The following step-by-step guide will help you install an evening patio using slag cement. First, you want to make sure that you have the right equipment and materials. Stake out the area where you want the patio to go, then use a level to ensure that it is flat. If the ground slopes, level it out until it is flat.

Remove any grass or stones from the area by hand, or with a shovel or rake. Use a hose to wet down the area and keep it moist throughout the process. This will make your work easier and will help keep dust down.

Dig a hole that is at least three times as wide as your slag cement blocks, to a depth of at least four inches. Slag cement blocks are heavier than regular cement blocks, so you need to dig deeper if you want the patio to be level. Fill the hole with gravel and tamp it down firmly before leveling it off with a tamper or wood plank.

Slag cement is a hydraulic cement formed when granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) is ground to suitable fineness and is used to replace a portion of portland cement. It is a recovered industrial by-product of an iron blast furnace. Molten slag diverted from the iron blast furnace is rapidly chilled, producing glassy granules that yield desired reactive cementitious characteristics when ground into powder. While there are many applications for slag cement, it can be used in concrete as well as shotcrete.

Concrete with slag cement generally has enhanced workability, increased compressive and flexural strength properties, improved resistance to aggressive chemical environments and decreased permeability.

To build an evening patio, you will need these materials: Slag Cement, Concrete Sand and gravel.

Step 1: Clean the existing concrete surface thoroughly.

Step 2: Scrub the existing surface with a stiff bristle push broom to rough up and lightly etch the surface.

Step 3: Using a broom, spread the slag cement on the clean concrete in a 150 sq ft area.

Step 4: Use a garden hose to slightly dampen the newly applied slag cement.

Step 5: Brush the slag cement into the pores of the surface until it is completely dry.

Step 6: Apply one or more coats of stain to give your new patio an even look once it has dried.

This project is a great way to beautify your home and add value, while also giving you valuable outdoor space to enjoy with your family, friends and guests. You should have no problem completing this project in a weekend.*

Slag cement, originally known as granulated blast-furnace slag, begins with the production of iron. The heart of the process is the blast furnace that refines iron ore into iron. The ingredients are heated to nearly 1500 degrees Centigrade to form two components: molten iron and molten slag. The molten slag floats on top and is removed and cooled. The cooled material is ground into a fine powder that partially replaces portland cement in concrete.

Ground granulated blast-furnace slag has been used in concrete projects in the United States for over a half century. Earlier usage of slag cement in Europe and elsewhere demonstrates that long-term concrete performance is enhanced in many ways. Slag cement requires nearly 90% less energy to produce than portland cement. It also conserves natural raw materials, making it a sustainable construction material.

The most important property of slag cement is its ability to create a more fluid mix at equal water/cement ratios, allowing for greater workability and finishability compared to portland cements. Slag cement provides consistent performance over time; improved strength at all ages; improved durability characteristics (reducing permeability and improving resistance to aggressive agents); reduced heat of hydration; and improved pump

Slag cement, or ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), has been used in concrete projects in the United States for over a century. Earlier usage of slag cement in Europe and elsewhere demonstrates that long-term performance is enhanced in many ways. Slag cement is a recovered byproduct of the iron manufacturing process and can be used to replace a portion of portland cement in concrete mix design. The use of slag cement to replace a portion of portland cement has demonstrated long-term performance enhancements allowing designers to reduce the environmental footprint of concrete while ensuring improved performance and increased durability.

Environmental Benefits: Slag vs. Portland Cement

Slag cement is often produced using environmentally friendly processes. A majority of slag produced today comes from iron production. Slag from steel mills in ferrous smelting, on the other hand, is designed to minimize iron loss and so mainly contains oxides of calcium, silicon, magnesium, and aluminium. Any sandy component or quartz component of the original ore automatically carries through the smelting process as silicon dioxide. As the slag is channeled out of the furnace, water is poured over it. This rapid cooling, often from a temperature of around 2,600 °F (1

Slag cement is the by-product of steel production, and it may be used in concrete and mortar. It is useful in these applications because it is much more durable than standard concrete and mortar. Concrete that is formed with slag cement has a higher tensile strength, higher density, and lower porosity than concrete without slag cement.

Slag cement is less expensive than traditional concrete and mortar products, because it costs less to produce. The use of slag cement also increases the lifetime of a concrete structure. Slag cement can be found at most home improvement stores or at specialty concrete shops.

Attention: Slag cement can cause skin irritation if proper precautions are not taken. Wear gloves when dealing with slag cement.

Slag Cement

The use of slag cement has demonstrated long-term performance enhancements allowing designers to reduce the environmental footprint of concrete while ensuring improved performance and increased durability. Slag cement is a recovered byproduct of the iron manufacturing process and can be used to replace a portion of portland cement in concrete mix design. The use of slag cement has demonstrated longer term performance enhancements allowing designers to reduce the environmental footprint of concrete, while ensuring improved performance and increased durability.