FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe

In every issue you'll find...

  • Expert insights on techniques and principles
  • Unbiased tool reviews
  • Step-by-step details to master the job
  • Field-tested advice and know-how
Subscribe Now!
Subscribe
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
  • Join
  • Log In
Subscribe
Mastered in a Minute

Hand Mixing Concrete for Small Projects

A hoe and a wheelbarrow are fine tools for mixing one bag of concrete at a time. Here's how to do it.

By Andy Engel

Hand Mixing Concrete: The most important factor is adding the right amount of water, but there’s also an easier way to get the mix out of the bag and tricks to completely mixing the concrete and the water.

deck building Part 1: Forming a Small Concrete Slab

Get the base right and the rest is easy

concrete slab Part 2: Hand Mixing Concrete

Mixing concrete with a hoe in a wheelbarrow is simple and fast

concrete slab Part 3: Placing and Finishing a Small Slab

Tamp down the aggregate in the mix to make a surface that’s easy to finish

More about building with concrete:

How to Finish a Concrete Patio Slab — Concrete can be finished in one of several ways. Here, Mike Guertin discusses several approaches, including brushing, troweling, and edging.

Reducing the Risk of Cracks in Concrete Slabs — Whether the slab is free-standing or tied into an existing structure, taking a few precautions will help prevent problems later.

Pouring Concrete Slabs — This is how a truckload of wet concrete is transformed into a smooth, flat slab. Less than ideal weather coming up? There are ways to handle that, too.

Fixing Concrete Cracks: Basement Slab Repair — Cracks in concrete basement slabs aren’t uncommon. Matt Risinger explains how to fix cosmetic defects with a two-part filler called RS-88.

Pconcrete slablacing a Small Concrete Slab — Although the amount of concrete that’s required is small, a landing for a deck stairway or, in this case, a pad for a propane tank requires nearly the same forming and finishing techniques as a full-size slab.

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
×

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

View Comments

  1. AdamArthur | May 30, 2016 05:51pm | #1

    Love the handy pail paint cup water measuring device.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

More Mastered in a Minute

View All
  • Air-Seal Penetrations With Canned Foam
  • How to Finish Drywall Around a Shower Enclosure
  • How to Install Exterior Laminate PVC Siding
  • Protect Roof-Wall Intersections with Self-Adhering Underlayment
View All

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Code Requirements for Fireplace Clearances

Avoid DIY disasters by following code-required clearances to combustibles, rules for hearth extensions, and trim-projection limits for elements above and beside the firebox opening.

Featured Video

How to Install Exterior Window Trim

Learn how to measure, cut, and build window casing made of cellular PVC, solid wood, poly-ash boards, or any common molding material. Plus, get tips for a clean and solid installation.

Related Stories

  • Podcast 535: Air-Sealing Cape Houses, Smart Watches for Builders, and Repairing Spalling Concrete
  • Pour Even Concrete Slabs
  • Sealing a Concrete Floor
  • Industry-First Cordless Rebar Cutter and Bender

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Video

View All
  • Podcast 535: Air-Sealing Cape Houses, Smart Watches for Builders, and Repairing Spalling Concrete
  • Sealing a Concrete Floor
  • Podcast 479: One Story or Two, Basement Bunkers, and the Best DIY Spray Foam
  • Building Better with Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs)
View All

Concrete and Masonry

View All Concrete and Masonry Articles
  • Pour Even Concrete Slabs
    Pour Even Concrete Slabs
  • Metabo cordless rebar cutter and bender
    Industry-First Cordless Rebar Cutter and Bender
  • Can You Add Water to Concrete?
  • Celeste measuring bricks
    Tradesperson: Celeste Lamondin, Heritage Mason
View All Concrete and Masonry Articles

BOOKS, DVDs, & MERCH

Shop the Store
  • Code Check Building 4th Edition
    Buy Now
  • 2023 Tool Guide
    Buy Now
  • 2022 Fine Homebuilding Archive
    Buy Now
  • Pretty Good House
    Buy Now
  • Shop the Store

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 313 - Feb/March 2023
    • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
    • Fine Homebuilding Issue #313 Online Highlights
    • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
  • Issue 312 - Dec 2022/Jan 2023
    • Tool Test: Cordless Tablesaws
    • Gray-Water System for a Sustainable Home
    • Insulate a Cape Roof to Avoid Ice Dams
  • Issue 311 - November 2022
    • 7 Steps to a Perfect Exterior Paint Job
    • Options for Smarter Home-Energy Tracking
    • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: James Metoyer
  • Issue 310 - October 2022
    • Choosing a Tile-Leveling System
    • Choosing Between HRVs and ERVs
    • Custom Built-in Cabinets Made Easy
  • Issue 309 - Aug/Sept 2022
    • 10 Steps to Install Crown Molding on Cabinets
    • How to Get Sturdy Walls Without OSB
    • Choosing the Right Construction Tape for the Job

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in