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paulz
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# Posted: 2 Dec 2020 05:01pm
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Doing the last of the behind the shed cleanup and drug out this cement mixer I have never had a chance to use. Been sitting back there a few years and now rusted frozen but I'm sure I could get it going again.
The question is, is it worth it? I may do a retaining wall next year. Do you buy the materials separate or just put ready mix in and save the wheelbarrow shovel mixing routine?
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hueyjazz
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# Posted: 2 Dec 2020 05:34pm
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Well I can tell you I spent a summer on the construction job as laborer that made and deliver the concrete around.
Boy did it suck. Nothing but heavy lifting and back breaking work. However that year in football I was a total animal on the line.
Since then I've had two cement mixers. Gave one away and made the other into a planter.
It is cheaper than delivery of a mixed load. If it's the only way to get concrete there well. But you'll be surprised how many bags of Portland cement, sand and gravel you will use to make a wheelbarrow load.
However, It is far superior than trying to mix it by shovel
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Brettny
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# Posted: 2 Dec 2020 07:40pm
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1 or 2 bags is fine to mix by hand after that I use my electric mixer. Anything 3cuyrd I order and they deliver.
What do you plan on making a retaining wall out of? Block or a complete poured wall?
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paulz
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# Posted: 2 Dec 2020 11:45pm
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Quoting: hueyjazz Since then I've had two cement mixers. Gave one away and made the other into a planter.
Lol. I loaned mine to a friend when I first got it, he couldn't wait to be done with it.
Quoting: Brettny What do you plan on making a retaining wall out of? Block or a complete poured wall?
I want to cut back into this hillside for a parking spot, maybe even a carport. Maybe 6' tall wall, 15-20 wide. Blocks with rebar would be easiest, if it would be strong enough.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 3 Dec 2020 05:50am
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I would use a block made for retaining walls. At 6ft you will need it. A vertical mortared block wall can be pretty weak or even move if theres any water pressure against the back. Most retaining wall blocks step each block back to add to the strength.
I would avoid any wall if you can. More infrastructure just means more to take care of. Can you just dig back and make a swale at the bottom to move water away?
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mj1angier
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# Posted: 3 Dec 2020 08:46am
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Check around and see if you can find a the maker of the retaining blocks near you. We have one of their plants near me and they will put up 2nds cheap. I got block that normally sell for $6 for $1.85. They were a 1/4 inch out of spec and they were just getting their cost out of them.
They also sell crushed concrete to use as crush and run. A lot cheaper than normal cost.
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paulz
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# Posted: 3 Dec 2020 10:13am - Edited by: paulz
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Thanks guys. Well it's not on the docket until next spring at the earliest. As Brett suggests, I may be able to dig back far enough to not need a wall. Probably depend on the tree roots. Mainly just wondering what to do with this mixer. I like the planter idea..
I do have enough leftover 2" thick redwood boards I milled, maybe for a shorter wall.
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NorthRick
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# Posted: 3 Dec 2020 01:41pm
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Our cabin is remote. No getting a concrete truck any where near it. You have to plan ahead. I built a large plywood bin with two compartments in the fall and then covered it. Starting late February, with a good trail for snowmachines I started hauling in sand and gravel.
I'd have the local gravel yard dump a cubic yard of sand or gravel into the back of my F350. Hitch up the trailer with the snowmachine and drive to the trailhead for the cabin. Unhitch the trailer, pull forward and remove the tailgate. Then using the snowmachine pulling an otter (tub type) sled I'd position it under the back of the truck.
Shovel out of the truck and into the sled about 600lbs of sand/gravel. Across the swamps and through the woods to the cabin we went. Pull up beside the plywood bin and shovel the sand/gravel out of the sled into the bin.
Rinse and repeat until I had what I thought I needed (several cubic yards).
Buy a bunch of 94lb bags of portland cement and haul those in too.
Haul in a 275 gallon tote.
Wait for summer.
Run 200' of poly pipe down to the lake. Drag a gas powered water pump to the lake. Attach the pipe to the pump and stick the other end in the tote. Spend the next hour trying to get the pump to run and primed. Fill the tote with water.
Drag out the 2.5 ft3 electric concrete mixer. Drag out the Honda generator. Fire every thing up. Using 5-gal buckets to measure quantities of cement, sand, gravel, and water, make batches of concrete.
Pour into wheelbarrow and try to get to sonotube forms. Hit root and dump concrete on ground. Cuss. Get pulaski and cut out root. Start over.
Get wheelbarrow next to sonotube sticking 4' out of the ground. Shovel concrete out of wheelbarrow into sonotube. Continue for the rest of the summer.
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rpe
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# Posted: 3 Dec 2020 03:40pm
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NorthRick, my back is sore just reading your post! I can relate though, as we need to do the same thing as our property is water/ice access only. I've been hauling aggregate and sand in heavy poly bags, or 5-gallon pails.
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Ontario lakeside
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# Posted: 4 Dec 2020 05:21pm - Edited by: Ontario lakeside
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We haul in the cement and use sand from the property and water for the rain barrel. The less I need to haul the better!
Our latest conrete project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUEmUI9Jyx4&ab_channel=OntarioLakeside
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