What can be used instead of cement?

Concrete: Cement Substitutes

Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA), aka ‘Fly ash’ as a cement substitute. PFA is a by-product of coal-burning power stations.
Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS) as a cement substitute. GGBS is a by-product of the iron and steel industry.
Silica fume.
Limestone fines.
Alternative fuels.

What is the cheapest way to buy cement?

What Is The Cheapest Way To Buy Concrete? The cheapest way to buy concrete is to mix your own by purchasing pre-mixed bags for $4.49 each and renting a concrete mixer for $120 per day. The second best way, it to buy a bulk truckload full (10 cubic yards) for $1,169 including delivery.

Can you buy 1 yard concrete?

Average cost: One cubic yard – $75.00, 1/2 – 65.00, 1/3 – 55.00. Tip: When self-hauling ready-mix cement, regardless of distance, try to rent a “spin-tank” rig versus “tub-type” trailer if possible to avoid water separation.

What is the best base for concrete slab?

Most concrete contractors want a mix of coarse and fine aggregate to create a compactable base that is going to be safe for settlement and drainage. Crusher run (a mix of crushed stone and stone dust) is one of the best base materials for concrete flatwork.

Do I need gravel under concrete?

Whether you pour concrete for a walkway or patio, a strong gravel base is required to prevent the concrete from cracking and shifting. Gravel is especially important in clay soil because it doesn’t drain well, which results in water pooling under the concrete slab and slowly eroding the soil as it finally drains.

Can I use pea gravel under concrete?

Backfill beneath concrete flat-work along foundation walls should be accomplished with a granular material that is uniform in size. Some fill materials, such as round stones like pea gravel, tend to be self compacting. “I recommend open-graded granular material be used,” says Tull.

How do you lock pea gravel in place?

When pea gravel is loose it is more likely to travel or move away from where you put it by some means, such as when you walk on it. To keep it stable, you should use an edging material; stones, metal edging, or bricks. When compared to other hardscaping materials, it is relatively simple to install loose pea gravel.

Can gravel be used as a sub base?

Gravel is fine as a sub-base providing its compacted well. If you do use gravel it needs to be restrained on all sides to stop it spreading. You would also need to lay the slabs on mortar as sand would simply drain away.

Can you lay slabs without a sub-base?

If you’re not doing sub-base then don’t use any cement – neither dry mix nor mortar. Just lay on sand. Sand on the other hand will be adequate without a base, given you’re using big slabs and hopefully can tolerate a bit of movement over the years.

What is a Type 1 Sub-Base?

Mot Type 1 limestone is sized from 40mm down to dust and is mainly used as a bulk fill, a levelling material and as a sub-base for paths, ponds, drives, sheds, patios and construction jobs. When levelled out a weed membrane can be added and then topped off with one of our more attractive gravels.

What is Type 3 sub-base?

Type 3 sub-base is a pure crushed granite, limestone or clean crushed concrete. Usually a 40mm product that has been screened to create a reduced fines aggregate. This product is fully certified according to the Specification for Highway Works. This is the most widely used sub-base where less fines are required.

What is Type 2 aggregate?

Like Type 1 MOT, Type 2 MOT is an approved granular subbase material made of crushed stone such as limestone or granite with a size of 40 mm down to dust. The difference is that Type 2 MOT contains more dust than Type 1, being composed of fewer angular aggregate sizes (also known as scalpings).

What is Type 1X?

This is sometimes referred to as Type 1X and is produced with reduced fines (dust) to allow better draining properties. It is more commonly used in the construction of sporting applications. The grading of this product tends to be 40mm down to 4mm. ENQUIRE.

What is Type 2 MOT aggregate?

Our Type 2 is a crushed aggregate with extra dusts and fines, which makes the perfect sub base for a range of domestic and commercial construction projects. Graded to 50mm down to dust and fines no specified grading, it is finer than our MOT Type 1 sub base, as it is composed of fewer larger angular scalpings.

What is Type 2 fill?

Type 2 crushed concrete is a standard sub-base material and used for roads such as pot-hole filling-in but like Type 1 it can be used for other things like driveways, backfill material, patios, tracks and other paths. It is crushed stone which is less than 40mm in size down to dust with no specified grading.

What are the 4 main types of aggregates?

The Different Types Of Aggregate. The categories of aggregates include gravel, sand, recycled concrete, slag, topsoil, ballast, Type 1 MOT, and geosynthetic aggregates (synthetic products commonly used in civil engineering projects used to stabilise terrain).

Can MOT Type 1 make concrete?

MOT Type 1 – Crushed Concrete is literally crushed concrete, meeting the requirement of the Department of Transport Specification for Highway Works, Clause 803. The “SHW”. Type 1 can also be constructed of other hard inert materials, slag or rocks, such as Limestone, Granite or Gritsone.