DIY Builds
Photo by Caleb Oquendo Pexels Logo Photo: Caleb Oquendo

What happens if you add sugar to concrete?

Sugar increases the setting time of cement up to 1.33 hrs at dosage level of 0.06% by wt of cement. There will be no effect on workability, compaction by the use of sugar as admixture in concrete. Higher long-term compressive strength is achieved in concrete by the use of sugar as admixture.

Is a tiny house a good investment?
Is a tiny house a good investment?

Are Tiny Houses Worth the Investment? Nope. Not if you're thinking of purchasing a tiny home as a long-term investment. But if you're absolutely...

Read More »
Do metal sheds get rusty?
Do metal sheds get rusty?

Outdoor storage sheds come in a variety of sizes and styles, making them perfect for just about any home. While steel sheds are an excellent...

Read More »
Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »

Username*

E-Mail*

Password*

Confirm Password*

First Name*

Last Name*

Country Select a country… Åland Islands Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belau Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Saint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo (Brazzaville) Congo (Kinshasa) Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba CuraÇao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Isle of Man Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao S.A.R., China Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea Norway Oman Pakistan Palestinian Territory Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Qatar Republic of Ireland Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda São Tomé and Príncipe Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin (Dutch part) Saint Martin (French part) Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia/Sandwich Islands South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom (UK) United States (US) Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican Venezuela Vietnam Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Western Samoa Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

Captcha *

How does a granny flat work?
How does a granny flat work?

What is a granny flat? Traditionally, a granny flat is a smaller, separate dwelling that shares the same space and zoning as the main property....

Read More »
What are Shelter Logic covers made of?
What are Shelter Logic covers made of?

PVC fabric ShelterTech SP Series fabric covers are made from a durable, yet flexible PVC fabric that has been manufactured specifically for the...

Read More »
Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »

Is it better to pour concrete wet or dry?

Although a less common problem than concrete too wet, too dry is not good either. Portland cement is the active ingredient in concrete, and cement needs sufficient moisture to cure with full strength.

Although a less common problem than concrete too wet, too dry is not good either. Portland cement is the active ingredient in concrete, and cement needs sufficient moisture to cure with full strength. If troweling a sample pile of concrete doesn’t create a smooth, wet, muddy surface in three strokes of the trowel, your concrete is probably too dry. Concrete can be strong and long lasting, but only if it’s thick enough. Are you pouring a concrete slab for a shed floor or DIY patio ? This is the most common application for DIY concrete pouring . Be sure you never make your slab thinner than four inches for any application. Six inches is the minimum thickness for a concrete slab that may see any kind of heavy vehicle traffic.

5 / 13

Expecting Reinforcing Mesh to Stop Cracking

No one wants a concrete project to crack, but don’t put your trust in the kind of standard welded wire mesh typically used for concrete reinforcement. It won’t stop cracking, but it will hold the cracked concrete pieces together. Mixing your concrete with reinforcing fibers and using reinforcing rods laid down on a 12-in. x 16-in. grid pattern greatly reduces the chance of crack formation. Also, two weeks after pouring, use a masonry saw to make cuts one-third of the way through the thickness of your concrete slab. Make these cuts in a 10-ft. x 10-ft. grid pattern. Any slight cracks that may form will follow the saw cuts and be hidden by them.

What is better plastic or metal sheds?
What is better plastic or metal sheds?

Plastic sheds will withstand water and snow much better than their metal and wooden counterparts. There is no need to worry about rusting or...

Read More »
What sizes do garage doors come in?
What sizes do garage doors come in?

What Are Standard Garage Door Sizes? The average standard single garage door size is typically 7-8 feet high by 8-10 feet wide. The average double...

Read More »
Is it cheaper to build with brick or concrete?
Is it cheaper to build with brick or concrete?

A poured concrete wall is about 40% – 50% cheaper to build than a structural brick wall. Structural brick walls are expensive because they actually...

Read More »
Do tiny houses appreciate in value?
Do tiny houses appreciate in value?

If your tiny home is built to sit on wheels, it'll depreciate in value just like the truck you pull it with. But even if your tiny house is built...

Read More »