Damn. That's a **** ton of bags. 200-300 depending on thickness of slab maybe? 1/4" per foot on the slope away from house.

You might check on the cost of a concrete truck. It's less than a truckload, but I'm pretty certain that you'll be spending less money. I'm completely certain that your slab will turn out better. Pouring a slab as you mix turns out patchy looking.

Yes to removing the slab that's already there.

1/4" per foot drop if it's against the house.

That's about 3 yards. Definitely get a truck. You're looking at maybe 150-160 80# bags. That's maybe $1k. A truck won't be near that, even with added cost for a short load, and it'll be a much better finish with a lot less work.

Where are you located? Just going to pour on the ground or prep it at all with compacted base? Heavy clay soils?

You're looking at closer to 140-150 bags, not 100. You could probably make it a bit thinner but it's going to crack and eventually look like ***** At least make the outside beam thicker. Especially if you plan on any cover eventually.

No way you get this done in one day without some buddies who also "need the exercise". 140-150 bags is a 2 day job by yourself. And probably a full 2 day job… not to mention it'll be much cheaper for a short load delivery vs bags.

Those two days of work aren't even including the day before when you'll build forms and do any wire mesh/rebar work (only really needed if you have ****ty soil like we do in most of DFW/east Texas). And if you're asking something simple like what the slope away from the house is, my guess is you haven't done this a lot and it will take even longer as you get in a rhythm for the work.

Or a truck can come show up at 7 AM and pour into your prepped forms and be done pouring in under an hour, done overall in a few hours. Better quality, better look, then you can go for a jog if you still need a workout. Then go to the store and buy a bottle of whiskey and a cigar and you'll still come out spending less than all the bags of quikrete….

Even if the truck can't get to the backyard and it's a wheelbarrow job... Get a truck and have a two friends (or hire a couple guys) to bring wheelbarrows.
Two outcomes...
Go the truck route and in 3-4 hours you have a good looking slab curing
Go the bag route and after the end of an exhausting weekend you've got a patio that looks like crap.

Go the truck route and make it 20 by 16....you won't be sorry. 10 by 16 isn't much space for "patioing"

I understand everyone's skepticism and really do appreciate the advice by the way. I like learning something new and saving money and don't mind breaking my back to do it.

With that said, I'm leaning towards getting a truck now. Didn't realize the mixer i have access to only fits 4 or 5 bags at a time. That's just not going to do it especially since I have no idea what I'm doing!

I remember the days when I was young and knew it all. Thankfully I learned to listen to good advice. Good luck young man. I appreciate your determination

Best advice, as already posted, is to make the patio bigger and get a truck. I would see how far a full truck would stretch and make the patio 90 percent of that size. The art of the concrete is in the form and finish. Mixing a bag isn't the art. Go mix a bag for some fence posts if you want the practice that. Learning the sloping, surface finishing, prepping, and reinforcing are what you want to learn anyway. Get a truckload and concentrate on the smart work, not the backbreaking labor.

Thankfully I'm not you and openly admit to not knowing it all!

I poured a 40 sq ft small patio a few years ago

It took 30 60 lb bags

It took 2 guys 3 hours to excavate, form, dowel rebar and pour and finish

They hand mixed all of it in a wheelbarrow




These were guys that do concrete for a living


My advice is to find some guys who want a side job

Rent a tiller and mix in stablizer before tamping down? Might add a day to the project, but will help with the soil movement.

~egon

If you were doing it right, you need to remove 6-8" of that "good" clay and replace with at least 4" of compacted base. Use bar or mesh, pour at least 4" thick (5" better, so rip down some 6" lumber), and cut a few control joints to deal with the inevitable cracking. Slope away from the house and use an expansion board at the house. I would not dowel in to your existing slab, especially if it's PT.