What Is Ready Mix Concrete?

In the world of construction, the foundation for any successful project is the quality and efficiency of the concrete used. There are a number of concrete options available, but ready mixed and mix-on-site stand out as the two favourites. Ready mix concrete offers a number of benefits, including quality consistency and smooth installation on-site.

In this blog, we delve into what ready mix concrete is, when it is usually used and its advantages and disadvantages. Our experts also share the differences between ready mixed and mixed-on-site concrete.

What is Ready Mix Concrete?

Ready mixed concrete is made at a batching plant and then poured into a drum mixer, which then transports it to its location.

It is made in a similar way to mix-on-site concrete, using a mixture of cement, water and aggregates, to produce the specific concrete design required for the job. However, the difference is that the concrete is made off-site and transported. During the process of transportation, the drum is in continuous movement to ensure the concrete stays in its liquid form so that it can be poured once at its destination.

A concrete batching plant can amend the ratios of each ingredient to blend various concrete designs, providing concrete of different strengths for different uses.

Ready Mix vs Mix-On-Site

The main difference between ready mix concrete and mix-on-site concrete is the fact that ready mix is pre-made before arriving on-site.

The mixture will be made at the batching plant, transported via a drum mixer and poured from the drum into place.

Meanwhile, mix-on-site will arrive on-site in a specific truck with the ingredients separate. The truck has a barrel where all the ingredients are measured and mixed to form the concrete there and then, before pouring it directly into the area needing concrete or into a concrete pump.

When To Use Ready Mix Concrete

There are a number of factors that make ready mix concrete a better choice for your project. These include:

• Project size - large-scale projects where significant volumes of concrete are needed within a short timeframe typically will use ready-mixed concrete as it is ready to be used once it arrives on site, keeping time short and meaning workers can get straight to work spreading it where it needs to be.
• Consistency and quality control - ready mixed concrete is made in an extremely controlled environment in the batching plant. Plus, the batching plant can make large quantities at a time, ensuring the same consistency throughout one batch. This minimises the risk of variations between batches, making it ideal for projects that require large amounts of concrete in one place.
• Complex specifications - projects that require specific designs with technical requirements, such as additives or customised design mixes, are better off using ready mixed concrete. This is because batching plants allows more flexibility with the ingredients being used.
• Exact amounts known - to get the most out of ready mix concrete, it is best you know the exact amount of concrete needed. When you know just how much you need, it is sometimes more cost-effective and stress-free to use ready mixed concrete.

What Are The Advantages and Disadvantages of Ready Mix Concrete?

As with any material, there are advantages and disadvantages of using ready mixed concrete.

Advantages

As ready mixed concrete is prepared off-site and delivered ready to be used, it can often save time during the construction process. You won't need to hang around waiting for the concrete to be mixed, and instead will be able to have it poured directly where needed and work with it as soon as it arrives (provided your site is prepared for it). This enables your project to proceed quicker and continue efficiently.

Consistency and quality are important advantages as the batching plant is a controlled environment where your material will be produced. As the batching plant will be able to generate large quantities at a time, it will ensure uniformity in composition, quality and performance.

Disadvantages

Ready mixed concrete can have time limitations for its workability. Depending on the mix, you might only have a few hours to work with the concrete and place it where you need it. This could cause issues if you aren't quite prepared for the concrete delivery.

Additionally, if you miscalculate the amount of concrete you need and end up with too much, you are often charged for the return and disposal of the waste concrete, which increases costs for you. However, mix-on-site trucks can produce the exact amount needed for the area, ensuring no waste material is left.

As the production will happen at a batching plant, the drum mixer will only be able to deliver one concrete mix at a time. If you choose to use mix-on-site concrete, then you will be able to have a variety of concrete designs mixed as they will be produced on-site, there and then.

Choose 2 Brothers Mix-On-Site

At 2 Brothers Concrete and Pumping, we offer a professional mix-on-site concrete service for domestic and commercial projects across the South of England.

We have two state-of-the-art volumetric trucks which can mix any concrete design you need for your project at your site. All our concrete mixes are of the highest quality, through using primary aggregates, we are able to produce pure concrete, ensuring optimal strength and durability.

When choosing to use our mix-on-site concrete you can be confident that you will get a cost-effective solution as we will be able to mix the exact amount you need, ensuring there is no waste.

This allows us to charge for what materials you use, meaning you pay for what you lay rather than the quantity that we make. Our team are experts in calculating how much concrete you need, so we will create the exact amount for you, meaning you don't have to worry about disposal charges.

Finally, our team are highly trained and has over 25 years of experience combined in the industry, meaning that you can be confident that your project will benefit from a wealth of knowledge and experience to your project.

Discover more about our concrete services by calling us on 01489 552737 or completing our online enquiry form.

We are always happy to discuss your project and share our knowledge.