‘Concrete’ is a material which is used in buildings. The word ‘concrete’ has been derived from a Latin word ‘concretus‘. Concretus means compressed or condensed. This material is composed of cement (mainly Portland cement) and other cement materials including slag cement, fly ash, water, chemical mixture and aggregate( limestone, gravel, granite, and sand).
Concrete becomes hard and solid after putting water and placement, due to a chemical process known as hydration. The water reacts with concrete to bond with other chemicals, thus they form a stone- like material. Concrete is also used to construct channels, asphalt road and architectural structures like bridges, bricks, motorways, roads, foundations, etc. Let’s have a look at how to make concrete.
Things required:
- Cement Builder’s sand
- Clean sand
- Concrete mixer
- Molds Slump cone
- Concrete-releasing agent Trowel
- Scraper
Instructions:
- According to your preference, make concrete molds. You can easily buy them from various outlets. You can also make your own concrete molds with the help of stones and bricks as models.
- Now, get a concrete mixer to merge cement with clean sand. The mixture ratio should be 4 parts sand for each 2 part of cement to make any normal kind of concrete. To make stronger concrete, combine 3 parts of sand to 2 part of cement, and mix them carefully.
- Mix gravel or trodden limestone in the concrete mixer. The quantity of gravel must be equal to the combined sand and cement combination: 2 parts gravel to 1 parts of sand, and mix 2 parts of cement in it. You may have to experiment a bit with the cement mixture, because if you will use too much gravel, you won’t be able to make a smooth stability to the concrete.
- Now, carefully mix water in the cement mixture, stir them until they achieve the exact consistency. You can check the smoothness of the concrete by scooping a sample of the combination into a droop cone. Measure it off by checking what amount of mixture settles. When it settles around 5 to 6 inches into the droop cone, that means the combination includes the right amount of ingredients.
- Keep mixing the concrete for several minutes until it is constant throughout the process.
- Spread ‘water based concrete releasing agent’ inside the molds. This will help you to take out the concrete block from the mold once it becomes hard.
- Transfer the concrete mixture carefully in the mold, and after that make it level on the top with a trowel or a wooden board. Tap the combination to make it settle, and to remove any air bubbles in the mold.
- Let the concrete mixture harden for around 24 hours before you try to take it out from the mold. Once it is dry, press down on the prepared concrete block while concurrently drawing the mold. The concrete block must be spring free, and the mold can be used again to make more concrete blocks.
Tips and Warnings:
- When you have put the concrete in the molds, clean up everything immediately. Concrete can be easily washed away from the clothes and can be tackled when it is still wet.
- Always use precautions while making concrete. Wear protective clothes, cover your nose and mouth when you are making the mixture of cement. The smell of the mixture is dire and can be hazardous to health.
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