it should be thick enough.

That sand pile you see? That's the old "concrete". It was hard enough that I could not just go with a shovel, but using my hammer drill I was able to quickly take chunks out of it. It's basically like really hard sand.



Hopefully this sets better this time. I ended up mixing partially in the bucket then adding to the hole than mixing more in it and adding a bit of water at a time as I went along. Only thing with it being quick set near the end it was getting more rough and harder to work, so hopefully it pans out ok. I probably could have added a tad more but as long as it's even enough is all that counts, it's going to be covered with dricore.

I'm a little nervous as it's warming up outside, actually above zero. Hopefully I don't start to get water flowing in the weeping tiles.

Also, guess I should have not started a new thread and just continued in my last one given it was the same project.

 

[oh'mike]

Looks like a success!---

 

[Gary in WA]

I mix single bag alone on a 4x7' tarp. Water hose/nozzle over shoulder. Tie/tape each end together after bunching, open the bag in center with tarp laid on floor, add water, lift each end alternately while holding other end slightly off floor to prevent spillage. Similar to a hammock while being used...except lift end-to-end rather than swinging side-to-side. Work better with two people, one corner each hand, up on one end, relax on other. Tends to roll it for good mix. May want to pin a surround to the floor for the water heater or straps...seismic.

Gary

 

[Red Squirrel]

I can still rub it a bit with my finger but its definitely feeling more rough and harder, and starting to get lighter. I'll leave it till tomorrow to see how it looks. Usually takes a few days to fully set right?

No earthquakes here, so don't need to pin the heater, though I do want to look at getting one of those plastic pans in case of leak, given I'm finishing my basement. It's a rental so I'll have to call them up, as they probably need to unhook it to lift it, not sure how much play gas lines have and I rather not take a chance of putting strain on it.