People may choose to mix their own concrete instead of buying ready mixed concrete for a variety of reasons. One reason is cost savings. Mixing one’s own concrete seems less expensive than purchasing ready mixed concrete. Additionally, mixing one’s own concrete allows them to customize the mixture according to their preferences. For example, they can adjust the ratio of sand and cement. Finally, some people simply prefer having more control over the process itself by being able to monitor each step along the way while mixing their own concrete.
What are the hidden costs to mixing your own concrete?
It usually seems cheaper to mix your own concrete than to buy pre-mixed concrete. Mixing concrete by hand requires the purchase or rental of tools and equipment, the acquisition of raw materials such as cement powder, sand aggregate (gravel) and water, physical labor and potential costs for waste disposal.
Equipment: You will need to purchase or rent tools and equipment such as a wheelbarrow, shovel, hoe, mixing tub, trowels, float and edger.
Materials: You’ll also have to buy the raw materials for your mix—cement powder, sand aggregate (gravel) and water.
Labor: Mixing concrete by hand requires significant physical labor and time that you may not be able to provide yourself if you are inexperienced. Hiring someone else to do it can add additional costs to your project budget.
Waste disposal: If any of the concrete waste needs disposing of then there could be associated costs with this too – either through landfill charges or paying for a skip hire service in order to dispose of the waste correctly.
What are the disadvantages to mixing your own concrete?
- Mixing your own concrete can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially if you are not familiar with the process.
- Finding the right proportions of cement, sand, gravel, and water is a challenge that requires careful measurement to ensure that your finished product meets building code standards.
- If you don’t mix the concrete correctly or use too much or too little water it could potentially lead to structural problems down the road due to weak spots in the foundation or walls of your project.
- Improper mixing can also create air bubbles which weaken the strength of cured concrete and cause cracking over time; this means you may need to redo portions of your project once all is said and done in order to ensure its stability and longevity.
- Mixing large batches of concrete by hand can be physically demanding as well; tools like wheelbarrows, shovels, hoes, rakes etc. are needed for proper mixing which can add additional cost
Ready mixed concrete is a great choice for anyone looking to complete a project requiring concrete quickly and efficiently. Ready mixed concrete eliminates the need to mix your own material onsite, saving time and labor costs. It also ensures consistent quality as it has been pre-mixed in a factory setting by experienced professionals who use top grade materials. In addition, ready mixed concrete can be delivered directly to your job site in large quantities, allowing you to avoid any storage issues that may arise with mixing your own material onsite.
