DIVISION 3 – Concrete

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
Cement is a binding agent that, when mixed with sand, stone or
other aggregates and water, produces either ready-mix concrete or
mortar.
PRODUCT PACKAGING: per sack
PRODUCT PREPARATION PROCEDURE:
In the wet process, the raw materials are mixed with water to form
slurry, which is fed into a kiln. Fuel costs are greater in the wet
process than in the dry process because the water that is added to the raw materials to form
slurry must be evaporated during the clinker manufacturing process. The clinker is then cooled
down, mixed with gypsum and fed in specified proportions into a cement grinding mill where
they are ground into an extremely fine powder and mixed with grinding aids including
admixtures (which control properties of the concrete including plasticity, pumpability, freeze-
thaw resistance, strength and setting time) and other cement additives, which we produce or
source from third parties, to produce finished cement.
PRODUCT APPLICATION/INSTALLATION PROCEDURE:
Groundwork
Readymix Concrete should be laid on well compacted hardcore sub-base that has been covered
with a thin layer of sand and a layer of plastic sheeting. This prevents excessive moisture loss
from the concrete and acts as a damp proof membrane, when used in concrete floors.
Estimating
You need, and obtain a “delivered price”, call your local sales office with details of the area to
be concreted and average thickness required. Other information e.g. slope, drainage and
accessibility may also be useful. Alternatively, you can calculate how much you need by using
Cemex concrete calculator
Clear site
Prepare the site carefully by removing stones and weeds plus a layer of top soil. Level off
bumps with a spade to create a flat surface
Formwork
This is the frame which will keep the concrete in place as it hardens. 25mm thick timber strips
are ideal. Nail them to wooden pegs driven into the ground at 1m intervals (on the outside of
the formwork). Lay plastic sheeting over the area, and weight with bricks or stones.
Setting a fall
Plan the slope to allow water to run off easily. Check the forms with a spirit level, and make one
side lower to allow drainage away from buildings. Normally allow about a 25mm drop for a 1
metre run.
Joints
If the area you’re laying measures more than 4m in any direction, you’ll need to divide it into
sections. Also if it is less than 500mm wide, the length should be reduced to 3m. Lay joints of
softwood board about 10-12mm thick across the formwork, to the full depth of the slab, at the
required intervals. Support them with pegs that can be removed as each section is completed.
If your slab will adjoin an existing slab or building, make a joint between the two with a strip of
thick bituminous felt.
Spreading
Spread concrete between forms to a level 10mm to 15mm higher than the finished surface
Compact the concrete using a tamping beam
Levelling
With one person each end holding the tamping beam, lift approximately 100mm and then drop
into the concrete ensuring that each end of the beam is over the formwork
Level the concrete by ‘sawing’ the beam from side to side whilst advancing it slowly forward
Remove excess concrete with a rake/shovel
Level using rake to fill area 10-15mm higher than finished surface.
Compact with tamping beam.
Shuffle tamping beam from side to side to level.
Finishing
A tamped surface provides a rough low-slip finish suitable for drives, paths, external slabs
A wood or plastic float finish provides a smooth but textured low-slip finish suitable for paths,
garage and workshop floors
A steel float finish provides a very smooth finish suitable for house floors, ponds, etc.
A coarse brush finish is applied just prior to the concrete setting and is suitable for paths and
drives where a rough tamped surface may be unsightly.
PRODUCT DISPOSAL PROCEDURE:
Throwing away your old concrete is not a good idea. So what do you do with old and unused
concrete? What option will you choose to dispose of it?
Here are some concrete disposal options:
• If you’re lucky, you’ll have access to a pickup truck. If not, then hire one. Be careful while
loading; make sure that you do not overload the vehicle because it will make it heavy,
which will cause the vehicle to fail or strain the engine severely.
• You can consider contacting a building materials supply company- one who operate
large-scale operations along with a large fleet of a cement mixers or gravel-hauling
 dump trucks- who may take your old concrete. Some of them do that free of charge,
hauling and unloading your concrete at their location.
• Another good idea to dispose of your old concrete is to put a “free” sign beside your pile
of concrete, which may catch the eye of some concrete-needing passerby. Although it
sounds unusual, it’s worth a try.
REFERENCE: Guide To Laying & Installing Concrete | CEMEX UK
Production Process | CEMEX Philippines (cemexholdingsphilippines.com)
Cement - CEMEX