Architectural concrete composition and proportions. How products are made from architectural concrete Architectural concrete production technology

15.06.2019

Do-it-yourself architectural concrete is a very original solution in order to decorate your home. country cottage area or private house. Thanks to the decorative solution, it is possible to create an imitation of any coatings.

Architectural concrete is used to create decorative designs and imitation of any coatings.

In order to independently perform work on the creation of decorative concrete, the following materials and tools are needed.

concrete mixer;
concrete mixture;
liquid or powder dye;
leveling spatula;
Master OK;
release agent;
texture matrix;
washing machine at 200 atmospheres;
protective solution for concrete;
rollers.

Work instructions

So, below are the steps, following which, you can independently create an exclusive coating.

Before starting the production of architectural concrete, it is necessary to determine the color and texture of the future product.

The first step is to decide on the desired color and texture. These parameters are selected based on environment and buildings around the perimeter. Specialists in landscape design when using drawings with lines, it is advised to arrange them in such a way that the long lines lie perpendicular to the length of the plot. So the irregularities in the lines will be visually smoothed out. The direction in which the work will be carried out is also immediately determined.
The choice of concrete composition. In order to choose the right mixture, it is necessary to take into account the specifics of the area. For this purpose, you can use the most popular mixtures that slow down the absorption of moisture or that absorb it. The main thing is that they do not contain calcium chloride, that is, those mixtures that, due to their composition, trap air. It should also be noted that some impurities, reacting with concrete, change its color.
Concrete mortar is being painted. Concrete is a rather specific material, but it can also be painted.

There are ways to do this:

The method of spraying paint is applying paint to freshly poured concrete.

Integral painting. This method is used when it is very important that the entire slab be painted evenly, for this a liquid dye is added to the practically ready solution and it is finally kneaded with a concrete mixer.
Spray paint. With the help of a colored hardener powder, the necessary areas are painted, the paint is applied to freshly poured concrete and absorbed to a depth of about 0.3 cm. A trowel may be needed if there are minor flaws.
Applying an anti-adhesive to the concrete solution. This substance will prevent the matrices from sticking (with the help of it, the concrete is given the appropriate texture) to the wet concrete mix. The average proportion is 1.5 kg of release agent powder per 10 m². They begin to cover the surface with it only after the consistency of the concrete reaches the moment when it can be worked with by extrusion. It should have a uniform coating between the surface and the textures of the matrices, while it is necessary to control that its thickness prevents the concrete from seeping through, but does not spoil the textural ornament.
Apply texture to concrete. If you work with properly prepared concrete, then pressing the matrices will not require much effort. At this stage, it is very important to control the time, so it is better when the press occurs without interruptions. It is necessary to constantly monitor the work so that at the slightest inconsistency everything can be corrected.

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Do you need help at work?

To make it easier to cope with the loads, it is recommended to work with four people.

The first person is engaged in placing the anti-adhesive on the matrices and on the concrete composition, levels it, and also controls the imperfections, can help the rest of the team members.

The second person deals specifically with matrices, because all the final work will depend on the starting point. The main thing is to remember that the laying of the matrices should be joint-to-joint in order to avoid unnecessary seams in the ornament.

For small work surfaces, it is enough to use 3 matrices.

When working with architectural concrete, special matrices are used.

It is necessary to lay them in turn: the first, second, third, and then, having freed the first, start again in a circle.

The third person is intended for work on indentation of matrices. They should be worked in such a way that the indentation occurs only vertically, while not using excessive force. In general, if objectively judged, then the first and second workflow can be performed by one person.

The fourth person must carefully remove the matrices from the concrete composition. This is a rather meticulous work, since it is necessary to control here so that the pattern is not disturbed, and the edges of the matrix are not absorbed. After the relief plate is removed, it is transferred to the first worker, who makes a new press.

After the end of the drawing by means of matrices on concrete, it is given time for about a day for drying. Next, the surface must be washed and it is best to use a washing machine with a pressure of 200 atmospheres for this purpose. But these works should be carried out very carefully, since a strong jet can damage the surface of the concrete. This procedure is designed to get rid of excess anti-adhesive. If there is a desire to give originality, then by adjusting the distance (between the surface and the water nozzle), not all the powder is washed out, leaving it in the seams and recesses. Thus, architectural concrete takes on the appearance of aging and shadows are added to it in the texture.

After the concrete surface has dried after water procedures, it is opened with a protective coating. Such solutions are sold in hardware stores. Experts recommend using 4.5 liters of solution per 20 m² of space. For a better study, two layers are required, which should lie perpendicular to one another. It is necessary to control that residues do not accumulate in the corners. The floor is then allowed to dry.

Concrete is one of the most versatile building materials, it is used in a variety of areas of construction, ranging from the construction of houses, and ending with the manufacture of various decorative products. In the latter case, special concrete is used, which is called architectural. Next, we will take a closer look at what architectural concrete is, what properties it has and how you can prepare it yourself.

Features of architectural concrete

Architectural (or as it is also called decorative) concrete differs from ordinary concrete in its resistance to various negative influences, such as sudden changes in temperature, high humidity, etc. Architectural concrete products can be incredibly attractive, imitating natural stone. With their help, you can decorate any building from the outside or decorate the room from the inside.

In the photo - the structure of decorative concrete

Material types

Decorative concrete mortar is conventionally divided into two main types, each of which is intended for different types works:

White decorative concrete- used for facade decoration, interior decoration premises, as well as when creating various decorative elements that will be subjected to heavy loads.
Lightweight white concrete- used to create various lightweight structures with decorative elements, in the manufacture of tiles, imitation natural stone etc.

In general, architectural concrete is designed to solve two important tasks:

Surface simulations natural stone;
Ensuring the strength and reliability of the product.

As a rule, this material imitates the surface of sandstone. Moreover, in many respects it even surpasses it.

Compound

The composition of architectural concrete consists of the following ingredients:

Filler	Most often, natural quartz sand is used as a filler. It is he who gives the material the structure of natural stone. Sometimes marble chips or finely ground glass are added to the composition, which also allows you to achieve an interesting effect.
Binder	Portland cement is used as a binder, it is desirable that it be white color. The quality of cement must be the highest, any impurities in it are strictly prohibited.
Coloring pigments	This component is designed to color the material and make it even more similar to natural stone. Pigments are added at the stage of mixing the solution, so the product is colored throughout the mass. I must say that pigments are the most different colors, including very bright ones, however, natural shades should be used for realistic imitation.
Water	Must be clean, without any impurities. The quality of the material depends on this.
Modifying additives	These additives include plasticizers, antifoams, antifreeze additives, adhesives, etc. With their help, you can improve the properties of the material and give it certain properties.
rubble	In some cases, the composition of certain breeds, the desired colors. This allows you to give it strength and at the same time achieve a certain decorative effect.

Note! The proportions depend on the specifics of the products that will be made from this material, as well as the type of molding and some other factors.

Forming methods

Decorative concrete can be formed by different methods, so let's get acquainted with them in more detail:

Tamping or stuffing- is a manual method with which you can get the product in rigid forms. It consists in pouring the solution and tamping with a metal rod or wooden stick. Vibrators can also be used to improve material properties.

This technology allows you to create products of medium and even high level complexity of forms. As for the shortcomings, they include a high percentage of defects, as well as the low strength of products.

vibrocompression method- at the core this method vibration pressure up to 1 kg/cm2 is used. For molding, a special vibropress and molds are used.

This technology is used to produce Various types paving stones, paving slabs, and simple architectural forms. Recently, polyurethane substrates have been used as molds, which make it possible to obtain a better surface. The advantages of this method include high strength products, good performance and ease of manufacturing products.

With the help of pigments, this method can be used to obtain attractive colored tiles that can decorate any site or any courtyard.

Pressure pressing- when pouring using this technology, they use hydraulic presses and molds. In this case, molding is performed under pressure of 50-500 kg/cm2. This technology of architectural concrete is used in the manufacture of thin-walled structures that have high strength and resistance to low temperatures.

Also, the solution can be poured into the formwork or applied by spraying when performing various construction works.

Production of decorative concrete

The production of decorative concrete will save a significant amount, since the price of natural stone or paving slabs much higher than the cost of self-made material.

The instruction looks like this:

The production of architectural concrete begins with mixing cement with sand in a ratio of 1:3.
Next, water is added to the composition. In addition, at this stage, the mass is colored with a dye, and additives are also poured into it. The amount of additives in each individual case may be different, detailed instructions for their use are available on the packaging.
After obtaining a homogeneous mixture, crushed stone is added to the solution. As a rule, its content is 40% of the total mass. After thorough mixing, the composition will be ready for use.

After preparing the solution, it is poured into the formwork, which is pre-reinforced, or special forms. During the pouring process, concrete is periodically compacted.

Advice! After hardening, the concrete is very durable, so for it machining use power tools with diamond nozzles. In particular, procedures such as cutting reinforced concrete with diamond wheels, diamond drilling of holes in concrete or grinding with diamond crowns can be performed.

Conclusion

The scope of decorative concrete is quite extensive, due to many of its advantages. Including it will always find application in the private sector. As we found out, do-it-yourself architectural concrete is made quite simply ().

From the video in this article you can get Additional information on this topic.

Concrete is the most functional and widespread building material used in almost all areas of human activity. To solve aesthetic problems and for the manufacture of various decorative elements, architectural concrete is used, which differs from the usual material in composition and operational characteristics.

Types of architectural concrete

Architectural decorative concrete is divided into two main types, which differ both in terms of use and composition. Each of these materials should be used for its intended purpose.

decorative white

The material is mainly used for the design and decoration of facades, interior design, it is used to make objects of various shapes and textures.

The main condition for the operation of architectural concrete products of this type is the load limit. Exceeding the maximum allowable value leads to the collapse of the structure.

Light white

White lightweight concrete is used for the manufacture of lightweight elements that perform a decorative function: tiles, stairs, balconies. Often, lightweight concrete is used to imitate natural rocks - natural sandstone or marble.

What components are included in the composition of the material

The composition of architectural concrete includes almost the same ingredients that are used to prepare conventional mixtures, namely:

water;
binder;
filler;
modifiers;
dye.

As a filler, washed river sand, marble or granite chips are used, thanks to which it is possible to exactly repeat the texture and structure of natural rocks.

Portland cement, which is a binder additive, is recommended to use a light gray or whitish tint, it should not contain any extra impurities.

For maximum similarity to natural stone, coloring pigments are also included in the composition of the material. Uniform distribution of color throughout the volume of concrete is ensured by the addition of a dye at the stage of stirring the dry mix.

The dry mixture is diluted with clean water that does not contain impurities - this is a prerequisite for obtaining high-quality material.

As modifying additives, frost-resistant and anti-foaming ingredients, adhesives, plasticizers are used. The addition of one or another component depends on the required characteristics and the shape that future elements must have. With their help, products made of architectural concrete acquire the necessary resistance to mechanical stress and sudden changes in temperature.

Advantages and disadvantages of the material

The advantages of such material include:

sufficiently high strength, allowing the construction of garden or terrace balustrades, stairs;
plasticity, due to which products of any shape are created;
long service life;
relatively low cost;
resistance to atmospheric precipitation and harmful external factors.

Disadvantages of architectural concrete:

significant weight of finished structures, which does not allow the use of decorating elements to decorate the facades of frame and wooden houses;
the complexity of the installation of products, requiring the use of special equipment and the involvement of experienced craftsmen, which significantly increases costs;
low artistic expressiveness, expressed in the impossibility of creating small details;
the need for careful adjustment of each element;
the duration of solidification of the concrete mixture in the form, which is at least 1-2 days.

Technology and methods of preparation

The production technology of architectural concrete is quite simple.

First of all, it is necessary to sift all the dry ingredients through a special sieve. The cement is mixed with the filler, the selected dye and modifying components are added. The mixture is thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous composition is obtained. A small depression is made in the resulting material, which is filled with clean water.

The proportions of the components in the production of architectural concrete with their own hands are taken depending on the brand of cement. For the most commonly used grade M500, the ratio of ingredients in the mixture is as follows: 1 part cement to 2 parts liquid and 3 parts sand.

The readiness of the material is checked as follows: the finished mixture is tightly compressed in a fist for a few seconds. If after unclenching the lump crumbles, then it is necessary to add a little more water, and vice versa, if liquid flows out during compression, then filler must be added.

Manufacturing methods

Architectural concrete can be made in a variety of ways, each of which allows you to create a product that is as similar as possible to natural stone.

Embossing Method

The embossed method of producing architectural concrete, which requires a special matrix, is the most common due to its simplicity. Concrete produced in this way is mainly used for finishing wall surfaces, laying backyard and garden paths.

A primer layer is applied to the cleaned surface before concrete is laid, on which a reinforcing mesh is installed to strengthen the concrete. A thick layer (up to 5 cm) of finished and thoroughly mixed cement mixture. After a short solidification of the composition (about an hour), embossing is performed using a matrix.

To design small areas or create a pavement for paths, as a rule, the pattern is applied to the concrete that has not yet dried. To speed up the manufacturing process, it is recommended to use several forms at once.

This method involves the addition of a coloring pigment not during the mixing of the components, but after the impression is made. The surface of the finished elements is painted over with a powder composition, rubbed into the body of the product by means of trowels. To fix the top layer, additional impregnation is carried out.

Vibrocompression

How to make architectural concrete suitable for making pavers or pavements? Of course, by the vibrocompression method, using which products of various relief and shapes are created.

The process of producing concrete in this way involves the use of a special vibratory press, under which the product is formed and compacted.

This technology has its advantages and disadvantages, which determine the area of use of the elements. For example, under vibration it is impossible to make openwork elements, but at the same time, the resulting products are the best suited for making exterior finish requiring the use of frost-resistant and durable materials.

The cost of equipment for vibrocompression is quite high, but it pays off with a high production speed.

Pressing

In the manufacture of thin-walled products from architectural concrete, special molds and a hydraulic press are used by pressing. When working, it is important to give increased attention the quality of the raw materials used, on which the safety and durability of products, strength and resistance to external factors depend.

The technology is not very productive, and the final cost of production is too high.

Casting

Casting - the most effective method production of architectural concrete. Vibration installations are not used in production, and gypsum concrete and polymer concrete are used as materials.

This method allows you to make a product of any openwork shape or a thin-walled element, it is economically beneficial and has high productivity.

The desire to decorate the walls and facade of the building with various decorative elements is characteristic of all areas of architecture. Even the modern school, which thinks in large arrays and planes, is not devoid of tendencies towards the use of additional elements. Building construction in classical style allows abundant decoration with stucco volumetric elements. To create them, architectural concrete is used, the composition and properties of which deserve a detailed description.

Types of architectural concrete

The material used to create decorative elements of the facade or separate, independent compositions that serve to create the architectural and artistic appearance of a building or an adjacent territory is architectural concrete.

It is distinguished from ordinary building material by the presence of special additives that change the texture and make concrete more plastic and resistant to external influences. Concrete for decorative works has specific properties:

Fine-grained structure allows to achieve smooth surfaces.
The material has a low degree of hygroscopicity, so there are no carbonization processes in it that change the structure and strength.
High resistance to atmospheric influences, in particular, to influence of an ultraviolet.
Frost resistance, strength.
The plasticity of the material allows the use of a variety of working methods, which make it possible to obtain products that are close in quality to sculptures or decorative elements made of natural stone.

The possibilities that distinguish architectural concrete exist due to its composition. As a filler, small crushed stone from marble or granite, plasticizers, coloring pigments, and other components can be used. In this regard, the composition of architectural concrete does not have a fixed list of components and can be transformed during the preparation of the mixture as required by the specifics of the work performed. Such features of the material are highly appreciated by specialists in the creation of stucco, various relief images and other decorations.

Advantages and disadvantages of architectural concrete

Architectural concrete has valuable advantages:

High strength combined with ductility.
Resistant to atmospheric manifestations and low temperatures.
The presence of inorganic additives makes the material strong and durable, reduces wear and prevents premature failure.
The cost of products is low, which distinguishes them from elements made of natural material.

The disadvantages include:

The material is heavy, with a large amount of decor there is a serious additional load on the supporting structures. Because of this, the possibility of decorating light buildings with a weak bearing capacity support structures.
Installation of decor components is a complex and time-consuming task that requires the use of special equipment and skilled workers.
The process of creating products requires a lot of time (several days).
The creation of jewelry requires high precision, high-quality fitting of elements. Small parts are difficult to work with, which reduces the possibilities of the material.

Correct proportions of architectural concrete mix

The main elements that make up the architectural concrete mix:

Light or white Portland cement.
Dyes.
modifiers.

In addition to these components, you will need a filler that makes architectural concrete visually less uniform, adding a resemblance to natural stone. Marble or granite chips, small crushed stone from other rocks are used. It is recommended to use a filler that has a bright natural color, this will add realism to the appearance of concrete. The ratios of the elements are different, there is a large number of options. Basically, different combinations of sand and filler fractions are used.

An additional element is ground slaked lime, but it must be used with caution, since the presence of calcium adversely affects some building structures, and the processes constantly occurring in lime destabilize concrete.

Forming options

Several options for shaping the material are used based on the specifics and dimensions of the decor being performed:

Embossing. It is usually carried out with a relief roller on a freshly applied layer of concrete. As a result, an ornament appears, a background for installing more massive parts, a bas-relief, etc.
Vibrocompression. The technique is used in the manufacture of paving slabs or other products designed for high loads during operation.
Normal pressing. It is used for the production of stucco, decorations or parts of facade decoration.
Casting. It is used in the manufacture of volumetric products of complex shape, which cannot be made by conventional pressing.

Of all the options listed, embossing is the simplest, and pressing is considered the most difficult due to the high cost of equipment (it is all imported), high requirements for the quality of components and the long duration of the process.

Self-preparation of decorative concrete mix at home

To make architectural concrete yourself, you will need the main components - Portland cement, sand, fillers and additives. It is not recommended to use ordinary gray Portland cement, it makes the finished product dull and unattractive. The most preferred white material, which allows you to get clean and rich shades of concrete, well combined with multi-colored chips of marble or granite.

The proportions of the mixture depend on its purpose, brand and quality of cement. If Portland cement grade M-500 is used, then sand (3 parts) and water (2 parts) are added to one part. These are the main components, additives and filler that change the consistency of the solution. To check the quality, you need to squeeze a lump of concrete in your hand. If it crumbles, water is added, and if water flows from it, there is little sand.

Concrete is one of the most versatile building materials, it is used in a variety of areas of construction, from the construction of houses to the manufacture of various decorative products. In the latter case, special concrete is used, which is called architectural. Next, we will take a closer look at what architectural concrete is, what properties it has and how you can prepare it yourself.

Finishing with decorative concrete

Features of architectural concrete

In the photo - the structure of decorative concrete

Material types

Decorative concrete mortar is conventionally divided into two main types, each of which is intended for different types of work:

White decorative concrete - used for facades, interior decoration, as well as for the creation of various decorative elements that will be subjected to heavy loads.
Lightweight white concrete is used to create various lightweight structures with decorative elements, in the manufacture of tiles, imitation of natural stone, etc.

In general, architectural concrete is designed to solve two important tasks:

Imitation of the surface of natural stone;
Ensuring the strength and reliability of the product.

As a rule, this material imitates the surface of sandstone. Moreover, in many respects it even surpasses it.

Compound

The composition of architectural concrete consists of the following ingredients:

Filler Most often, natural quartz sand is used as a filler. It is he who gives the material the structure of natural stone. Sometimes marble chips or finely ground glass are added to the composition, which also allows you to achieve an interesting effect. Binder Portland cement is used as a binder, it is desirable that it be white. The quality of cement must be the highest, any impurities in it are strictly prohibited. Coloring pigments This component is designed to color the material and make it even more similar to natural stone. Pigments are added at the stage of mixing the solution, so the product is colored throughout the mass. I must say that pigments come in a wide variety of colors, including very bright ones, however, for a realistic imitation, natural shades should be used. Water must be clean, without any impurities. The quality of the material depends on this. Modifying additives These additives include plasticizers, antifoams, antifreeze additives, adhesives, etc. With their help, you can improve the properties of the material and give it certain properties. Crushed stone In some cases, crushed stone of certain breeds, of the desired color range, is added to the concrete composition. This allows you to give it strength and at the same time achieve a certain decorative effect.

Note! The proportions depend on the specifics of the products that will be made from this material, as well as the type of molding and some other factors.

Scheme of the mold for pressing

Forming methods

Decorative concrete can be formed by different methods, so let's get acquainted with them in more detail:

Tamping or stuffing is a manual method by which you can get the product in rigid forms. It consists in pouring the solution and tamping with a metal rod or wooden stick. Vibrators can also be used to improve material properties.

This technology allows you to create products of medium and even high level of complexity of forms. As for the shortcomings, they include a high percentage of defects, as well as the low strength of products.

Vibrating table with molds for concrete

Vibrocompression method - this method is based on vibration pressure up to 1 kg/cm2. For molding, a special vibropress and molds are used.

This technology is used to produce various types of paving stones, paving slabs, and simple architectural forms. Recently, polyurethane substrates have been used as molds, which make it possible to obtain a better surface. The advantages of this method include high strength products, good performance and ease of manufacturing products.

With the help of pigments, this method can be used to obtain attractive colored tiles that can decorate any site or any courtyard.

Pressing under pressure - when pouring according to this technology, hydraulic presses and molds are used. In this case, molding is performed under pressure of 50-500 kg/cm2. This technology of architectural concrete is used in the manufacture of thin-walled structures that have high strength and resistance to low temperatures.

Also, the solution can be poured into the formwork or applied by spraying when performing various construction works.

Laid out artificial stone track

Production of decorative concrete

The production of decorative concrete will save a significant amount, since the price of natural stone or paving slabs is much higher than the cost of self-made material.

The instruction looks like this:

The production of architectural concrete begins with mixing cement with sand in a ratio of 1:3.
Next, water is added to the composition. In addition, at this stage, the mass is colored with a dye, and additives are also poured into it. The amount of additives in each individual case may be different, detailed instructions for their use are available on the packaging.
After obtaining a homogeneous mixture, crushed stone is added to the solution. As a rule, its content is 40% of the total mass. After thorough mixing, the composition will be ready for use.

Pigments for concrete

After preparing the solution, it is poured into the formwork, which is pre-reinforced, or special forms. During the pouring process, concrete is periodically compacted.

Advice! After solidification, the concrete is very durable, therefore, for its mechanical processing, power tools with diamond nozzles are used. In particular, procedures such as cutting reinforced concrete with diamond wheels, diamond drilling of holes in concrete or grinding with diamond crowns can be performed.

Conclusion

The scope of decorative concrete is quite extensive, due to many of its advantages. Including it will always find application in the private sector. As we found out, making architectural concrete with your own hands is quite simple (see also the article “Saw for concrete: types of cutting tools and application features”).

See the video in this article for more information on this topic.

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The composition of concrete for the foundation: proportions and combinations of materials

The composition and proportions of concrete are very important and have a huge impact on its performance characteristics

The foundation is the foundation of the house. The strength of the structure as a whole depends on the correctness of this design. Almost any foundation is created using a concrete mortar: a combination of materials: cement, crushed stone, sand and water.

The composition of concrete for the foundation: the proportions of the mortar components determine the quality and performance of the entire building. In the article we will consider which components are more suitable for solutions various brands and how to choose correct proportions composition of concrete for the foundation.

Base types

The type of foundation and its possible loads are determined at the design stage. At the same time, the weight of the structure and the required strength of the base structure are calculated.

The strength characteristics of the basic structure depend on:

the type of foundation chosen,
concrete composition,
presence of reinforcement.

Almost any foundation, except for a pile, arranged using metal pipes, poured with concrete:

On a note! Regardless of what composition of the concrete mix for the foundation is prescribed in the project, pouring must be done at a time. Otherwise, the strength characteristics of the base will be changed.

Violation of the technology of pouring the foundation, or incorrect proportions of the solution, can subsequently lead to sad results.

Solution grade

Why is it important to know the ingredients of concrete? In order to optimize costs. As we have already found out, various buildings require different grounds. In this case, it is not always important to gain maximum structural strength.

Often, averaged indicators are quite enough - which means that cheaper components of the solution are suitable for mixing.

Design strength concrete structure depending on brand of solution

To understand in which cases this or that strength is necessary, let's summarize several brands in a table:

Composition of concrete

Solutions of all brands are mixed on the basis of the same components:

The binder is usually cement. The characteristics of the solution largely depend on the brand and quality of cement.
Fillers of various fractions. The composition of concrete includes crushed stone and sand. Crushed stone is taken in grain sizes from 10 to 50 mm with a rough surface to improve adhesion. Sand is a fine filler of possible voids.
Water connects all the components and gives the solution fluidity. At the same time, it is important that the composition of the water does not include any technical impurities or active chemicals.

Sand and crushed stone of various fractions are used as volume fillers in the solution.

The quality of the components

As mentioned above, cement is taken as a binder in the composition of concrete. At the same time, it can be used different kinds.

The most popular brands for mixing concrete are:

pozzolanic;
Portland cements of various hardening rates;
slag Portland cements.

The basis of the materials is the same, but due to different additives, they have different properties and setting time. The price of materials is also different.

The classic solution is the choice of Portland cements. This is a quality and affordable binder. At the same time, Portland cements include a minimum of additives, which allows the use of various additives when mixing the solution.

Important! Cement has an expiration date indicated on the original packaging. After the expiration of this period, cement loses a significant part operational properties, and a solution mixed with such a binder will not respond technical requirements.

In order to be sure of the quality of the cement, it is preferable to purchase a binder in bags with an expiration date.

Specifications and instructions for mixing concrete, clearly determine that the crushed stone or gravel used in the solution must be clean and not have any organic inclusions. If you are not sure about the quality of the crushed stone, it can be washed under running water before kneading.

In general, with regard to cleanliness, all components of concrete for the foundation should be chosen without any impurities. Sand is recommended to take quarry or river. Sand should be sieved before use.

Clean, sifted sand is required for mixing concrete.

Purchased solution or independent batch

After analyzing the prices on the market, some decide to save money and mix the mortar for the foundation with their own hands. Indeed, it is quite easy to purchase quality components. But one should take into account the fact that the foundation must be poured continuously throughout the entire volume in one go. And this means that a large amount of solution is required.

For these purposes, you will have to rent a concrete mixer, because manually mixing the solution in such an amount is quite problematic. As a result, you save on materials, but incur significant additional costs for the rental of special equipment and electricity.

On a note! Even when mixing concrete with a mixer, feeding the components manually, it is difficult to be sure of the strict observance of proportions. This means that different parties will receive excellent initial characteristics, which will adversely affect the strength of the foundation.

To prepare the required amount of concrete, you will need to rent special construction equipment

Amount of concrete

In order to know how much mortar is required for purchase or self-mixing, it is necessary to calculate the amount of concrete required. These data can be found in the project documentation, but it is quite simple to calculate it yourself, or use online calculator.

On a note! To calculate the volume of the solution, take the depth and width of the formwork and multiply it with the length of the foundation to be poured around the entire perimeter of the building, including internal partitions.

The design specification always prescribes the amount of concrete required for pouring

Solution proportions

As we found out, concrete is a composite material. Measure the solution in cubic meters. Therefore, all components are calculated based on the cost of preparing 1m3. Knowing the composition of concrete under the foundation, you can prepare the solution yourself.

Having decided on the brand of concrete, we turn to the standards and the classic recipe for mixing solutions.

Correct calculation

In order to correctly calculate how much cement is included in one cube of concrete for the foundation, it is necessary to determine the brand of mortar. In addition, it is necessary to know the characteristics and properties of all other components. What is worth paying attention to?

When purchasing materials, consider the following parameters:

Cement - mass, activity, setting time;

All the necessary information must be indicated on the cement packaging.

Sand - voidness, fraction, mass, moisture level, presence of impurities;
Crushed stone - weight, strength, degree of moisture, contamination, the presence of lamellar and needle grains.

Aggregate batches must be accompanied by a quality certificate along with a test report that specifies all the necessary parameters. The photo shows an example of a test report for a batch of crushed stone

Only after analyzing all the characteristics, and selecting the material of the required quality, you can get a solution with the appropriate characteristics. Some simple tips on the choice of components for concrete can be emphasized by watching the video in this article.

Cement

Of course, cement is the most important component of the concrete solution. The pattern here is as follows: the less cement in the solution, the higher the mobility of the mass, and the longer the setting time.

Important! When mixing concrete, the error in the amount of binder is allowed no more than 1 kg per 1 m3, aggregate no more than 5 kg.

Why is it important to maintain the correct composition of concrete on the foundation? If there is not enough cement, it will not hold the aggregate. This means that under the influence high humidity or physical activity, the structure will begin to crack, losing strength and becoming unusable.

On a note! In practice, it is very easy to determine the required brand of cement if the brand of the required mortar is known. The figure of cement should be 2 times larger.

To save time, you can use the calculations of specialists.

The table below shows how much cement should be included in the concrete for the foundation per 1 cube, depending on its brand.

If you decide to use a lower grade binder, you can maintain the strength of the final product by increasing the amount of cement. For example, replacing cement M 400 with brand 300, its amount should be increased by 30%.

Conclusion

Concrete for the foundation: the composition and its proportions will have a significant impact on the service life of the entire structure. Perhaps this is one of those cases where you should not save and experiment, because even a small deviation can have very serious consequences.

Pouring the foundation from a concrete truck

If you are not sure of your own knowledge and capabilities, it is perhaps better to purchase a ready-made solution. Specialists will carefully calculate and prepare the concrete composition suitable for your situation for pouring the foundation. And your house will last for many years.

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Composition of concrete: proportions, properties

The use of concrete mix in modern construction already so widespread that without this material it is difficult to imagine the possibility of constructing a durable and reliable building. But before using it, you need to know the composition of concrete, the proportions and purpose of the components used for its manufacture.

Milling machines for concrete

A concrete mass is a mixture of several ingredients that, after mixing, have the ability to harden and form a strong, stone-like mass.

For its manufacture, in most cases, 4 main components are used:

In the manufacture of the solution, it is necessary to use all components in the exact amount and with suitable characteristics. That is why only ready-mixed concrete, manufactured in the factory, can have the necessary indicators for specific purposes.

Also in manufacturing process plasticizers and additives can be used to obtain material with increased characteristics of frost resistance, water resistance, etc. But they are being used less and less - impregnation for concrete is more effective.

Acts as the main binder. The basis for his choice is the brand. The higher the brand, the more durable the structure of the future artificial stone will be.

A mixture with a minimum content of a binder component is called lean concrete. It is used for a number of construction works, the implementation of which does not require the maximum strength of reinforced concrete.

It is used as a solvent for cement - it is commercially available as a dry powder.

Of great importance in production is the ratio of water and cement.

Acts as a small filler. It is necessary for the formation of the structural framework of the material. It turns out that cement mortar connects the particles of fillers with each other and as a result a strong and durable structure comes out.

It is a major filler. Allows the production of heavy concrete, which has a fairly high strength after hardening, and also has an excellent bearing capacity.

Proportions

As already mentioned, in order for a reinforced concrete product to be able to withstand the loads placed on it, it is necessary to use the necessary components and in the right quantity when creating the mixture.

The standard cement mortar after hardening is very strong, but this increases the level of thermal conductivity. To increase the thermal efficiency of certain parts of the structure, a mixture with expanded clay is made.

For example, create a concrete solution with standard features, you can use the components in the following ratio:

1 part cement;

Previously, concrete waterproofing was performed special materials. Now concrete impregnation is used for these purposes.

Line-up selection

For the manufacture of high-quality concrete mortar, you need not only to know the exact proportions, but also to select:

Cement with a certain brand;

Sand with an acceptable level of impurities and grain size;

Crushed stone from a certain type of rock, which has suitable size fractions.

At industrial production even the chemical component of water and the shape of large aggregates are constantly checked - they have a special effect on the strength of the future structure. This is what makes a factory product many times better than a self-made one.

Only when manufactured in a factory can you get the best chemical composition concrete. The proportions and properties of the components are determined using special equipment and qualitative analysis.

PRICES FOR CONCRETE