When making concrete it's important to use the correct concrete mixing ratios to produce a

strong, durable concrete mix.

To make concrete there are four basic materials you need: portland cement, sand,
aggregate (stone), and water. The ratio of aggregate to sand to cement is an important
factor in determining the compressive strength of the concrete mixture.

A concrete mixture ratio of 1 part cement, 3 parts sand, and 3 parts aggregate will
produce a concrete mix of approximately 3000 psi.
Mixing water with the cement, sand, and stone will form a paste that will bind the materials
together until the mix hardens. The strength properties of the concrete are inversely
proportional to the water/cement ratio.
Basically this means the more water you use to mix the concrete (very fluid) the weaker the
concrete mix. The less water you use to mix the concrete (somewhat dry but workable) the
stronger the concrete mix.
Accurate concrete mixing ratios can be achieved by measuring the dry materials using
buckets or some other kind of measuring device. By measuring the mixing ratios you will
have a consistent concrete mix throughout your entire project.

Mixing ratio to make 1 yard of concrete

To produce a 3000 psi cubic yard of concrete (27 cubic feet) the concrete mixture ratio
is:
1. 517 pounds of cement
2. 1560 pounds of sand
3. 1600 pounds of stone
4. 32 - 34 gallons of water
This mixing ratio will give you a concrete mix that is strong, durable, and good for most
concrete projects. A cubic yard of concrete will fill an area 8 feet wide by 10 feet long by 4
inches thick, or 80 square feet @ 4 inches thick.
At 6 inches thick a cubic yard of concrete will fill an area 52 square feet and at 5 inches
thick, it will fill an area that's 65 square feet.

To produce a cubic yard of 4000 psi concrete, you have to adjust the concrete mixing ratio
to:
1. 611 pounds of cement
2. 1450 pounds of sand
3. 1600 pounds of stone
4. 33- 35 gallons of water
As you can see a little more cement and a little less sand is required to produce this
stronger concrete mix that is great for driveways, pooldecks, sidewalks, exterior patios, and
commercial garages.
Knowing the weight of the materials and how much water to use should help you determine
how much cement, sand, and stone to purchase to complete your project.
For estimating purposes, you can make about 1 cubic yard of concrete with 5 1/2 94-pound
bags of cement, 17 cubic feet of sand, and 18 cubic feet of gravel. (It takes about forty 80pound bags of prepackaged materials to make 1 cubic yard of concrete.)

If you need less than 1 cubic yard of concrete (or if ready-mix is not available) you can mix
your own on site either by hand or using a concrete mixer.
To make smaller batches of concrete, use the same proportions, but with smaller quantities,
substituting buckets for cubic feet. (For the mix proportions given previously, you'd use 1
bucket of cement, 3 buckets of sand, 3 buckets of stone, and 1/2 bucket of water.)
For any batch size, the most important thing is to keep the proportions of the ingredients
the same. You can double or triple the batch size simply by doubling or tripling the number
of buckets of each ingredient you add to the mix.
For very small projects, such as setting a mailbox post or doing repairs, you may want to
purchase a packaged concrete mix. Such a mix combines cement, sand, and gravel in the
correct mixing ratios and requires only the addition of water to create fresh concrete.
These concrete mixture ratios are designed for the concrete to reach full strength at or
around 28 days. Curing the concrete can be done by keeping it wet after the first day until
the concrete is 7 days old. This is an important step to take for the concrete to achieve full
strength by 28 days.

Pea Gravel Mix

By
Concrete Construction Staff

Q.: I'm trying to find some information regarding using a mix that has only 3/8-inch coarse aggregate for a
residential slab on grade in a pumpable mix as opposed to using a mix with No. 57 coarse aggregate. I
am concerned about shrinkage and cracking.
A.: Richard Meininger replied that there is no problem designing a concrete mixture with 3/8-inch
maximum size coarse aggregate (pea gravel or crushed stone) using the ACI 211 proportioning
procedures for a concrete slab placed by pumping. But the concrete will shrink more than a No. 57
mixture, so control joints must be at a closer spacingperhaps 8x8 feet or less to minimize shrinkage
cracking. Excellent curing should be used to minimize early cracking. In a freezing exposure, a good
entrained air void system is a must, and the mixture should develop 3500-psi compressive strength
before the first winter. In a mild climate 2500-psi may be OK depending on the support conditions.
Gregg Allen stated that the real issue may be changing from a 4-inch boom pump mix to a 2-inch trailer
pump mix. In order to make the mix pumpable, the pump operator will add water (to get a 6-inch slump)
and require the coarse aggregate quantity to be reduced to around 1000 pounds per cubic yard or less.
You basically end up with a masonry grout mix but with slightly less slump. Therefore, strength, cracking,
shrinkage, durability, color, and discoloration are all concerns. Even with enough cement to get 3000-psi
compressive strength, the concrete is marginal. It will be porous, and moisture will seep through easily,
causing discoloration and wet spots. But even with all these problems, many small contractors order
these mixes for patios, house foundations, driveways, retaining walls, and so forth. They continue to be a
problem, but construction costs rule. People can't afford to do things properly the first time, so they
gamble and then often either remove and replace or patch when the customer would have been much
happier with a good job the first time.

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How to Choose Concrete for a Project

Questions and Answers

Whether you are building a driveway, setting fence posts, or placing a foundation for a
large building, you need to know a few basic things before choosing the best concrete
product for the job you are doing. Here are some steps to help you do succeed in your
project.
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1.

Steps

1
Learn about the basic design mixes used in concrete production. There are many different
types, strengths, and compositions of concrete, each with characteristics that make them
perform better for different applications. Here are a few examples:
o

Strength is usually determined by compression testing, and is expressed in

Pounds per Square Inch (PSI). Normal concrete mixes range from 2500 PSI to 5000 PSI, with

engineered design mixes of over 10,000 PSI used in specialized applications. Lower strengths
are also available for grouts, but since these are usually used for displacement, block-fill, and
filling abandoned utility lines, we won't spend much time on these products. Here are some
common uses for different strength concretes. Note that these are not exclusive, as designers
and structural engineers may spec different uses in specialized construction projects.
2500PSI concrete may be used in driveways, walkways, and even floor

slabs on grade. This concrete is usually the cheapest available from batch plants. Used on
solidly compacted fill material (subgrade), this concrete performs satisfactorily for these projects,
but many professional concrete workers prefer a higher strength product due to warranty
concerns, and some building codes may not allow its use for all of these applications.
3000PSI concrete in many locations is a standard multipurpose mixture

for general use in construction. It is durable, has sufficient cement to give it good finishing
characteristics, and can be placed fairly wet without sacrificing quality.
3500PSI concrete is used for applications where surface spalling is not

acceptable, and significant loading is expected. One example would be paving curbs, where
heavy traffic may drive on the surface. Other uses include building footings, bond beams, grade
beams, and floor slabs where heavy loads may be moved or stored.
4000PSI concrete is used for heavy traffic pavement, heavy use floor

slabs like shops and warehouses, and concrete footings designed to support heavy loads.
5000PSI and higher concrete mixes are usually used for specialized

construction projects where high impact resistances, very low wear rates, or extreme conditions
are expected.
Special mixes. Concrete can be mixed using different types of aggregates

that give it different qualities that may make it more suited for the project. Here are examples:
Pump mixes are especially designed to make placement with a

mechanical pump through a high pressure hose possible with a minimal chance of blockages.
They can be pumped wetter than other mixes, and may have smaller large aggregates than
standard mixes.

Exposed aggregate mixes are designed so that when the finished grout
surface is removed by sandblasting or water washing while the concrete is very green (not
cured), a uniform layer of similarly sized aggregate is exposed. River rock, smooth gravel, or
graded crushed limestone aggregate are mixed in this mixture at a higher than normal ratio.

Entrained air mixtures have air added in the production process, so that
tiny air bubbles are created in the finished material. This allows more expansion in the concrete

without cracking, making it perform better in projects that are exposed to great differences in
temperature.
Flexible concretes are used for large paving projects, and achieve

structural strength without large amounts of reinforcing, thereby reducing material and
installation costs. These mixes are describe according to their flexible strength, for example,

650, 750, and 850 flex.

2
Learn about the characteristics of the concrete you will be using. There are several
different characteristics you need to understand to make sure your concrete is placed and
finished correctly. Here are some of them:

Slump. This is a measure of how plastic the concrete condition can be

when it is placed. Slump is measured by filling a conical metal mold with the concrete, rodding it
in stages to ensure it is consolidated thoroughly in the mold. The mold is then carefully removed
by lifting it off, and the distance the concrete slumps is measured. If the concrete falls 4 inches
(10.2 cm), it is considered a "4 inch (10.2 cm) slump". Design mixes usually have a
recommended slump range to yield optimal performance, and adding too much water, while
increasing the slump and making the concrete easier to pour, can greatly reduce the strength of
the finished concrete.
Fly ash content. Fly ash is an industrial by-product used to supplement

the Portland cement in may design mixes. It decreases the production cost of the finished
material, and makes repairing spalling and other surface imperfections easier. It also slows the
setting speed of the concrete, allowing more time to work the material during the finishing
process.

Chemical admixtures. There are many chemical products that can be

added to concrete that enhance certain performance characteristics of concrete. Plasticizers
make concrete very fluid to allow placing it in tight form confines, or where the reinforcing makes
it difficult to get good fill during placing. Water reducing mixtures decrease the amount of water
required to improve its workability without effecting strength, and shrinkage reducing admixtures
reduce the need for expansion and construction joints where these are undesirable.

3
Understand the different colors available in concrete products. Most people picture
concrete as a drab, grey material, but many integrally colored concretes are available, ranging
from pure white, to blues, reds, browns, and almost any other color you can imagine. Finished
concrete can also be acid-etched, stained, or coated with epoxies or shakes to give unique
effects if so desired.

4
Look at the many different types of finishes that can be executed on concrete.Plain,
smooth finishes are accomplished by floating and troweling the concrete, and by and large, this
is the most common method of concrete finishing. Other methods are available, including the
following:

Broom finishing is done, as the name implies, with a broom while the
cement paste on the surface is still workable. Brooming is a good option for areas like sidewalks
and driveways, where traction is needed.

Salt finishing is done by sprinkling rock salt on the still workable cement

paste surface. This are then floated or troweled down into the surface before they dissolve, and
once they have dissolved they leave a pock-marked surface that when properly done gives a
unique, distinctive appearance and good traction.
Exposed aggregate, mentioned earlier, is done by washing or

sandblasting the cement paste surface to expose the rock underneath. When done with
uniformly colored and size aggregate, this can be a very attractive finish.
Embossed concrete is done with special templated rollers or grids which

are stamped or pushed into the cement paste while it is still workable.

Talk to local professionals for help determining the concrete you will need for your
product. Local Ready Mix concrete suppliers should have sales people or product
representatives who can recommend the best material to use for the project you are planning.
This is especially useful since specific conditions may make products used in one region
completely unsuited for another region.

6
Read plans and specifications if you are following an engineered construction plan for
your project. A structural engineer with experience in concrete design often produces
specifications on the exact design mix needed for good performance.

7
Use the above information to decide the type of concrete mix best suited for your
project. To make sure the concrete performs well in its application, you also need to do your
homework on three other items of consideration in building with concrete.

Form the concrete correctly, making sure the forms are level or plumb
where applicable, and rigidly constructed to avoid deflection or failure. Using strong materials
and sufficient bracing is critical to successful concrete placement.

Make sure the reinforcing material is correctly installed. If you are using
rebar, tying and supporting it in the correct position is necessary for it to give the desired

strength. Rebar that is not completely encased in the concrete can also corrode, causing
damage to the concrete structure itself.
For on grade slabs, make sure the subgrade is structurally sufficient to

support the weight of the concrete and other elements of your building. You may have to remove
unstable material and replace it with structural fill to achieve the desired load-bearing threshold
your project requires.

Reader Questions and Answers

Don't see your question? Ask it here:
Submit

Tips
Experience is the most valuable tool you can have when selecting concrete for a project,

so seek help with expertise in concrete construction practices in your area before beginning your
project.

Warnings
Choosing the wrong concrete mixture can result in your finished project failing to meet

expectations. This can mean a cracked, spalled driveway, or structural failure in walls, beams, or
foundations.

Related wikiHows

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Finish Concrete

How to

Use Prepackaged Concrete Mix

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Build a Straight Form for Concrete

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Concrete suppliers and contractors are sometimes accused of producing or placing low-strength concrete.
While low-strength concrete does occasionally occur, many times reported cylinder strengths are evaluated
improperly creating a low-strength false alarm. Unnecessary low-strength concerns, rejected concrete,
construction delays and expensive investigations can be avoided by properly evaluating concrete cylinder
strengths.

Strength acceptance
Unless otherwise specified, concrete strength acceptance is based on the average strength of at least two 6 by
12 inch or at least three 4 by 8 inch "standard cylinders made from the same sample of concrete and tested at
28 days. Standard cylinders are test cylinders made and cured in accordance with ASTM C31 and tested in
accordance with ASTM C39. To ensure a proper strength evaluation, each individual class of concrete should
be represented by at least five strength tests.
Read "How to Make and Cure Standard Test Cylinders in the Field"

Strength of an individual class of concrete is acceptable if both of the following are met:
Requirement #1 - No individual strength test (average of two or three cylinders) falls below f c by more than 500
psi when fc is 5,000 psi or less, or falls below fc by more than 10 percent (0.10 x fc) when f c is more than 5,000
psi.
Requirement #2 - Every average of three consecutive strength tests equals or exceeds the specified
compressive strength (fc).
The specified strength (fc) is the concrete compressive strength used by engineers in the design calculations to
determine member sizes and reinforcement details of concrete structures. Since concrete strength is a function
of time and temperature, fc is based on test cylinders made in accordance with standardized time and
temperatures as specified by ASTM C31.
Due to material and statistical variability, expect about 1 in 100 tests to fail the strength requirements even
though the concrete strength and uniformity are acceptable. Concrete strength acceptance is based on
probabilistic concepts that account for the strength variations that naturally occur with concrete. Also, the
design calculations used by engineers take into account concrete strength variations. In combination, the
concrete strength acceptance requirements and the safety factors built into the design process ensure the loadcarry capacity of concrete structures is adequate.
Read "How to Estimate In-place Strength of Concrete"

Acceptable strength example for 4,000 psi concrete

As shown in Table 1, column #1 shows the strength test number (1-5) and column #2 shows the individual 6 by
12 inch cylinder compressive strengths A and B. By averaging the A and B single-cylinder strengths, strength
tests shown in column #3 were computed. For test 1, the average strength of 4,110 and 4,260 is 4,185 psi
[(4,110 + 4,260) 2 = 4,185 psi]. A strength test is the average strength of two or more single-cylinder
strengths, not the strength of an individual or single cylinder.
Column #4 shows the average of three consecutive strength tests. For test 3, the average of three consecutive
strength tests is the average of the strengths for tests 1, 2 and 3 or (4,185 + 3,960 + 4,435) 3 = 4,193 psi. For
test 4, the average of three consecutive strength tests was computed by averaging the strengths for tests 2, 3
and 4 (3,960 + 4,435 + 3,745) 3 = 4,047 psi. As shown, there are no values for tests 1 and 2.

Strengths for tests 1, 3 and 5 (column #3) exceed the 4,000 psi specified strength. However, strengths for tests
2 and 4 (3,960 and 3,745 psi) fall below the specified strength, but these strengths are acceptable. Strengths
3,960 and 3,745 psi are acceptable because they do not fall below 4,000 psi by more than 500 psi or both
strengths exceed 3,500 psi. Therefore, Requirement #1 has been satisfied for all tests and the strengths 3,960
psi and 3,745 psi should not se toff the low-strength concrete alarm.
Column #4 shows the average three consecutive strengths exceed the 4,000 psi specified strength; therefore
Requirement #2 has been satisfied. Columns #5 and #6 reflect that both of the strength acceptance
requirements have been satisfied; therefore, concrete strengths in this example are acceptable, even though
two strengths fell below the specified strength of 4,000 psi.

Low-strength example for 4,000 psi concrete

In Table 2, strength 3,250 psi for test 5 (column #3) falls below 4,000 psi by more than 500 psi; therefore, it fails
to satisfy Requirement #1. Also, the average of three consecutive strengths for test #3 (column #4) falls below
4,000 psi. Therefore, test 3 fails to satisfy Requirement #2. Subsequently, strengths for tests 3 and 5 are low
and not acceptable.

Unacceptable strengths
When strength tests fail to satisfy Requirement #1, the building code requires steps to be taken to assure the
load-carrying capacity of the structure has not been jeopardized. In addition to assuring safety of the structure,
the building code also suggests the engineer and/or building official should use judgment determining the
significance of the low-strength tests and to decide whether the low-strength tests indicate a need for concern.
Because the building code does not specify the steps for investigating low-strength test results, consider these:

Review the concrete testing procedures to confirm or deny the possibility of low-strength tests. This
review should consider the procedures for sampling fresh concrete, making cylinders, initial and final curing,
and transporting and testing cylinders. Essentially, determine if low-strength tests were most likely caused by
improper testing or inadequate concrete.

If the likelihood of low-strength concrete is confirmed, the engineer should determine if the lowstrength concrete affects the load-carrying capacity of the structure. If the engineer determines the loadcarrying capacity of the structure has not been jeopardized, then the engineer can accept the low-strength
concrete and no further investigation is needed.

If the likelihood of low-strength concrete is confirmed and calculations indicate that load-carrying
capacity is significantly reduced, tests of cores drilled from the area in question should be considered to
determine the in-place concrete strength. Then, the engineer can determine the appropriate actions to be taken
to ensure the load-carrying capacity of the structure is adequate.
When strength tests fail to satisfy Requirement #1 and/or Requirement #2, the building code requires steps to
be taken to increase the average of subsequent strength tests. Steps could include one or more of the
following:

Check mix design and batching procedures and correct errors found

Adjust mix proportions (e.g., increase cementitious materials content)

Closer control of water content (e.g., moisture content of aggregates)

Closer control of air content (as air content increases, strength decreases)

Improve quality of concrete testing including strict compliance with ASTM standard testing procedures
For future projects, evaluate concrete cylinder strengths properly and avoid the low-strength false alarm. If
strength tests do fail to meet the strength acceptance requirements when evaluated properly, perform a lowstrength investigation to determine the appropriate actions to ensure the safety of the structure. In many cases,
expensive options and construction delays associated with drilling cores, tearing out and replacing concrete
may not be necessary.
References
ASTM C172 Standard Practice for Sampling Freshly Mixed Concrete, ASTM International, www.astm.org
ASTM C31 Standard Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Field, ASTM
International, www.astm.org
ASTM C39 Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens, ASTM
International, www.astm.org
ACI 318-11 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary, American Concrete
Institute, www. concrete.org