How much is a cubic foot of concrete?

The article aims to answer the question “How much is a cubic foot of concrete?”. It will also highlight the method you can estimate the required weight of concrete to make slabs. 

How much is a cubic foot of concrete?

The cost of a cubic foot of concrete is around $9 to $10. The thickness of a concrete or sand base affects its surface area directly. For example, a cake batter with a thinner consistency will cover a larger surface area (LxW).

The length, width, and thickness of a hole should all be measured in feet in order to estimate how many cubic feet of space you’ll need. 

The thickness of a sheet of 4 inches is equivalent to 0.333 feet when measured using this formula: 4″/12″. Cubic feet are the result of multiplying Length, Width, and Thickness.

Also, a cubic yard (yard = 3 feet) is the equivalent of a cube that is three-by-three-by-three feet in size.

What is the weight of concrete per cubic inches?

The weight of concrete per cubic foot is 150 pounds per cubic foot, and it contains 1728 cubic inches. The weight of a cubic foot of concrete can be used to calculate the weight of a cubic inch of concrete.

The weight per cubic inch is calculated by multiplying the volumetric weight of 1 cubic foot of concrete by 1728.

  • 150 / 1728 =.087 pounds or 1.39 ounces.
  • The mass in grams of one cubic inch of concrete is.
  • 1.39 ounces, or 0.08 pound.
  • 0.039 kg is the weight of one cubic inch of concrete, too.

How much does concrete weigh per cubic meter? 

A cubic meter of concrete weighs 2400 kg. In order to convert cubic yards of concrete to kilos, the following formula is used:

  • 1 cubic meter equals 1.3 to cubic yards of space.
  • In order to calculate the cubic meter weight of concrete, multiply the weight of one cubic yard by 1.3, which is 4050 lbs.
  • 1,453 kilograms are equal to 1,077 pounds.
  • Concrete weighs 5265 pounds per cubic meter, multiplied by 453. Rounding up to the nearest tenth.

How much does one cubic foot of concrete weigh?

Concrete slabs can weigh up to 150 lbs per cubic foot, or around 0.75 short tonnes, on average. If you want to know the weight of a piece of concrete, you need to know its density, which varies depending on how much aggregate, water, and air are used in the mix. 

Dry ready-mix concrete can weigh up to 133 lbs per cubic foot, or 0.0665 tons/ CFT, before water is added, while fractured concrete can weigh up to 75 lbs per cubic foot, or 0.0375 tons/ CFT.

How much does concrete weigh?

The amount of air and water it contains may affect the weight of concrete. The importance of cement may range from 830 to 1650 kilograms per cubic meter, equivalent to 52 to 103 pounds per cubic foot.

Denser cement is obtained by storing and transporting cement subjected to vibration, as opposed to glue placed into silos pneumatically. Consider that a 94 lb. a bag of newly packed cement equals one cubic foot when weighed.

Lightweight concrete density is 1920 kg per cubic meter (116 lbs per cubic foot) or 116 kilograms per cubic meter (3132 lbs per cubic yard). It weighs less because it is created of pumice, an inherently light mineral.

It is a mass to volume ratio that determines density. The simplest and most accurate method for determining the density of concrete is to fill a specified volume container and weigh it.

Checking concrete strength using test cylinders benefits knowing, comprehending, and monitoring density. In most cases, a decrease in concrete density results in a reduction of concrete strength.

These strength tests may be performed every 24 hours, seven days, and 28 days in a laboratory to detect potential weakness (or lower density). This is critical because concrete is utilized in so many high-strength structures (bridges and high-rises).

In the case of concrete countertops or inside radiant floor heating, you may question whether utilizing lightweight concrete will reduce stress on cabinets and flooring below.

It weighs roughly 18 pounds per square foot for conventional weight concrete and about 14.5 lbs per square foot for lightweight concrete.

Even though concrete countertops weigh less than regular concrete, it’s still simpler to polish standard density concrete because of the 3.5 pounds per square foot weight savings.

Using a vast concrete area for flooring might save a significant amount of weight. Keep in mind that the cost of lightweight concrete is generally twice as much as that of ordinary concrete.

How can I calculate the weight of a square foot of concrete?

You may use the following formula to get its weight in pounds per square foot if you know how thick your concrete is.

CEMENT WEIGHS 145 POUNDS FOR A CUBIC FOOT.

Take the thickness of your concrete and divide it by 12. (this gives you the depth in feet.)

As an illustration: Dividing six by twelve gives you five percent (a 6-inch slab is .5 feet thick)

One hundred forty-five pounds per cubic foot x.5 = 72.5 pounds per cubic foot or 72.5 pounds per cubic meter.

A 6-inch thick slab weighs 72.5 pounds per square foot, the maximum allowable weight.

What is the weight of structural lightweight concrete?

For comparison, ordinary concrete weighs 150 pounds per cubic foot, whereas lightweight structural concrete weighs around 105 pounds per cubic foot. 

It is possible to reduce the density of lightweight concrete by using a lesser quantity of light coarse particles and light fine aggregates.

Expanded clay, clay, or slate materials turned into a porous structure mimicking volcanic rock are often used in lightweight aggregate materials. Certain mixtures of slag from air-cooled blast furnaces may also be used.

Structures may benefit from smaller columns, footings, and other components that carry the weight of the building’s contents because of this.

In terms of compressive strength, lightweight structural concrete may be built to be as strong as normal-weight concrete. The mechanical and physical qualities of regular-weight concrete are identical to those of lightweight concrete.

In most projects, the higher cost of lightweight concrete is offset by fewer structural components, less reinforcing steel, and a smaller volume of concrete.

This will result in a more fire-resistant structure when using lightweight concrete. It provides wall components with higher R-values for improved insulation. It all comes down to these two variables when it comes to lightweight concrete as a construction material.

The aggregates must be wetted before use to obtain a high degree of saturation. This may happen if the mix isn’t entirely saturated with aggregates.

An airtight seal encases the bulk of lightweight concrete. The air content must be monitored and maintained to ensure that density requirements are satisfied.

Polishing lightweight concrete requires a higher degree of caution. The light stones will separate from the mortar if the slump is too severe or too much water present. Avoid blisters and delaminations on hand-trodden interior flooring.

When it comes to the drying time of lightweight concrete, it tends to be longer than that of ordinary concrete. While painting the last coat, keep this in mind.

In concrete and steel buildings like parking structures, tilt-up walls, composite slabs on metal decking and piers and beams, lightweight structural concrete has been used to make bridge decks and other structural components (SLC).

If you have a wood-framed deck, a quantity of lightweight concrete may be used to restrict the warm air from escaping.

When dealing with lightweight concrete, pumping the material may be a challenge. A sound pump installation may be achieved by taking certain precautions ahead of time.

Conclusion

Several variables affect the density of concrete, including the quantity of water and air in the mix. To put it another way, a block of concrete that is one foot wide, one foot long, and one foot high would typically weigh 150 pounds when measured in pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft3).

Assuming that a cubic foot of concrete weighs 2400 kilograms per cubic foot, a block of concrete that is one meter wide, one-meter long, and 1-meter high would weigh 2400 kilograms.

Frequently asked questions (FAQS): How much is a cubic foot of concrete?

How much is a cubic foot of concrete?

The thickness of a concrete or sand base affects its surface area directly. You can see two samples of cubic feet in the photo. 

As a result, a cube that is one foot long by one foot wide by one foot thick is equal to a cubic foot.

When cured, does concrete get heavier?

As the cement hardens, the quantity of water that interacted with the cement is reflected in the cement’s weight difference from when it was fresh. A bag of hardened cement will always be heavier than a fresh bag because of this.

Concrete or sand is heavier?

Almost usually, water at its densest is used as a benchmark for liquids! In comparison, the density of sand ranges from 2.65 to 2.67. Cement is heavier than sand in terms of scientific weight!

How much weight can a four-inch thick concrete slab withstand? 

On an uncertain 4-inch slab, we typically restrict the weight to roughly 40 lb/sq ft. 80 pounds per square foot may be possible in certain circumstances, but unless you have an idea of the slab’s bearing and reinforcing capacity, you run the risk of breaking.

Bibliography 

El-Dieb, A. S. (2007). Self-curing concrete: Water retention, hydration and moisture transport. Construction and Building Materials, 21(6), 1282-1287.

Sakr, K., & El-Hakim, E. (2005). Effect of high temperature or fire on heavy weight concrete properties. Cement and concrete research, 35(3), 590-596.