Types of Concrete FAQs
Concrete is the most widely used building material on earth and, as a result, there are many different types of concrete, dependent on what you plan to use it for. Choosing the right consistency, mix and quality of concrete is important, whether you are laying the foundation for a shed, or building houses. If you get it wrong, your concrete simply will not do the job you need it to.
At Custom Concrete we supply professional guidance and advice to our customers at every stage, offering FREE technical support on the best mix for their job. We have collated the 6 FAQs we encounter most frequently – we hope they are useful!
1. What is Concrete Made Of?
The reason why concrete is used globally is because its ingredients can be sourced anywhere. They are cement, water, and aggregate. Cement is the binding agent which forms a paste when mixed with water. Aggregate is made up of sand, rock, and gravel. It can be fine, or coarse, and include pigments, fibres, reinforcement, or additives.
2. What are the Different Types of Concrete?
There are different concrete mixes dependent on the job you need it to do:
- Footings. For kerbs, small walls, extension. and conservatory foundations.
- Pavements. Car parks, residential pavements, drives, commercial floors.
- Slabs. Base for shed/summerhouse, garage/domestic floors, light industrial.
- Powerfloat. Floors finished using a power float machine.
- Screed. Sand and cement mix for internal floors.
3. What is Volumetric Concrete?
This is concrete that is despatched as raw ingredients in a volumetric truck, and then custom-mixed on site. Should any tweaks in mix, consistency or volume be required they can easily be applied. The advantage of using volumetric concrete is that the concrete is freshly mixed, where it is needed, and you only pay for what you use.
4. What is Ready Mixed Concrete?
Ready mixed concrete is mixed at a batching plant, remote from the site where it will be used, and then transported to the job location. The mix is ready for pouring immediately it is delivered at its destination. The advantage of using ready mixed concrete is that there is no delay whilst the concrete is mixed on site.
5. What is a Concrete Calculator?
The Custom Concrete Calculator allows you to work out exactly the volume and weight of concrete you need for your project. If you are unsure about the concrete mix you require the Custom Concrete team will be on hand to help. They know the business inside out and will be happy to give you any advice you need when completing your order.
6. What is Eco Cement?
Concrete is made up of sustainable ingredients which makes it an eco-friendly material to use. However, cement is created by burning limestone and silica materials at high temperatures to produce clinker. This process is responsible for “around 2.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO²) per year—about 8% of the global total.“
Eco cement reduces these emissions by using 10-20% less burnt limestone in the mix. This decreases cement’s carbon footprint and is slightly cheaper to produce. Eco cement performs as well as traditional cement, and helps us to keep our prices affordable.
Types of Concrete – Custom Concrete
Custom Concrete provides volumetric concrete, mixed on site across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. Our Custom Concrete Calculator helps customers to work out in advance what materials are needed and cuts down on waste. Just let us know what mix you require, and the Custom Concrete team will deliver freshly mixed concrete to your site when and where it is required.
Do you have any questions about the types of concrete needed for your project? Just give the Custom Concrete team a call on 01525 861899