Concrete Mix

[gadgetgeek]

Following on from an earlier post I need to make a concrete mix to bed in a new manhole cover on my driveway. Though now worried about trying to blend it in with current driveway I would like to make it at least similar. My drive is a concrete mix with varying size stones embedded in it. What and roughly how do I need to to buy in order to get a similar look and ease of laying? Amount required is probably a square metre to a depth of 4cm. Cheers.

[The Builder]

Wish I could help, gg, but I'd really need a pic :o(

[Clanad]

I'm sure there must be a product in the U.K. similar to our "QuickCrete" here in the U.S.

It comes in a bag and one bag is about 1 cubic foot (you do the math) and you can get it in various "mixes" as far as make-up is concerned. It even comes in quick setting and mortar mixes. I find it reasonable for smaller batches since the minimu pre-mix delivered here in the western U.S. is up to about $125 a cubic yard withthe minimum delivery of usually 3 yards...

You can mix the water into the bag mixture in the hole you've prepared or even in a wheel barrow with just a common garden hoe... It works out nicely with a good "float" or trowel...

[LCDMAN]

Typical mix is 1xcement, 2xaggregate, 4xsand. Much too small a quantity required to buy ready mixed from a wagon so you'll need to get separate bags of cement, aggregate & sand or pre-mixed (cement+sand+aggregate).
4cm seems like a very thin layer - not going to take much load on a driveway!

[gadgetgeek]

The depth is what the previous house owner had laid, at least around the manhole cover. Probably the reason why it rusted and buckled! Am hoping later this year to have it all up and block paved but unitl that time I just have to make do and get the manhole fixed. The rest of the drive is fine. Wish I cud easily show a pic but its just your basic concrete mix with seemingly load of stones and chippings in. Thanks again

[AlBags]

Roughly 1x bag of ballast to 1x big heaped spade of cement will do you.
For what it costs .. Wickes .. Get 4x bags and a small cement and see how you go. Wet the joints and tamp in well. Not runny .. not dry.