Successfully Buying Concrete Mix

Concrete is one of the few construction materials that is versatile enough to serve a variety of purposes in and around your home. Working with concrete can seem like a daunting task, but pre-mixed concrete products have made it easier than ever for homeowners to complete basic repairs.

Buying the right ready-mix concrete is the first step in successfully working with concrete around your home.

Define how the concrete mix will be used.

In order to select the pre-mixed concrete product that will give you the results you are looking for, you need to know how you will be using the mix around your home. Each pre-mixed concrete product has a unique formulation that gives it certain characteristics you may or may not find helpful.

If you are planning to lay a new patio floor and you want to stamp a decorative design into the concrete, you will need a pre-mixed product with a slower setting time. If you want to resurface a sidewalk or driveway, then you want your concrete mix to cure quickly so that you can put these architectural features back in use.

Knowing how your concrete will be used allows you to locate the pre-mixed product with the right formulation.

Carefully calculate how much concrete you need.

It is critical to the success of your project that you determine exactly how much concrete will be needed to bring the project to completion. Homeowners often think that slight errors in the amount of concrete purchased are easy to remedy, but this is simply not true.

If you end up with too much concrete, you will have wasted money. You will also be faced with the difficult task of finding an environmentally friendly way of disposing of the excess. If you don't buy enough concrete, you will have to make a last minute run to the store for more. The consistency and cure time of the second batch will differ from the first batch, compromising the quality and durability of your finished concrete project.

Work with a concrete manufacturer to estimate how much pre-mixed concrete you will need to achieve your desired results.

Investing in pre-mixed concrete products is a great way for homeowners to eliminate some of the problems associated with mixing and laying concrete. Be sure you buy the right mix by defining your intended use and calculating the amount of concrete needed for your project.