Concrete

I needed a concrete curb (threshold?) at the bottom of the door opening. Why? Because I intend to install a real garage door, just like you see in nicer neighborhoods.

Function follows forms
The wood forms for the concrete will define a 4” thick slab, 10” wide and eight feet long. Just so you know, this takes about nine 50-pound bags of Quikrete concrete mix. Here’s what those bags do the the suspension of my little purple truck.

When leveling things, it’s important to verify that everything is accurate. I feel that three stacked levels are sufficient, especially when the top one comes from Harbor Freight Tools.

Mixer does not meet minimum expectations
I dragged out my 40-year-old concrete mixer and switched it on for a quick test. It flunked—not once, but twice:

First, the switch didn’t work because it was full of ants and their various future ants. I simply removed the switch and used the old-fashioned plug-in/unplug method for control.

Second, the belt was broken. The mixer has been sitting in the rain for decades, so I guess it could have been worse. I installed a new link-belt.

The fun begins
Now I can mix concrete. Watch the video. It looks and sounds like something from the early days of the industrial revolution (when I was just a kid).

Old Sears concrete mixer

Here’s the finished slab. It certainly meets my minimum expectations.

 

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Things you need to know about concrete

• Cement is not the same as concrete! Concrete is a mixture of Portland cement, sand, gravel, and water.
• Concrete does not harden by drying; it cures through hydration—a chemical reaction between the cement and the water.
• Theoretically, concrete gets stronger forever, but it acquires most of its strength in about 28 days.
• Concrete weighs about 150 pounds per cubic foot.

Next: The garage door