How to Mix Cement

Co-authored by Gerber Ortiz-Vega

Last Updated: September 8, 2024 Fact Checked

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Whenever a project calls for a hard, permanent binding material, most professional and independent builders use cement. Before using cement, you need to mix it with sand and stone. While this process can seem overwhelming, it's fairly simple with the right tools. You can mix your cement in a wheelbarrow using a spade or shovel before applying it to the area you're paving.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing the Dry Mix

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1
Purchase the right amounts of cement, sand, and stone. The precise ratios will vary depending on the type of cement, so make sure to check your bag or the instructions that came with your cement. However, as a general rule of thumb, you will need one part cement, two parts sand, and four parts stone.
- Always follow the instructions that came with the cement since adding too much sand, gravel, or cement can cause the concrete to break.^{[1]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Gerber Ortiz-Vega
  Masonry Specialist & Founder, GO Masonry LLC
  
  Expert Interview. 10 March 2020.}
Cement will admit dust and debris that can be dangerous without the right safety equipment. Wear a dust mask, as well as safety glasses and long jeans.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Gerber Ortiz-Vega
Masonry Specialist & Founder, GO Masonry LLC

Expert Interview. 10 March 2020.} You should also wear a thick pair of gloves when mixing cement.^{[3]
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Mixing cement is a messy process that requires a lot of attention. Assemble your supplies ahead of time. You will need your cement, sand, and stone, as well as a bucket, a wheelbarrow, and a shovel or similar tool for mixing^{[4]
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Dump your ingredients into a wheelbarrow. Use your small spade to shovel a ratio of one part cement, two parts sand, and four parts gravel into the wheelbarrow. Make sure you're wearing your dust mask, as dust and debris will get into the air during the process.
- To prevent the cement from drying out before you use it, don’t mix more than half a wheelbarrow at a time. Once you’ve used it up, you can create another batch.
Though they'll be mixed later, it's a good idea to have the dry mix thoroughly incorporated before adding the water. After pouring your cement, sand, and stone into the wheelbarrow, use a shovel or similar tool to mix the ingredients together until you have an even, uniform mixture.^{[5]
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Part 2

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Mixing in Water

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Use your shovel to dig a small crater in the center of your cement mixture. The crater should be about half the diameter of the pile. When you're done, your pile should resemble a volcano.
2
Add a small amount of water. There is no precise amount of water to add to your cement. You merely need to add enough that you form a smooth paste with the consistency of peanut butter. Start small to avoid creating cement that's too soupy. Pour a small amount of water, like half a bucket, into the crater you made. Then, mix in the water with your shovel until it's completely absorbed.^{[6]
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- If you're using the cement for something that will have a concrete finish, 3 parts concrete to 1 part water is usually best. If you're using the cement for a concrete foundation, it's OK if you use more water since the finish won't matter.^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Gerber Ortiz-Vega
  Masonry Specialist & Founder, GO Masonry LLC
  
  Expert Interview. 10 March 2020.}
Drag a shovel through the center of the cement. If the mixture is too dry, the sides of the groove you created will crumble. This means the mixture needs more water.^{[8]
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Part 3

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Completing the Process

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It will take some trial and error to get the right consistency. Add water a little at a time until you have a firm, spreadable paste. If you accidentally get the paste too wet, to the point the cement is soupy, add a little more of the dry mixture to fix this issue.^{[9]
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This step needs to be completed as soon as possible. This prevents the cement from drying before you can complete your project. Tilt the wheelbarrow over the area where you're applying cement and pour the cement mixture in.
That way the cement won't dry on anything.^{[10]
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Gerber Ortiz-Vega
Masonry Specialist & Founder, GO Masonry LLC

Expert Interview. 10 March 2020.}Pour water into the wheelbarrow as soon as you empty out the cement. Submerge your tools in the wheelbarrow. Then, scrub the wheelbarrow and tools with a stiff-bristle brush until it has been completely freed of any cement.^{[11]
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What is the ratio for cement mix?

Gerber Ortiz-Vega
Masonry Specialist & Founder, GO Masonry LLC
Gerber Ortiz-Vega is a Masonry Specialist and the Founder of GO Masonry LLC, a masonry company based in Northern Virginia. Gerber specializes in providing brick and stone laying services, concrete installations, and masonry repairs. Gerber has over four years of experience running GO Masonry and over ten years of general masonry work experience. He earned a BA in Marketing from the University of Mary Washington in 2017.

Gerber Ortiz-Vega

Masonry Specialist & Founder, GO Masonry LLC

Expert Answer

It depends on the application. If you're going to do something with a concrete finish, you'll generally use three parts concrete and one part water. When you're mixing and pouring the concrete, you’re gonna have to add more water or it's not going to mix properly. If you're doing a concrete foundation for a retaining wall or a post, the concrete can be more wet because the finish is not going to matter.

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How do you keep concrete from sticking to tools?

Gerber Ortiz-Vega
Masonry Specialist & Founder, GO Masonry LLC
Gerber Ortiz-Vega is a Masonry Specialist and the Founder of GO Masonry LLC, a masonry company based in Northern Virginia. Gerber specializes in providing brick and stone laying services, concrete installations, and masonry repairs. Gerber has over four years of experience running GO Masonry and over ten years of general masonry work experience. He earned a BA in Marketing from the University of Mary Washington in 2017.

Gerber Ortiz-Vega

Masonry Specialist & Founder, GO Masonry LLC

Expert Answer

Clean your tools as soon as you finish mixing or pouring concrete. Don't let it sit! This can help you prevent damaging your tools.

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Question

What safety precautions should be taken when mixing and placing concrete?

Gerber Ortiz-Vega
Masonry Specialist & Founder, GO Masonry LLC
Gerber Ortiz-Vega is a Masonry Specialist and the Founder of GO Masonry LLC, a masonry company based in Northern Virginia. Gerber specializes in providing brick and stone laying services, concrete installations, and masonry repairs. Gerber has over four years of experience running GO Masonry and over ten years of general masonry work experience. He earned a BA in Marketing from the University of Mary Washington in 2017.

Gerber Ortiz-Vega

Masonry Specialist & Founder, GO Masonry LLC

Expert Answer

Put on safety glasses, a protective mask, and long jeans when you're going to be mixing and pouring concrete. This will protect you from the fine dust particles.

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Tips

If your project requires more than one or two wheelbarrows of cement, consider renting a portable concrete mixer from your local hardware supplier.

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Consult the manufacturer's instructions on the cement bag before mixing. There may be some specific requirements of your brand that you will need to follow.

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