Is it true u can add washing up liquid to concrete and what are the benefits, and what can i use to shape it?

Question

i want to make a step out of concrete, what is the best way to hold the concrete in place while it sets but does not stick or leave a residue on the concrete itself.

Answer 1

Apparently, adding washing up liquid to wet concrete, it will dry harder and quicker - but I'm no bricky/builder.

Try making a wooden mould, this will come away once the concrete has dried/set.

Answer 2

make a frame out of wood for the step. you don't put washing up liquid in concrete, bricklayers use it in mortar sometimes to make it easier to work with.

Answer 3

You need to build a form (like a mold) into which the cement is poured. Let the cemant harden / cure for 48 hours.

Eric

Answer 4

It is true, some use it for workability and to entrain air...this is not the right stuff to use.  If you want the benefits of this, order concrete that is air-entrained.  Entrained air helps with durability in freeze/thaw environments.

Build the formwork out of wood and use something to keep the concrete from binding with it...usually some kind of oil.  I've heard of everything from cooking oil to WD40.  It all should do about the same, but don't be shy with it, soak it on.

Finally, after the concrete is at least a month old, seal it with a concrete sealer.  Always seal concrete at it's dryest (wait several days after rain), you don't want to trap moisture in.

Answer 5

bubbles

Answer 6

Build forms out of wood, coat with any type of polyurethane you might have left over in your garage. Really anything that will seal the wood and prevent concrete chemicals from sticking to it. You can even use motor oil, brush it on the wood. Pro's use concrete form oil, but I am trying to save you some $$$ so use anything you have around your house- or just buy a small container of polyurethane sealer. Make your forms sturdy as concrete is very heavy, Drive a lot of form brace stakes to hold forms in place. Enlist the inspection of a friend or handyman type neighbor to check the forms over prior to pouring the concrete. You can't correct a bad form job once the concrete is in the form.

Answer 7

ive seen it added to concrete mix but to be honest i have no idea why.

Answer 8

boy boy is spot on  you do not use washing up liquid unless you want to redo it in the near future dont add anything b ut waterproofing

Answer 9

NO NO NO a really big NO to this one ...never add it to any type of mix where cement is involved ..ive been a builder for over forty years ..and i would sack anyone working for me if they were trying it ..they all know better ..some cowboys add it to bricklaying mortar to make it easier to use ...but it kills the cement !..go back weeks later and you can scrape it out with your finger ..and never use any kind of plasticiser in concrete ..for a step you will need shuttering around to hold the concrete in place ..to stop it sticking give the inside of shutter a coat of cooking oil ..its not much different to shuttering oil

Answer 10

to mortar / sand and cement . it acts as an agent to improve  "  workability " . other agents are used in concrete and also air inducing tools to get the same effect . Timber frame and paint the timber to the surface with a primer so the concrete cant " grip " the surface of the timber . A release agent is used on formwork in industry but you don't need that nor washing up liquid .

Answer 11

Yes you can, it just makes it easier to spread when laying bricks, but not too much. depends on what shapes you need to make.