Dumb question... but when you want that smooth look like a slab for a patio, you buy quickrete cement, not the concrete with the stones in it, yes?

Tx.

 

You have to have the aggregate in the concrete, cement only won't wear well. How you finish it depends on how smooth the surface will be.

 

How do you get that smooth look? Like a basement floor.

 

When you trowel the concrete you work the cement up to the top as the aggregate sinks.

 

After the concrete has been poured and leveled, and has set for long enough that the bleed water (water that rises to the surface) has been reabsorbed, you float the surface with a hand float. This pushes the coarse aggregate a little below the surface and creates a smooth top layer. Knowing when to float the surface and how much to float the surface is where the "art" of finishing concrete comes in. It's not terribly complicated or difficult, but experience really pays off.

Lots of videos and instructions out there...search for "finishing concrete".

 

Cement is an individual ingredient used in making concrete. Concrete contains cement, sand and gravel. If pouring a small slab you can buy either cement or concrete. Bags of concrete are easier to work with since you just have to add water. If you buy cement you will also need to add sand and stones. Generally for a small pour you would buy the bagged concrete mix. Larger pours where it's economical to get a load of sand and stone then you might choose to mix your own using bagged cement and it's commonly done in less developed countries. In the US once your pour gets to about 2 yards most people order the concrete delivered in a ready mix truck.

 

There is also a bagged product known as topping mix. This has the smallest stones in it and can be used for thin layers. For the absolute smoothest finish use a steel (or magnesium) trowel for the final finishing after the concrete is quite stiff.

 

Ok so what is you plan on doing?
Trying to pore a whole patio DIY to try and save money?

 

Just was going to make a landing for stairs but no big deal... figured out something else.

Thanks for all the info.