Ready Mixed Concrete – Available Types in Market ( With Pros & Cons)

Ready-mixed concrete is the custom-made concrete that is prepared in a factory or within a specific plant.

This special concrete has specific properties. Therefore, before taking any construction estimating services always ask the project manager about the most suitable concrete for your project.

Keep in mind, ready mixed concrete is highly durable and offers a more sustainable approach. As the concrete is prepared under specific conditions therefore it ensures high quality.

However, there are many types of ready-mixed concrete available in the market, so you can easily choose the one that is most appropriate for your construction project.

  2. Types of Ready Mixed Concrete  

Before construction takeoff, you can take assistance from the construction estimating services providers.

Given below are the three main types of ready-mixed concrete.

a. Transit mixed concrete

b. Shrink mixed concrete

c. Central mixed concrete

a. Transit Mixed Concrete  

Because all of the essential items, including water, are charged directly into the truck mixer, it is also known as dry-batched concrete.

During the loading of the material, the mixer drum spins swiftly at charging speed before continuing to rotate at a typical agitation speed.

Three types of modifications are conceivable in this type of ready mix concrete, for instance.

● Concrete mixed at the project site

The drum is rotated at a slow or agitated speed of 2 rpm while being hauled to the location, but once there, just before releasing the material, it is rotated at a higher speed of 12 to 15 rpm for almost 70 to 100 revolutions to ensure uniform mixing.

● Concrete mixed in transit

While in the transit time, the drum speed is held moderate, around 8 rpm for around 70 revolutions. It is lowered to an agitation speed of 2 rpm after 70 revolutions until the concrete is emptied. Concrete is being mixed in the backyard.

In the yard, the drum is spun at a high speed of 12 to 15 rpm for around 50 revolutions. During travel, the concrete is gradually mixed.

b. Shrink Mixed Concrete  

While being in transit, the concrete is mixed in a partial amount of the plant mixer before being balanced in the truck-mounted drum mixer.

The amount of mixing that takes place in the transit mixer is measured by the amount of mixing that takes place in the main mixing plant. However, there are several tests to determine the amount of mixing required by the drum mixer.

c. Central-Mixed Concrete  

It is also known as a central batching plant since it completely mixes the concrete before transferring it into the truck mixer.

Along with this, Wet-batch or premix plants are other names for the same plant.

Moreover, The truck mixer solely works as a high-speed agitator while moving the concrete.

However, Non-agitating units or dump trucks can be utilized when the durability requirements are minimal or the lead is short.

Read Also: 26 Types of Concrete

  3. Advantages of Ready Mixed Concrete  

Some advantages of ready-mixed concrete are:

a. A ready-mix concrete mix facility uses advanced technology and reliable techniques to produce high-quality concrete.

During the manufacturing process, there is careful supervision over material testing, process variables, and continual monitoring of crucial steps.

In the case of site-mix concrete, poor control over the raw material, batching, and mixing methods is solved by using ready-mix concrete.

b. The speed with which building methods in ready mixed concrete plants are followed is ensured by the use of automated operations.

A site mix concrete factory with an 8/12 mixer may generate 4 to 5 metric cubes per hour, relative to 30-60 metric cubes per hour in a ready mix plant.

c. Keep in mind, with the help of better handling and proper mixing, ready mixed concrete can reduce the consumption of cement by 10-12 %. However, the use of other admixtures can also help in making the concrete a better option.

d. Ready-mixed concrete is highly versatile. It is also placed by the best placement approach.

e. Due to less consumption of cement, there is less dust. Moreover, concrete is prepared in bulk amounts as compared to small cement bags.

f. As compared to cement, ready mixed concrete saves resources and energy.
Some Other advantages

g. This concrete is used in less amount as compared to the other concrete, so it has a lesser impact on the environment.

h. Mixed concrete has a highly durable structure. Hence it has more service and also it saves the life cycle cost.

i. Ready mixed concrete preparation does not depend on human labor. Therefore there are minimum chances of error and it also reduces the wages and dependency on available labor.

j. Regardless of the quantity, both small and huge quantities of concrete are delivered on-site without any delay.

k. If you are using this type of concrete you don’t need any huge space to store the raw materials. There is no depreciation and equipment cost. Moreover, there is no delay because of site batching.

l. In ready mixed concrete, there is less consumption of diesel and petrol so, there is less noise and air pollution.

  4. Disadvantages of Ready Mixed Concrete  

Some advantages of ready mixed concrete are:

a. There is a huge transit time between the preparation of ready-mixed concrete and its delivery on the project site, this might result in work loss.

Also, this needs extra water and admixtures to maintain the texture.

Because this is the only way to make it usable.

However, the site engineer will check the quality at the site with the help of a slump test to ensure the drawbacks if any.

b. The second main disadvantage of ready mixed concrete is the traffic during transit. High traffic can result in a concrete setting.

For this reason, there is a need to add some additional admixtures to enhance the setting time. However, unexpected traffic is still a huge problem.

c. With the help of construction estimating services providers, try to know about the framework and arrangements required for the building. Make sure all of them are ready before the arrival of a large amount of concrete.

  5. Stay Connected with the Construction Estimating Services Provider  

Conclusively, Try to choose one of the best companies that provide the most accurate and precise construction estimating services.

Coupled with estimation, the project managers also guide you about the type of concrete that suits best for your building.

Last but not least, ready mixed concrete is now the homeowner’s best choice.

Note: Guest Post

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Read Also: Types of Concrete Admixtures