Is there such thing as DIY cement?

Question

I'd like to fill in some stone steps to make them into a small ramp. I have no experience with this kind of thing so can anyone recommend a material I can use to do this? Is there a packaged material like cement that I can buy, without any complicated mixing involved, that I can just mold around the steps?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Thanks for your answer but I can only find concrete sealer. Do you have a UK link you could direct me to?

Answer 1

It's called Quikrete.

You just mix it with water, add gravel (optional) and pour it wherever you want it.

Answer 2

B&Q UK, Sell, Portland cement, Building sand, Sharp sand, Mortar mix, Concrete mix, Fence post mix, Gravel, and many other similar items, pre-packaged for ease of transport. Sounds like you need the concrete mix, just add water to make a fairly stiff mixture and fill in between step and riser, if the ramp is to be fairly steep, tamp to a rough finish.

Answer 3

I have done a good bit of concrete work but really can't answer your question without actually seeing it. It may be that the concrete wont stick to all or part of whatever it is you are trying to cover or fill in.You could make it worse and have a much bigger,more complicated and expensive job on your hands.My advice would be to call a professional for a (free) bid/consultation and while they are there ask them how they intend to do it and whether they anticipate any problems....A little free education.Without seeing it, it would be irresponsible to comment,there are just too many variables .Hope this helps you in some way.

Answer 4

first a word of caution ..do not make the ramp too steep ..if you were building a ramp and the general public had access then the ramp must not be more than 12 degrees pitch ..that is a ramp12 feet long for a foot of fall ..i know it sounds shallow .but its the law if public have access to it ..your steps will be steeper than that .. if you are going to infill then do it in two stages...fill the back of step 3/4 full of concrete ..leave it rough for key .next day fill it all over..trowel it smooth ..then pass a brush over it to give it horizontal lines for grip ..but it will be very steep ..think carefully about it before you do it ..use standard cement with mixed aggregate ..pva the steps ..and drill and fix screws into flat area of steps .. leave proud for a key ..you could all so do this on the risers

Answer 5

I'd agree with boy boy, including with his caution about the angle; most flights of steps will produce a hellish steep ramp. You could explore this by dropping a plank or two on the steps and look at the steepness. Regarding the concrete, you can get it in nearly all DIY places.

Answer 6

I just mixed over 50 bags this weekend to put in a sidewalk here in my home. Pre-mixed concrete is available in the US in 60 and 80 pound bags, need a wheelbarrow, a shovel and some water.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Yes....sold by many names. Check your home and garden stores for anything saying quick concrete. It has all the ingredients except the water. It isn't expensive unless your needing a huge amount.

Answer 9

I`m sure you can buy pre-mixed cement from your local garden centre or builders merchants, B&Q, Homebase etc, if not someone there should be able to advise on what you should use

Answer 10

Yes I'm with w Davey 25, I got ready mixed for sinking my posts into when I had a new fence erected. It was B&Q I think.

Answer 11

you can actually buy cement ready mixed however you will have to do the job within a few hours