Concreting the yard of a private house with your own hands: preparing the base and concreting stages

Making a well-paved area out of your yard can be a satisfying do-it-yourself project. Concreting your yard is an easy way to improve the look and feel of your outdoor space, regardless of whether you want to build a new patio, walkway, or driveway. You can do this project yourself, saving money and giving your house a personalized touch, if you have the necessary equipment and a little bit of elbow grease.

Setting up the foundation is the first step. This entails preparing the space for concrete, making sure that drainage is adequate, and clearing the area. The ground needs to be leveled after any old concrete, grass, or rocks are removed. Crushed stone or gravel is added to the concrete to support it and aid in drainage, preventing uneven surfaces and cracks.

When your foundation is prepared, it’s time to proceed to the concrete phases. In order to achieve the desired look, the concrete must be mixed, then poured into the prepared area and finished. Concrete sets quickly, so you’ll need to work quickly to smooth the surface using tools like a trowel or float. To guarantee that the concrete strengthens appropriately and endures for many years, proper curing is also essential.

Purposes of concreting

It is sufficient to comprehend the benefits of having a concrete yard in order to see why one is required:

• the area in front of the house eliminates the appearance of dirt in inclement weather;
• correct planning of the site helps to forget about puddles forever (water in front of the house will not stagnate);
• no traces of vehicles remain on the hard surface;
• concreting is an alternative to fragile asphalt or expensive tiles;
• the site protects from weeds;
• it is easier to zone the space on a concrete surface, place benches and flower beds;
• such an area is easier to keep clean.

Nuances of DIY concreting

Certain features need to be considered when laying concrete:

1. To ensure that the solution is of high quality, you should use sand with a small content of clay impurities and large particles. Check the quality of the sand by pouring it into a bucket filled with water. If the water remains clear after shaking, it can be used. Cloudy water indicates a high content of clay and silt impurities in the sand.
2. To strengthen the coating, a small amount of cement is applied to the hardening concrete and rubbed into the surface of the concrete composition.
3. To prevent overheating and the negative impact of sunlight, the coating is painted white.
4. To reduce the moisture content in the solution, it is recommended to use coatings containing salts that have the ability to absorb moisture from the surrounding air.
5. To prevent the coating from cracking at the joints, the prepared concrete mixture must be poured evenly and as quickly as possible.
6. Do not pour water on the concrete as soon as it sets if hardening mixtures are used. This can lead to their peeling.
7. When performing preparatory work, you should provide a slope along which precipitation will be diverted. For this purpose, when the concrete hardens, metal pipes are placed on it, pressing them down. After the solution hardens, the pipes are removed, and the grooves formed from them will function as gutters.

When setting up a concrete floor on the ground in a home without a garage, basement, or other outbuildings, a comparable technology is employed.

It’s important to concentrate on two main steps when doing your own concrete work: setting up the base and pouring the concrete. Initially, you must level and clear the land to guarantee appropriate drainage and a strong foundation. After it sets, you can proceed with pouring and leveling the concrete to make a long-lasting and beautiful surface. This methodical process guarantees that your yard will withstand the weather and look fantastic.

Preparatory work

There are preparatory steps involved in concreting with your hands. The top layer of soil is removed and the surface is leveled in order to prepare the site.

Leveling and preparing the site

Till 5 to 15 cm of loose, black soil with grassy roots are removed. Start site preparation after the soil layer has been removed. Sand or crushed stone can be used to create a "cushion," but they need to be well-compacted and moistened. The soil can be left in place if it is extremely clayey or sandy.

Use tape to firmly cover the backfill with polyethylene film. This will prevent grass from growing through the created concrete coating and shield the concrete from rapid destruction. Furthermore, until the concrete hardens, the cement milk won’t be able to leak.

Creating a cushion and compacting

The concrete base’s quality is enhanced by the "cushion." Its production involves the application of sand or crushed stone in a layer ranging from 10 to 20 centimeters on top of the soil. Backfill acts as a drainage system.

The sand is compacted using a handle-equipped channel. Sometimes a lot of water is used, poured on top of the layer of sand, and allowed to shrink. On top of the sand layer, a layer of crushed stone is added and compacted.

Preparing the formwork

Formwork must be built in order to give the screed the proper shape and smooth hardening. When building it, the following materials are utilized:

• boards;
• pieces of chipboard;
• plastic panels;
• plywood sheets;
• slate sheets.

Install the formwork in a prescribed contour all around the site. The panels are fastened together with screws or nails. The material is laid and supported during the structure’s installation by pegs driven into the ground.

Because plastic is a material that bends easily, it can be used to fill in figured paths. Now that the preparation phase is over, you can start working on the concrete coating.

Concreting stages

There are various steps involved in the entire concreting process:

• setting up beacons;
• reinforcement;
• pouring concrete mixture;
• finishing.

Setting up beacons

Two by four centimeter slats, twine, and a plasterboard profile may be used as beacons. The surface should have a small slope to prevent rain and melting water from building up on the location.

In relation to the location, beacons are positioned transversely. Two beacons are positioned along the edges using a level and mortar made of cement and sand.

The remaining beacons are mounted on the cords that are pulled between the two to three beacons once the concrete has solidified.

Reinforcement

The screed is made more stable and strong by reinforcement. Steel wire, rods, pipe components, and reinforcement can all be used in construction.

Using pre-made reinforcement mesh with 10 mm cell sizes and 6 mm wire thickness is preferable. The completed mesh sheets are stacked one on top of the other. By using reinforcement, surface cracks in the concrete will be avoided.

Preparing the solution

The preparation of the solution involves multiple techniques. Combine these ingredients to make concrete:

• cement;
• crushed stone;
• sand.

It’s important to follow the ratios when mixing: use three parts sand and one part crushed stone for every one part cement. Other recipes exist (take two parts of crushed stone and sand for every one part of M400 or F200 cement), but in this instance, a vibrating beam is necessary to properly level the concrete surface.

Filling a concrete mixer with water is the first step in mixing concrete. A 1:1 average ratio between cement and water is advised. After that, add the remaining ingredients to the water and thoroughly stir until a homogenous mass is achieved. The concrete mixture is ready for use when there is no longer any visible sand.

Pouring concrete

Utilize a concrete mixer to make the mixing process easier. Choose a different approach if there are no auxiliary mechanisms.

Pour a solution containing a lot of crushed stone first, then don’t level it. Next, add a concrete mixture that contains very little crushed stone. The finishing layer can be up to 2 cm thick. This is a cost-effective option that eliminates the need for pricey equipment.

However, the entire site needs to be poured in a single day to ensure high-quality concreting. It will no longer be possible to tie the top layer to the bottom layer if it has had time to solidify.

Using a shovel, empty the concrete solution onto the beacons so that it covers them. A flat strip is used to remove excess concrete mixture in an effort to smooth out the surface.

Finishing operations

The next step is to apply various impregnations to the surface. An additional layer of polymer is used for strengthening. The areas that are under the most stress need to be topped off:

Two methods can be used to treat polymers:

1. A dry strengthening polymer mixture is poured onto fresh concrete.
2. A liquid solution is prepared and poured into grooves (1 cm deep, which are prepared in advance) in the set concrete.

Temperature joints

Temperature joints built into the technology guard against coating deterioration in the event of a change in the weather. The material’s linear parameters alter (increase or decrease) in response to changes in temperature.

For this purpose, technological gaps are created. At the pouring stage, you can lay small slats, but they need to be removed before the concrete hardens. In some cases, scrape out strips of mortar until it hardens, using a construction tool for this.

Once the concrete has completely set, technological seams can be created or removed with a grinder.

Step	Description
1. Plan and Measure	Determine the size and shape of your yard area, then measure it accurately.
2. Prepare the Site	Clear the area of grass, weeds, and debris. Excavate to the desired depth.
3. Create a Base	Lay a layer of gravel or crushed stone to provide a stable foundation and improve drainage.
4. Set Forms	Install wooden or metal forms around the edges of the area to hold the concrete in place.
5. Mix Concrete	Prepare the concrete mix according to the instructions, ensuring it"s well-blended and workable.
6. Pour Concrete	Pour the concrete into the forms, spreading it evenly with a shovel or rake.
7. Smooth and Finish	Use a trowel to smooth the surface and remove any air bubbles or imperfections.
8. Cure Concrete	Allow the concrete to set and cure for several days, keeping it moist to prevent cracking.

Although concreting your yard can seem like a daunting task, it is much easier to do if you break it down into manageable steps. Proper base preparation is essential for a long-lasting and robust outcome. You can guarantee a smooth and even finish that will withstand weather and regular use by making sure the foundation is level and stable.

When the base is prepared, your labors of love begin to take shape during the concreting phase. If the concrete is mixed properly and applied carefully, your yard will have a polished surface that improves both its look and use. To get the best results, always work quickly and use the appropriate tools for the job.

You can get a fantastic finish that enhances the appearance of your outdoor area and raises the value of your house with a little perseverance and attention to detail. Savor the benefits of a well-done concrete yard as well as the satisfaction of finishing the project yourself.

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