The type of concrete you use for your construction project must be chosen carefully, due to the differences between certain types. Making that choice, however, can be difficult if you are unsure or unaware of what concrete is right for your project, so EasyMix have written this guide to the different characteristics of volumetric and ready mix concrete to help you make your decision.
Quality
High quality concrete is necessary for the long term safety and reliability of any concrete-based construction. The quality of concrete can vary from company to company, but ready mix and volumetric concrete have their own applicable characteristics, regardless of the company producing it.
Overall, both volumetric and ready mix concrete lend themselves well to certain types of applications and situations, but ready mix concrete is accredited by the BSI – something which volumetric concrete does not have. Ready mix concrete is specifically accredited under BS EN 206-1 and its UK complementary standard, BS 8500 part 1 and 2. This accreditation is based on the supplier quality management system and the supplier’s factory production control including plants, equipment, personnel and the production processes involved.
Convenience
Convenience is one of the key selling points of volumetric concrete. It can be mixed on-site right in front of you, with alterations made as it goes. This means that you can be very precise in terms of the quantity of the mix – no need to worry about ending up with too much or too little.
Ready mix concrete is by no means inconvenient, it just does not have the added benefit of being mixed on-site, which means alterations can’t be made on the go. However, providing the right calculations are made, the perfect amount of ready mix concrete can be mixed before delivery.
Speed
While speed might not be a crucial factor in some construction projects, it can certainly help, and ready mix concrete lends itself better to swift loading and off-loading as it is premixed before being delivered to a site. With volumetric concrete, there is obviously a wait required while the mix is created.
Quantity
It’s difficult to pick out which type of concrete is preferable when it comes to quantities. Volumetric mixing trucks can hold around 10m3 of concrete, whereas standard mixing trucks can typically hold up to 8m3. However, this can vary depending on the lorries that a concrete company may own.
Cost
Volumetric concrete is the cheaper of the two types, particularly because the on-site mixing of it means that you’ll never pay for more than you need. However, despite costing more than volumetric concrete, ready mix is still affordable. Using tools such as EasyMix’s concrete calculator can help you work out how much concrete you need for your project, which minimises the risk of you paying for more concrete than necessary.
Overall, the superiority of a certain type of concrete often depends on the various parameters and requirements of your project. If a quick turnaround is your main concern, then volumetric would be the recommended choice. Conversely, if your priority is accredited, certified concrete, then ready mix is what you need.
Whichever type of concrete you need, EasyMix can supply it in your desired quantity through our same and next day delivery service. Our fleet of vehicles, operated by our experience team can be on your site swiftly, ready to mix, offload and pump concrete to your exact desired location. For more information, please contact us today.