How to order ready mix concrete

Share the answers to these with your concrete supplier.

Planning Questions –

What are you making? (patio, driveway, slab, etc.)

What does success look like? (What are your expectations.)

Aesthetics

Cracking

Durability

Strength

Other

How much concrete do I need? (yd3 or m3)

How many trucks do I need and what volume do I want in each truck?

When do I want it delivered?

Where do I want it delivered?  

How will you move it?  (Wheelbarrows, Truck, Truck + Pump?)

How flowable does it need to be? (This impacts your labor and also how you are going to move
it)

How long does it need to be flowable?

How will you finish the concrete?

Will it get wet and freeze? (If you answer yes then you will need air entrained concrete).

How much does it cost?

Remember that the more you ask for the more it will cost.
What slump do you want?

0” to 3” 3” to 6” 7” to 9”
(0 to 75 mm) (75 to 150 mm) (175 to 225 mm)

machine
placed hand placed congested
placement

What strength do you want?

3000 psi 4000 psi > 5000 psi

(20 Mpa) (27.5 Mpa) (> 35 Mpa)
Interior External Structural
exposure exposure Concrete
What water to cement ratio do you want?

> 0.50 0.45 < 0.42

Interior External Structural

exposure exposure Concrete
How to pick your supplier?

Who are their clients?

Have they done a similar job?

What warranty do they provide?

What is their quality control process?  How will they make sure your concrete is right?

Do they optimize their aggregate gradations?

Have they heard of the Tarantula Curve?

Optimize Aggregate Gradation?

Do they watch my videos? =)

Who will do the best job?