Ready-mix concrete is concrete that is batched and mixed at a central plant, then delivered to the construction site in a rotating drum truck. Unlike site-mixed concrete, the proportions of cement, aggregates, water, and additives are precisely controlled in a factory environment, ensuring consistent quality and strength.
When the truck arrives on site, the concrete is still in its fresh, workable state. It is discharged directly into formwork, wheelbarrows, or a concrete pump, depending on the scale and accessibility of the project. The driver can adjust the consistency slightly on site by adding a controlled amount of water, but the mix design is essentially fixed at the plant.
Application
Ready-mix concrete is the standard choice for most structural pours, including foundations, floor slabs, walls, and driveways. It is especially practical when large volumes are needed in a short time frame, since mixing that quantity by hand or with a small site mixer would be slow and inconsistent.
For DIY builders, ordering ready-mix makes sense for any pour larger than roughly half a cubic metre. Smaller quantities are often more economical to mix on site with bags of pre-mixed concrete. When ordering, you need to specify the concrete strength class (for example C20/25 or C30/37), the required slump or consistency, and any special requirements such as frost resistance or fibre reinforcement.
Timing is critical: once the truck arrives, you typically have 60 to 90 minutes to place and compact the concrete before it starts to stiffen. Make sure your formwork, reinforcement, and crew are fully prepared before the truck pulls up.
Common delivery volumes range from one to ten cubic metres per truck. Many suppliers offer small-load deliveries for residential projects, though a surcharge may apply for quantities under a certain minimum.
Related terms
- Concrete
- Formwork
- Pouring
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