Choosing the Right Ready-Mix Concrete

When it comes to concrete, many experienced professionals agree that ready-mix products are the way to go. Attempting to mix concrete on the job site often creates confusion and can result in improper ratios, potentially leaving your crew in a bind if the solution ultimately does not prove to be useable. By contrast, ready-mix concrete (or RMC) is specifically formulated and prepared for your particular application, then delivered in mixing trucks to minimize on-site hassles.

However, choosing the proper ready-mix type of concrete is a crucial must. Your concrete’s performance is determined by a number of factors, ranging from moisture reducers to corrosion inhibitors. Knowing precisely what the concrete will be used for and in what setting is imperative to selecting the right product for your application. It is therefore advisable that you enter into the conversation with your concrete supplier with solid preparation and comprehensive knowledge of your project.

It’s also important to note that concrete doesn’t just perform differently after it sets. Depending on the properties of your chosen ready-mix, it can react in different ways both in hardened and plastic states. This is due to the fact that different jobs call for different setting times. As an example, if you require time enough to perform stamping after your concrete has set, consider a retarding admixture. This is especially useful when seeking to extend your setting duration in warmer weather, which tends to cause quicker hardening.

On the other side of the spectrum, accelerating admixture products are commonly used when working in cold-weather settings. As the name implies, these solutions speed the rate at which concrete sets, hardens, and strengthens, thereby reducing the overall curing time and ensuring a quicker road to solid protection.

If your project’s one which requires a harder finished product, you might request water-reducing admixtures in your RMC to modify the ratio of water to cement. More recent developments allow for greater stability by reducing moisture content by 8% or more, even over a broader range of outside temperatures. For specialized needs, super plasticizers are higher-range water reduction admixtures capable of lowering moisture by as much as 30% overall.

Finally, for jobs requiring steel reinforcement within concrete, the use of corrosion-inhibiting admixtures may be considered. High-strength structures and facilities can benefit from such additions, including parking complexes, bridges and marine buildings in particular. These inhibitors fight off the effects of high chloride exposure, and some also work to slow or control cracking due to concrete shrinkage.

To learn more about finding the right ready-mix concrete in Leland, please visit this website.