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No, cement cannot be used on its own except for rare circumstances, as it's only a binder to form other products, such as concrete or mortar. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to create a concrete or mortar mix. Concrete, for instance, needs cement, water, and aggregates such as sand and gravel. Using the right amount of water and water temperature is essential to ensure you have the right concrete slump and the mix spreads easily and cures well.

If your channel drain is being installed in a driveway, then you will need to pour concrete to secure the drain and prevent it from breaking under the weight of your car. For channel drains that you plan on installing on a walkway or underneath a roof or awning, then you can get away with using a compacted fill.

Yes, you can pour concrete if it rained the day before, but you’ll need to drain the construction site to ensure there isn’t standing water where your slab will sit. You might need to manually remove any puddles and set up drainage on your site to dry it before pouring. Moist soil won’t be an issue, but standing water will throw off your concrete mix ratios. Additionally, ensure there isn’t more rain expected in the near future before you pour.

The average cost of concrete for stairs or slabs is between $110 and $150 per cubic yard, or between roughly $4 and $5.50 per cubic foot for materials. Installation, form building, form materials, and preparation will increase the cost to between $150 and $200 or more per cubic yard.