Unpopular opinion: I was wrong about pouring concrete, and my patio paid the price

For 6 years in Austin, I insisted on mixing my own concrete by hand because I thought hiring a truck was lazy and overpriced. Last month, I finally caved and got a 3-yard delivery for $580, and the difference in finish quality is night and day. The tipping point was watching my cousin's slab crack in 4 spots within a year while mine had pitting everywhere, all because I was too stubborn to pay for proper mix ratios. Anyone else held onto a cheaper method that actually cost them more in the long run?

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karen36122d ago

The part about "proper mix ratios" jumped out at me, because honestly that's not really the main issue with hand mixing. The real problem is water content and getting it consistent, not the ratio of cement to sand to gravel. When you mix by hand, it's super easy to add a little extra water to make it workable, and that wrecks the strength way more than the exact mix proportions. A truck delivers a consistent slump that's been tested, so you don't accidentally make it too wet. I'm not saying the truck isn't worth it, it definitely is, but it's the water that's the silent killer, not the ratio math.