Replies

1. 
   IronHelix | Jan 15, 2005 02:02pm | #1

   If you have a yard or more, it is a whole lot easier to let the concrete company do the work....although locally it goes for about $85/ yard.  It weighs ~3000#/cy as compared to regular concrete at ~4000#/cy.  They upcharge for orders under 3 yards, but when it arrives it is thoroughly mixed and properly porportioned.

   The company I deal with for concrete has five plants scattered in the local region and keep and mix  light weight aggregate concrete at only one of the five.

   The aggregate is sort of a "puffed cinder" and must be soaked in water for 24 hours prior to mixing.  The mix is ratio different than standard concrete dut to particle size difference.....no 1" stone!  The minimum portland is a 6 bag mix plus some "flow additives"!  Retarders or accelerators are not allowed.

   Now I'm going to step out on a limb...for "I recollect from the back side of my foggy brain that the ratio is 2 portions of aggregate to 2 portions of sand to 1 portion of portland"!........because it has been too long since I had the converstion with the  plant manager.  

    I've never priced the lightweight aggregate by itself, but if it is like their sand by the ton. @$20, it will be pricey. 

   My local plant manager holds no "secrets" about his mixes.....so go face to face with your suppliers plant manager and get the scoop. 

   I would also look at it this way....about the max you can hand mix in a contractor wheel barrow is 2 cu ft.....so that is about 14 wheelbarrow loads per cy.....your portable mixer is rated by cu ft capacity ( and that is an exaggerated capacity) so figure out how many batches you will have to shovel and mix........

   That way you will know how many 'cold joints" to expect...    ;>)

   Good Luck.............Iron Helix

1. 
   daking | Jan 15, 2005 09:52pm | #3

   Thanks for all the info. I think, if I go with the readymix truck, based on recent experience, it would be quite expensive for a short load, plus I would need a pump, so add another buck and a half or so...probably pushing $500 in the end. But, it does get done right and fast and may be worth it. I will call the readymix co. and ask.
   --da King

1. 
   brownbagg | Jan 15, 2005 09:56pm | #4

   around here lightweight is $145 a yard and its a bear to work with. It needs a lot of water due to the aggreagate being porus. I would judt use a small pea gravel instead.

2. 
   ponytl | Jan 15, 2005 05:50pm | #2

   just curious... is the weight of  lightweight concrete the same as regular concrete until it dries/cures ?  i know around here they soak the rock for 24 hrs before they mix just so it doesn't float out of the mix (i was told)  and i know it has a high portland content to make up for the extra water thats soaked into the "rock"... I was told that it could be made as light as 1500lbs a yard ?  I always used the 4400lb per yard wet figure?  is that correct?

   thanks for the info if anyone knows...

   pony