Mix Your Own Concrete For
Smaller Jobs

Mixing concrete can be a hard job for do-it-yourselfers. But with a little know-how, it can be done. For big jobs, your best option is to rent a concrete mixer. But for small jobs, like a few post holes or footings, there's another way.

Use a plastic nylon tarp about 8 feet square, and lay it flat next to the hole. Pour cement and sand on the tarp. Then pick up the four corners in one hand and add water. Hold two corners of the tarp in each hand and roll the mixture back and forth. When it's completely mixed, use the tarp as a funnel to pour concrete in the hole.

Another option is to use a heavy-duty plastic garbage can to mix concrete. Pour in the dry ingredients, tilt the can at an angle and roll it around to mix. Then add water. It's simple and fast and lets you easily move the concrete into position for pouring.

When you're planning a big concrete pour, such as a garage floor, think about what you'll do with leftover concrete you may have. Almost all pours wind up with leftover concrete, so you might as well put it to good use. You can use it for additional patio blocks, for example.

Before the concrete arrives, build some forms from scrap lumber. A convenient size is 18 x 18 x 2 inches. Place the forms on heavy poly sheets before pouring. When they're hardened, the slabs can be moved easily.