What To Know About Using Ready Mix Concrete

Do you have a project that will require concrete, and you've decided to use ready mix concrete to get the job done? It will help to know a few things about using concrete.

The Ready Mix Concrete Is Mixed Off-Site

One of the unique things about ready mix concrete is that it is mixed off-site. The ingredients are loaded into the concrete agitator truck where it rotates in a large drum. The concrete will continue to move within this drum so that it is in a form that is ready to use as soon as the truck arrives at the construction site. It can then be poured directly out of the truck and is ready to use without any additional mixing needed. 

Mixing the concrete in this way allows for concrete to be installed in a fast manner, which reduces time on-site needed to mix the concrete. In addition, the measuring of ingredients is done off-site in a more controlled way to ensure that the concrete is made consistently. 

The Vapor Barrier Should Be Beneath The Ground Level 

It is important to have a vapor barrier beneath any slab of concrete that is being poured. This is because the barrier helps prevent any moisture from getting into the concrete as it is setting. You do not want to pour concrete directly onto a vapor barrier, and it helps to have it a few inches below the gravel and dirt that the concrete is being poured on. This is because the concrete needs room to settle, and you don't want the water from the concrete to collect along the vapor barrier.

The Concrete Should Be Compacted For Thick Slabs

If you are installing really thick concrete, know that the concrete should be compacted during the pour. This will help prevent the concrete from settling over time, which can cause a thick slab of concrete to eventually crack. It adds more time to the pouring process, but you'll be glad it was done many years down the road when your concrete is still looking good. 

The Concrete Should Be Reinforced With Rebar

Consider using rebar within the forms of your concrete slab. The rebar is going to distribute the tension across the surface of the concrete, which helps prevent it from cracking over time when a lot of pressure is put on it. This is especially important for driveways where you have vehicles resting on the surface, but it is a good practice to use in all concrete construction. 

Contact a company like Diamondback Redi-Mix for more information.