Ready Mix Concrete Is Necessary For Projects That Need A Lot Of Concrete

When you make repairs to concrete or use concrete for craft projects, you can use bagged concrete since you won't need a large quantity. However, when you or a concrete contractor puts in a patio or sidewalk, you need so much concrete that it isn't practical to use bagged concrete and mix it yourself. Instead, you need ready-mix concrete. This is delivered already mixed and ready to pour into the mold as soon as the truck arrives. Here's how you use ready-mix concrete.

You Order By The Cubic Yard

Ready-mix concrete is sold by cubic yard, so you'll need to calculate how much you should order. The easiest way to do that is to use an online ready-mix calculator. These allow you to input the width, length, and depth of the slab you plan to make. Some even allow you to enter the shape of your project if you're building something other than rectangular or square.

The calculator returns the cubic yards you'll need. However, it's a good idea to order more than you need so you don't get caught short if you run into problems.

The Site Is Prepared Ahead Of Time

Ready-mix concrete is kept in a thick liquid form because the truck is always turning and mixing it. As soon as the turning stops, the concrete starts to set, so there's a short window of time for pouring the concrete where you want it before the concrete gets too hard to work with.

That means the site has to be prepared fully before the concrete is delivered. The form and rebar should be in place on top of a prepared base. When the truck arrives, the concrete can then be poured immediately into the form.

Ready-Mix Can Be Pumped To Your Backyard

The mixing truck doesn't necessarily need to be close to your project site. The concrete mix can be pumped to a location that's far away. However, if the slab is being built a long way from the street, you'll want to let the concrete company know when you order the ready-mix so you can ask how far the mix can be pumped.

This involves the added cost of a pumper truck and additional workers, so you may prefer to load up wheelbarrows from a chute on the back of the truck and transport the ready-mix concrete to where you need it. You might also consider renting a concrete buggy for the day as these carry much more than a wheelbarrow load at a time and are motorized so they make it easy and fast to move concrete to your project site.