It is well known that concrete is the most commonly used material in construction. It consists of waste, aggregates, and cement. There are two types of concrete – ready-mix concrete and site-mixed concrete; There is always a comparison between these two, to select the right type for your project. Both types of concrete mix are helpful and have their specification along with advantages. Depending upon the need of your construction project, ready-mix concrete Kent helps you decide which is more beneficial and suitable for you.

What is concrete?

Concrete constitutes – fine aggregates, coarse aggregates, water, and cement. Some other mixers, such as calcium chloride, are added to the concrete for its strength.

Fine aggregates, also known as sand, are tiny particles below the size of 4.75 mm and more significant than 0.2 mm, obtained from river deposits. In contrast, coarse aggregate includes crushed stone, gravel, and stone boulders.

Both aggregates are inert materials, while water and cement are mobile materials and cement is used as a binding agent.

Properties of Concrete

• High compressive strength; it varies from 2000 to 5000 pounds per square inch.
• It will not wear down quickly. With proper techniques and good quality material, concrete can withstand manure, acids, or abrasion.
• Suitable for fire-resisting structures.
• Although concrete is infirm in tension, steel can be placed at the parts where the tensile load is to be resisted.
• Concrete is economical compared to steel.
• Concrete can produce surfaces ranging from glass-smooth to coarsely textured, and it can be painted, too.
• It can take any shape when placed in forms that help in a durable construction.
• Concrete can be controlled with admixtures using various types of cement.
• Certain types of concrete can be mechanized. I.e. Ready-mix concrete which ensures uniformity, accuracy, and timely delivery along with concrete placing.

Site-mixed Concrete

As the name implies, site-mixed concrete refers to batched and mixed onsite concrete. It is a volumetric concrete and is also known as manual concrete. Workers mix concrete components in specific ratios to achieve the desired strength. It is prepared using formulas to determine the number of materials and steps to obtain the desired consistency. However, to avoid quality issues, workers must be extra careful with the proportions of material they mix into concrete.

Advantages of site-mixed concrete

• Design can be optimized as per the strength, and project managers can do value engineering.
• No restriction on order quantity.
• You do not have to depend on a third-party organization to accomplish work.
• Compared to site-mixed concrete, it is less expensive.

Ready-mix Concrete

Ready-mix concrete is prepared at the plant and delivered to the project site in a plastic state, ready to use. It is sold in volumes which are often measured in cubic meters. It ensures long-term sustainability and durability, which are essential for concrete delivery. Ready-mix concrete Kent is the best source of versatile material for all construction projects. Concrete-mix is ideal for massive projects, eliminating concrete curing before a mix-and-pour process is completed.

Types of Ready-mix Concrete

Transit-mixed Concrete

Transit mix concrete loads raw ingredients directly into the truck mixer. The plant mixer does not get involved in the transit-mix concrete. The mixing water for the concrete generally gets mixed at the plant. The drum revolves at charging speed during the loading process.

Methods of mixing concrete in a truck mixer:

• Concrete gets mixed at the job site. Relevant materials are batched into the truck mixer and hauled to the job site, with the drum revolving slowly. After the arrival at the site, the concrete truck thoroughly mixes the materials. Conventionally, this method was used for longer delivery times, but it is gradually falling out due to current control admixture systems.

• Another method under transit-mixed concrete is when concrete gets mixed in the yard. It is the most common method of mixing concrete. The drum revolves at high speed, around 70 revolutions before it reaches the construction site. The concrete is agitated at a low pace while driving to the job site. This process allows the Ready-mix Specialists Kent to check and adjust the slump and air of the batch.

• The last and third method is that concrete gets mixed during transit. The drum turns at a medium speed while driving to the job and then slows down. It saves fuel, over-mixing of concrete, and drum wear. However, it has a limitation and does not allow an operation to load it thoroughly before leaving the plant.

Shrink-mixed Concrete

Mixing of the concrete gets completed at the manufacturing plants. It partially gets mixed in a central mixer, and the truck mixer completes the mixing process. The truck mixer rotates at high speed to charge the concrete. Depending upon the size of the central mixer vessel, the number of revolutions is decided to end the mixing of shrink mix concrete in the truck mixer. Generally, 30 courses of the mixer truck drum produce uniformity throughout the load.

Central-mixed Concrete

It includes a stationary mixer that blends the concrete materials before discharge into a truck mixer. The primary objective of a truck mixer is to act as an agitator when the concrete is being mixed centrally. The advantage of central mix concrete includes fast batching and minimal wear of the truck mixer drums. Overall, this type of concrete is more expensive than transit mixed concrete.

Advantages of Ready-mix Concrete

• Consistent methods and advanced equipment produce quality concrete.
• Not required to store construction material at the site.
• Reduced air and noise pollution.
• Requires fewer human resources, therefore, reducing cost.
• Time-effective technique application of concrete.
• Produces less waste.
• Due to its eco-friendly nature, it conserves the environment.
• Whether it is a small project or a large-scale project, work does not get delayed.

Comparison of Ready-mix Concrete and Site-mix Concrete 

Conclusion 

Now when you know both types of concrete and their comparison, it will be easier for you to choose concrete from Ready-mix Concrete Kent. We specialize in providing you with a superior quality concrete mix for industrial, residential, and commercial needs in London, Kent, and Essex. Our specialist closely works with you to determine the accurate formulation for your project and suggests the most economical solutions.

Get in touch with us on 080 4302 5666 or visit us online to inquire about your concrete needs.

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