When designing your driveway, patio, or path, you will need to consider a few factors.

• Concrete is used in a variety of ways
• The weight of the concrete will determine the thickness. For a shed made of lightweight wood, the pad would only have to be 100mm thick. For a stone or brick garage, a sub-base of 150mm compacted hardcore would be required, along with a concrete pad of 125mm. The edges of the pad should be at least 200mm deeper to support the wall.
• It must have a slight incline so that the water can drain off. The slab should slope away either from a building or (in the instance of a slab that is used to build a shed), away from the front door.

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Easy Mix

Concrete mix is a great option for those who don’t have the time to combine all of the ingredients themselves, or only require a small quantity. For Concrete Swindon, visit www.monstermixconcrete.co.uk/concrete-swindon

Ready-mixed concrete

Ready-mixed is a great option if you need to lay large areas of concrete quickly or if you are short on time. Concrete is delivered by lorries, and depending on the ease of access to your site it can either be poured on the ground or wheelbarrowed. This is a more expensive method of purchasing concrete but you save a lot of time and can order any amount. You’ll want to make sure that you have everything ready before the concrete lorry arrives. When ordering ready-mixed cement by the cubic metre, it is a good idea to add 10% as a waste allowance and specify what you are doing so that the correct mix can be prepared.

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Hand-mixing concrete

Concrete can be mixed by hand, but only in small quantities. It is prepared in the same manner as mortar. You mix it thoroughly until it reaches a uniform consistency, neither too wet nor too dry. It should remain on the shovel when you pick it up, and it should retain its shape after you have dropped it onto the subbase.