Pouring a concrete slab. Ever done it yourself?

[Frank]

I need to get a 6 x 8 slab poured to extend a patio. I really don't want a truck coming up tearing up my yard and drive so I was looking into possibly doing it myself, but I have never done it before. I figure I could buy a used mixer for $100-150 and sell it afterward. My estimates come up with .889 yards equating to 36 80lb bags. At 2880 lbs, I'd have to make 3 trips as I have no other way to haul that much. I have the rebar and other materials to build the form which is the least of the work. I don't have any help recruited yet, so I may be on my own. The top finish doesn't have to be perfect since it will later have brick on it. I'm not kidding myself that this wouldn't be a lot of work. Estimate I got Mexican contractor was about $950 which included doing all the brick work too. (I already have the brick).

So talk me out of it, into it, tips, suggestions, etc. I am trying to weigh my options.

[Chas_svo]

$950 sounds like a lot until you get in the middle of it. It will cost you more than you think to do yourself. Since you've never done it, you will likely run into an issue or two. If you want the feeling of an accomplishment, do it. I wouldn't again.

[2011GT]

I'd pay somebody to do it. They'll have the experience. Plus driving around buying a mixer, multiple trips to the store, a few 12 packs of beer and then you gotta sell the mixer. Screw all that...

[Baron Von Crowder]

I would pay 950 bucks to not have to fuck with lifting 3 dozen 80 pound sacks of concrete 3 times each.

Wingy Dingy.

[CWO]

I'd make the forms and lay out the re-bar and let someone else do all the other crap

[jluv]

Ya, the older I get and the more I make, the cheaper $950 sounds for that kind of job. Plus, you know it's being done by someone who has done it before.

[Denny]

Ya, the older I get and the more I make, the cheaper $950 sounds for that kind of job. Plus, you know it's being done by someone who has done it before.

And hopefully warranty it.

[03mustangdude]

pay it sounds cheap.

If you do it yourself call lowes or home depot and ask how many bags come in a pallet. they can deliver a pallet to your house for 75-80 bucks. Might be worth it.

Or if you want to do multiple trips use the coupon code generator

http://renovopower.com/lowes.html

[yellowstang]

Screw buying and selling equipment, rent that shit!

http://www.hertzequip.com/herc/programs/index.jsp?targetPage=generalRentalsView.jsp

Get a cement mixer and a pump and go over the fence, no tearing up of the yard/fence

[phaux]

Pay it. If they're doing the job turn key for 950, ya, pay it. I've done several concrete jobs myself for customers, they suck.

If you're dead set on breaking your back, losing your weekend, getting all your tools coated in dust and concrete, cursing and sweating to save a few bucks, then at least simply go order a yard of premix. Fuck mixing it yourself, with or without a mixer, if it's any more that several bags. Call around and lots of these mom and pop rental places will have premix setups. You order a yard, hook up to their trailer, and they pour in a yard of wet cement, drive home and pour. Have all your ducks in a row though prior to pour.

[ceyko]

950 is worth it. I'm not sure how you think only 36 bags will do that, but if you calculated it.

We put 8 posts in. 24" deep and about 1.5" around and we used 22 bags. That's with 4x4s in each hole. I would think a 6x8 (4" thick?) slab would take more than 36.

22, 36 or whatever it's still worth it at 950.

[8mpg]

Id pay as well...its going to take you way too long to individually mix 36 bags of concrete, pour it and float the patio. With this heat, you patio is going to start trying to dry up a bit while you are still mixing.

With it being 1 yard, there are little trailers that concrete places rent that hold up to 2 yards.

[Cooter]

$1000 is insanely cheap for that...

you can't compete with free materials stolen from another job and hungry labor

[CJ]

Sounds like a great bargain until you do it. Kind of like roofing your own house in the middle of July.

[Captain Crawfish]

It would be easier to throw some sand and sod out to fix the ruts. A cement truck is a heck of a lot easier. Form it out with rebar call the truck get a friend a couple floaters and get it done. Tell the driver to mix it wet to give you more time