"The Other Harry" wrote in message
...
I've been hallucinating about installing a concrete pad of
about 1000 sq feet out the back. This would involve moving a
little bit of earth, but not a whole lot -- it's almost level,
and it's currently planted in grass. It would be intended to
accommodate a storage building and a patio, and it should be
able to be be driven on with an average size vehicle (say 4000
#). Clay soil, if that matters.

Would anyone care to take a wild guess at how much it would
cost me to buy this done?

Would anyone care to take a wild guess at how much it would
cost me and how difficult it would be for me to do it muself?
(Bearing in mind that I habe never done anything like this.)

Thanks!

Let me get out my calculator here ..............

1000 sf, divided by 4" thick equals 81sf coverage per cubic yard of
concrete. 6" would support a large truck. Like a semi.

1000sf divided by 81 equals 12.34 cubic yards of concrete. Concrete is
cheaper the more you buy, so price depends on your local supplier. Also the
sack mix varies the cost, with the more sacks of cement per yard, the higher
the cost. You will want about a 4.5 sack mix for strength. This is a wild
ass guess, but I would estimate that 13 yards would cost you $35 per yard
delivered.

Now, if you have the form ready, and they just drop the cement in your form,
they will allow you a certain amount of time with no additional charge. If
you have to barrow it in, they will charge you a "standing time" for all the
time the truck takes in excess of the allowable normal time. Other than
standing time, the price per yard is what you will pay.

Forming up the pour is a simple thing with a few basic tools. Some concrete
stakes, which you can rent. Some reinforcing wire. Maybe some expansion
boards. Some 2x4s. Some duplex nails. All in all, not lunar trajectory
thinking, but some nuances that a newbie might not know about. My
suggestion: find a friend who knows the basics of concrete and who has
poured some before, and can help you form it out and pour it. A couple of
other friends who have at least poured a little concrete to help you spread
it around and finish it off. You might be able to scrounge up the tools you
need among friends. If not, rental tools are not that big a deal. Just
"work it a bit" meaning smooth it out, get it level, drag a screed across
the top to level the concrete with the top of the forms, and then bull float
it. That is a long flat tool on the end of a long rod that smoothes it out.
If you want a nonslip surface, let it dry a little more, then drag a broom
across it to rough it up.

Let it sit for three days with NO weight on it, then take off the forms. Do
not drive on it for a week. Spray it with water each day unless it is
freezing cold. Slowing the drying time makes it stronger. Pour in the
morning if the weather is warm, and at midday if it is cool. Do not do this
when it is cold, even if you add chemicals to assist the curing process.
Postpone your project for the spring or summer. In the meantime, get it
ready.

So ........................ 13 yards at $35 = $455
Wood 25.00
Rental 50.00
Wire 50.00

Total $580

Barbecue and beer for the crew ............... $50

Total $630

Having it done ........................ $580 for concrete
$145 for 25% markup
$1250 for finishing
@$1.25/sf

Total: $2120

I would NEVER consider having flat work (a flat concrete slab) done. For
what it costs in materials, and the skills involved, I can do it myself,
still pay the guys a few bucks (or call in some favors) and give them some
BBQ, or pizza, and beer, and have an easy day of it. If I have the form
ready, we will be done by noon. I get to keep the $1490 in my pocket.

Please let me know how my figures compare with your area. I would be
interested in how close I came. Even with the concrete at $50 per yard, you
still would save over a grand. If you want to get fancy, you can use some
plywood to make curved edges, brick the edges, or patterns within the pour,
some rock salt to make a pitted surface, some aggregate sprinkled on top to
make a pebbled effect, or stain it after it dries. Lots of easy to do
things.

All in all, you can save an awful lot on concrete work if you want to do the
labor yourself.

Just MHO, YMMV.

Steve