When it comes to facilitating hassle-free construction, ready mix concrete is the most popular choice. Like normal concrete, this material can be used in various construction-related tasks. However, a few important things need to be considered to get more clarity related to its benefits and usage. So, before choosing one from the best ready mix concrete suppliers in UK and booking a delivery, go through these key points. Let’s start!
What is Ready Mix Concrete?
Ready mix concrete is a type of construction material prepared in a dedicated batching facility. Different construction material suppliers deliver such types of concrete mix in UK as per the client’s requirements. The process of mixing all the raw materials, such as water, cement, aggregates, etc. is not carried out on the project site. Instead, the concrete supplier gets all the constituents mixed at their manufacturing plants.
As the client specifies, the concrete supplier adds different chemical admixtures to the construction material, to provide it with the desired properties. Concrete attributes like compaction ability, settling time, strength levels, and more can be tweaked according to the requirement. In addition, the client can get the material directly poured into the required area without hassle. As the name suggests, this construction material is ready for usage as soon as it is delivered to the project site.
What is The Difference Between Ready Mix Concrete and Normal Concrete?
The key difference between ready mix concrete and normal concrete is the location, where the material is prepared. There are dedicated manufacturing plants where all the constituents and raw materials are mixed to prepare ready mix concrete. Using it, the hassle of setting up a temporary plant at the construction site is eliminated. Because the material is ready in advance and can be ordered in the desired amounts.
On the other hand, normal concrete is not delivered in its final form. The trucks only supply the raw materials at the construction site. Afterwards, the construction workers mix the constituents with chemical admixtures to prepare concrete batches with different attributes as per the requirement. Therefore, a specific space needs to be permanently reserved at the project site for mixing and producing material batches.
How Much Material Will Be Sufficient For My Project?
It is crucial to order the concrete only in limited amounts to avoid material wastage. To effectively know how much concrete will be used in your construction project, you can use a concrete calculator on different websites. With the help of such an online utility, you can precisely calculate the right concrete amount for slabs, columns, curbs, stairs, and more. You just need to enter the dimensions such as length/depth, width, and height of the respective structure. Afterwards, the concrete calculator will provide you with the exact material quantity you need to order.
However, it is recommended to order slightly more than what’s suggested by a concrete calculator. Because while pouring the material into the required area, some portion of the material either gets spilled or wasted due to various reasons. It causes a lack of concrete and the project gets temporarily stopped. As a result, the completion of the construction project gets delayed. By ordering a little more than what’s required, you can avoid running out of concrete between the projects.
How To Transport Ready Mix Concrete From Vehicle To The Required Area?
In some cases, the area where the concrete needs to be poured is nearby a location that the truck can reach directly. In such scenarios, ready mix concrete can be directly poured from the vehicle to the desired area. Alternatively, manually operated concrete carriers known as wheelbarrows can also transfer the concrete to the required area. But, if the material needs to be poured at a place far away from the truck’s range, a concrete pump needs to be used.
Concrete pumps are of two types: Line Pumps and Boom Pumps. A line pump involves setting up a straight hose from the truck to the required spot. Material which is pumped with pressure goes through the pipe and spreads over the required area. A Boom pump, on the other hand, is preferred for the project locations above or below the ground levels, such as multi-storey buildings and basements. In the boom pump, the trucks have a mechanism involving a flexible arm that extends up to the desired area, which outlets the material as per the requirement.
For Which Projects Is The Ready Mix Concrete Preferred?
As mentioned above, ready mix concrete can be used in a wide range of construction applications. All types of projects that have less space on site for concrete mixing and require concrete batches with custom strength levels, can be benefitted from ready-mix concrete. We are listing the top ones below:
- Bridges
- Walls
- Road Developments
- Footpaths
- Driveways
- Foundations
- Bases and Floors
What Level of Strength Do I Need in Ready Mix Concrete?
Well, it depends on the application. If you are ordering ready mix concrete for a driveway, it needs to possess high strength levels. It helps to avoid concrete cracking when heavier weights like SUVs, trucks, etc, pass from the structure. On the other hand, if you need construction material for comparatively less load-bearing structure, like a patio; moderate strength levels can fulfil the requirement.
Moreover, for structural usage, you can go through the guidelines of the respective local authorities and order ready mix concrete with the exact prescribed strength level. Furthermore, it is crucial to find the right material supplier to get high-quality ready mix concrete with the desired strength levels. Reputable concrete providers use quality materials to achieve different strength levels in different concrete batches.
Conclusion
The above are the key things about ready mixed concrete. After going through them, you can effectively decide whether it is the right construction material for your project or not. Moreover, choosing a reliable concrete supplier is crucial to get the best quality ready mix concrete at competitive prices. You can find a reputable concrete supplier near your location with the help of a simple Google search.
