Many homeowners can pour their own concrete today, as bagged concrete is available at just about any hardware store and only needs water added. You then don't need to guess as to how much sand, gravel and other materials to add to your concrete before you pour it. However, as easy as it may sound to mix up some concrete and spread it over an area for a new driveway or use it for fixing cracks in a sidewalk, you want to avoid some mistakes that many homeowners make when working with concrete. This will ensure the job gets done right and lasts as long as possible.

Mixing it all at once

Concrete starts to harden and set as soon as it's mixed, so if you mix all the concrete you need at once, you may see your batch start to get too thick to pour. You will have then wasted your concrete as you can't force it onto an area or into a crack when it's hardened. 

You might also forget just how heavy concrete is when it's mixed; if your wheelbarrow is too heavy to easily move, this is a surefire way to have it tip and have your concrete spill everywhere. This type of mess is very difficult to clean up and again, you will have wasted your concrete. Mix up no more than one bag at a time and even less, depending on how fast you can work and how easily you can move a heavy wheelbarrow.

Not minding the weather

You probably wouldn't paint outside if it were raining, and you shouldn't pour your concrete during a rainy day either! A light drizzle may not affect your mixture, but if too much rainwater gets into your concrete mix, it may become very runny. Additionally, concrete might not set on very humid days as it absorbs moisture from the air. Choose a mild day to mix your concrete and put off the job if the weather isn't cooperating.

Not cleaning the surface

Concrete is very thick and durable and will cling to the ground and existing concrete when poured, but to ensure the highest level of success, you should clean the surface of the area before work begins. Chipped paint, chunks of old concrete and even weeds can affect your new concrete; the paint or old chipped concrete can cause the new concrete to break away and weeds can actually push up through the material and cause cracks. Be sure you've properly prepped your space before pouring work begins so the work lasts as long as possible.

If you would rather have a truck deliver concrete that has been made professionally, contact a premix concrete company in your area.