How to concrete a small area using bags of premix?

[nonsibicunctis]

Hi, I'll start by saying that I'm a decrepit, unskilled and probably stupid individual who is past his use-by date and surviving on a pension of around $500 per week.  I tell you this as some explanation or mitigation for my tackling this job myself and doing what I've done.  Having, sought quotes for the job and received none under $1000 which I simply can't afford.

I live in an old house which had clay piping for the sewage pipe connecting the house to the main sewer.  After several blockages and continual payments to plumbers whose work cleared it for shorter and shorter periods, I finally had one who told me that there was almost certainly, if not definitely, a major block or breakage in that sewer pipe connection.

So, as he thought it was probably just a break at the closest underground trap to the house, I organised to have someone come and break the concrete and dig down to the pipe.  Sure enough, the pit soon was flooded and the pipe was broken.  However, an inspection also showed that it was also broken much further along.  The advice I was given - and which seemed sensible to me - was that I should replace the whole length of pipe and traps with pvc (or whatever the material is of modern pipes.  So, I did that, in the process virtually cleaning out my savings because all up the cost was amounted to approximately $4000.

At the end of all that, I was left with, as well as a garden of mud which my dog happily decided would be a comfortable replacement surface for my floors in the house, this hole in the ground, next to the house, where the concrete had had to be removed to install the new traps etc...

So, not being able to afford to have someone do the job, despite never having done any concreting in my 77 years, I thought, well, how hard can it be?  After all, I'm not doing something that has to be AAA perfect, simply relatively neat, flat (though the area slopes) and sufficiently well done that it will be both lasting and stable.

My solution, after reading and enquiries, was to purchase 25 bags of ready-mix from Bunnings and hope that I could do the job myself with a barrow or container for mixing and a wooden batten of some sort to tamp down and smooth out.

So - my apologies for the long background - but what I need to know is:

* Will I be able to mix this with an attachment on a hand drill?

* Could I mix, say 2 bags at a time with appropriate amount of water to reduce the number of pours?

* Will it be o.k. that it will take me longer, doing it this way, than a normal pumped concrete delivery would take?

* Can I get away without having to buy extra tools or, for a reasonable job, is there something I really should use, i.e. for tamping down, smoothing off or whatever that I'm not even aware of needing?

Lastly, is there any handyman guru there who can give me hints or tips about the best way to go about this or tell me that I've just made a huge mistake and shouldn't even attempt it, instead just counting my losses and filling the area with gravel or some such and hoping that either Bunnings will allow me to return the concrete or that I can sell it to someone else who may have a proper need for it, even if in smaller lots and some loss of funds?

Yes.  I know.  I'm a dope. I'm in a pickle.  I'd hoped I could find a handyman to do the job at a price I could afford but, despite extensive advertising, I couldn't.  So - can anyone help answer my questions or ignore them and advise me, please?

Please ignore the roll of fencing wire - it's only there to keep the dog from digging up the crusher dust and dirt.

[EricL]

Hello @nonsibicunctis 

I think you can do it. It might take a bit of time but if done in sections you might be able to get away with it. I propose building form work in a half meter square. This form work will allow you to fill in a half meter square at a height of 100mm. You can even go 75mm if you wish. Once the concrete block dries off you can then move the form work to the next section. 

The trick will be to link the next block while the concrete has not fully cured. By the time you finish you'll have a nice checkerboard effect. 

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1, @Nailbag, @TedBear, @JoeAzza, @homeinmelbourne and @Jewelleryrescue for their recommendations.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @nonsibicunctis 

Yes you can o it but I would follow along on @EricL 's suggestions for doing it in stages. I have done 10 bags of concrete mixed in a wheelbarrow and I was stuffed at the end of it. Im not particulary fit, am 20 years less then you and it was a workout and a half. Not to disade you just to level the seesaw of decision up

Id probarly return the bags of concrete if its recent and get some gravel and pavers. I am not a fan of concrete as somewhere along the way you may have to pull it up so id say im a little biased   Gravel and pavers are manageable and possibly cheaper tho depends on the pavers I suppose.

Dave

[nonsibicunctis]

Thank you, Eric.  I think I've probably done the wrong thing but at least you have given me a way to perhaps achieve the task, though I'm not in the best of condition as I have post-polio syndrome which has badly affected my legs.  When I made the decision and ordered the cement I was particularly down for reasons it wouldn't be appropriate to go into. here.  I may contact Bunnings and see whether I can return the bags.  If not perhaps I can sell them on at a slightly reduced price and cut my losses.  Thanks anyway, I'll think about it over the weekend.

[nonsibicunctis]

Dave.

Yes, Eric's suggestion was something that hadn't occurred to me and may make it possible.  However, having also read your comment and not being too strong any longer, particularly in my legs, I think that I've made a too hurried decision due to lack of money and other issues I had at the time.  I think I just jumped out of desperation.  I'll give it some thought over the weekend but probably contact Bunnings and see if they'll accept the bags back.  It's only a week or so and they have been stored in a garage under cover so are just as they arrived.  I may be lucky, if not, so be it.  Just another failure to add to my list. - Thanks for your interest and help, anyway.  I do appreciate it.

[Dave-1]

Evening @nonsibicunctis 

"If Not" well I dont see it as a failure, its just a differant path.

If not then you go down the path of small steps at a time as Eric has suggested. I already do that for jobs that are too much to take on with one bite.

If not then potentially make some pavers out of the bags. A simple form made out of timber/laminated timber, let dry, then gravel and put them in. Mixing one bag at a time over a longer period brings it back into the realm of doable. 

So many times Ive looked at a task and though "oh man" once I break it down into several bits  it becomes "no issue"

Dave

[EricL]

Hi @nonsibicunctis 

Please let me know if you need an assist with the return of the concrete bags. 

Eric

[nonsibicunctis]

Thanks Dave, that makes good sense and I appreciate your positivity.  I'm far too down right now.  I also apologise for introducing too personal a note here.  if you or Eric or whoever think I've been inappropriate, please remove the post.

[nonsibicunctis]

Thank you, Eric, that's kind.  I think I've probably introduced too personal a note into my post, probably because of my depressed state right now but I'm aware that this is not a 'Dear Aggie' column.   So as I've said to Dave, if you feel the posts are inappropriate, please take them down.  You've both been very helpful and considerate and I appreciate your advice.

[Jason]

@nonsibicunctis,

Please let us know if we can assist further. 

I would also encourage you to utilise a support service if you need a hand. There is a list of excellent support services on this post: Support when you need it.

Take care,

Jason