Tips for Maximising Efficiency When Pumping Concrete For A Smooth Process

Your project is probably on a strict time frame, and concrete pumping is just one step in many that needs to be completed for the building to develop. With tight timelines, nothing is more important than efficiency, and working with concrete is no exception. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to maximise efficiency when pumping concrete.

To create a smooth pumping process, you need to:

• Ensure your site is prepared for delivery
• Choose the right pump
• Communicate with everyone involved clearly

At 2 Brothers Concrete & Pumping, we have a combined 25 years of experience producing and pumping concrete across the South Coast. Our team have worked in a range of situations and projects, meaning they have a wealth of knowledge. Pumping concrete is second nature to them, so they know what needs to happen for an efficient and smooth process.

In this blog, we share tips so that you can be prepared for a smooth concrete pumping process.

Choosing the Right Pump for the Job

One of the first things you need to do to ensure a smooth concrete pumping process is to choose the right pump for the job.

There are two types of concrete pumps: line and boom.

The line pump typically goes through obstacles lying on the floor. While a boom pump goes up and over an obstacle on an extendable arm.

You can mix the two to reach as far as you need, but you need to know which type of pump to use as the basis.

If reaching high up or over a high building or obstacle, a boom pump is needed. Where you might be able to work around the obstacle, you can use a line pump.

Of course, booking the right pump will save you a lot of set-up work on delivery day, as the team can go about setting it up and pumping. The wrong pump could mean delaying delivery until the right pump can be booked.

Make sure you consider everything you need to when making this decision.

Pre-Pumping Preparations for Efficiency

Site Preparation

Once you have the right pump hired, you don't want to fall at the first hurdle on delivery day, and when it comes to concrete pumping, this means making sure the trucks can easily access your site.

Before the arranged date for your concrete delivery, we recommend you spend some time clearing and preparing the site entrance and where the truck will set up so that when we arrive, we can simply drive to where we need to be - no faff and no delays.

When doing this, you will also need to make sure that anything in the way of the pump line is cleared.

If you are using a boom pump, you need to think carefully about where the truck and boom will be positioned to make sure that it doesn't get caught up in tree branches or wires. Again, thinking ahead with this will mean you won't experience any delays when we get on site.

Finally, you need to make sure that the ground is stable enough for our machinery. It won't come as a surprise to you that our trucks are heavy, so we don't want them sinking or tipping as we work. If you are unsure about how to prepare for this, speak to one of our team before your delivery date and we can talk you through steps to take for this.

Concrete Mix Design

As well as making sure the concrete design mix is the right one for the needs of the project, you also need to make sure it will be somewhat easy to pump.

Issues with pumping will inevitably slow the process down - not what you want - so when working out which concrete mix to have, make sure you bear in mind it also needs to be the right mix for pumping.

Factors that impact pump ability include:

• Consistency
• Slump
• Aggregate size

Effective Communication on Site

We hate to say the cliche, but here it is anyway - communication is key. Both when booking the concrete pump and on the day of delivery, you and your team need to maintain clear and concise communication with our team, and our team are expected to do the same with you.

Why? Because it avoids errors and delays, making everyone's life easier.

Pre-pour meetings or site visits are recommended by our teams because it means everything can be discussed prior to pumping. If everyone knows what needs doing, they can ensure the right equipment is ready, and then when they arrive, they can get on with the job.

We recommend using hand signals or radios on-site when pumping concrete because the equipment can be loud, and the operators might not be able to hear verbal communications over it. Not to mention, in a lot of cases, the site where the concrete is being pumped is often not even in sight of the truck. Give your team and our team every chance of better communication by providing the tools and equipment needed.

Tips for Efficient Concrete Pumping

There are a few more tips that you should be aware of too, as these will also enhance the efficiency of concrete pumping.

Set up and positioning of the pump - reducing the length of the hose will reduce the risks of slowing down flow rates and increasing pump pressure.

Managing pump speed - while not something you will do directly, you should understand that pump operators will manage the speed of pumping to prevent clogs and ensure even, consistent placement.

Concrete Pumping Safety Tips

Sometimes, one of the biggest delays can be making sure everyone is safe. So, make sure you take steps to fulfil this before we turn up on-site.

Safety around our pumps include:

• Wearing PPE
• Keeping a safe distance from the hose's end to prevent injuries from high-pressure discharge
• Stabilising hoses and pipes to prevent bursts or spillage

Efficient Concrete Pumping With 2 Brothers

There are several steps you can take to make sure the concrete pumping process on your project is efficient so that your timelines are stuck to and delays are avoided.

Steps include:

• Making sure the right pump is hired
• Preparing the site for our arrival
• Ensuring everyone is safe
• Clear communication  

At 2 Brothers Concrete & Pumping, we are experts at pumping concrete for any project. Whether it is a small domestic DIY project, a new build development or a large commercial project, we have the knowledge and experience to make sure you and we are prepared for a smooth process.

As well as advising on the above, we also provide a mix-on-site concrete production service, meaning you can keep your concrete needs under one roof with us! This removes the hassle of dealing with two contractors and enhances efficiency.

On top of this, concrete isn't the only thing we offer. If laying an indoor floor, we can provide liquid or dry screed. Or if working on an outdoor surface, like a driveway, we can make and pump permeable concrete.

Discover more about maximising efficiency when pumping concrete for a smooth process by calling our friendly team on 01489 552737 or completing our online contact form to request a callback.