How is Ready Mix Concrete Made
If you are planning a bit of a project at home or you are running a busy site in Manchester, you have probably wondered what goes into that big rotating drum on the back of our trucks. It looks simple enough from the outside but there is actually quite a lot of science and care that goes into it. At Mark Bates & sons Ltd, we have been doing this for over 25 years so we know exactly what makes a good batch.
Knowing how ready mix concrete is made helps you understand why it is so much better than trying to mix it yourself in a small tub or on a board. it is all about precision and making sure every single load is the same quality as the last one.
What actually goes into the mix?
Before we get into the process, you need to know what the ingredients are. It is basically a recipe. You have got your cement which acts like the glue. then you have got water which starts a chemical reaction called hydration. This is what makes the whole thing go hard over time.
The bulk of the mix is made up of aggregates. This is usually a mix of sand and stones or gravel. Depending on what you are building, we might use different sizes. For example, we stock 10mm aggregate at our middleton and waterfoot plants which is great for certain finishes.
Sometimes we add extra bits called admixtures. These can make the concrete easier to pour or help it set faster if the weather isn’t great. We also supply fibres if you need a bit of extra strength without using traditional steel mesh.
How ready mix concrete is made at our plants
The process starts long before the truck arrives at your door in Bury or Salford. We have two fully automated, computer-controlled batching plants. Having two plants is great because it means we always have a backup and can keep our quality spot on across the north west.
Step 1: storing the raw materials
We keep all our ingredients separate in big silos and bays. The cement has to stay bone dry in sealed silos. If even a bit of moisture gets in there, it starts to go off and we can’t use it. The sand and stones are kept in their own areas so we can grab exactly what we need for your specific grade of concrete.
Step 2: the batching process
When you give us a ring to place an order, our team works out the exact “recipe” you need. A garden path needs a different strength to a house foundation. Our computer system weighs every single gram of cement and aggregate. This is way more accurate than just counting shovels like you might do on a DIY job.
Step 3: mixing it all up
This is where the magic happens. The materials are combined in a massive mixer at the plant. We control the mixing time and the speed to make sure everything is blended perfectly. We don’t just hope for the best; we check the quality of our concrete daily in our own in-house lab at Middleton. It is all bsi accredited too, so you know it meets the proper British standards like BS8500.
Getting it to your site
Once it is mixed, we load it into one of our modern mixer trucks. We have a fleet of ten trucks, including 6m3 and 4m3 mixers. If you have got a tight spot to get into, our minimix service is perfect.
The drum on the truck keeps turning while the driver is on his way to you in Stockport or Lancashire. This keeps the concrete from setting and ensures it stays well mixed. We use real-time tracking on all our vehicles so we know exactly where they are. We know that a late delivery can cost you money in labour, so we do our best to be there right when we said we would.
Why the method of how ready mix concrete is made matters for your project
You might think about just buying bags of cement and sand from the builders’ merchant, but there are a few reasons why getting it ready-mixed is a better shout.
- Consistency is king. Because it is all done by computer, every shovel load is the same. You won’t get weak spots in your slab because one batch had too much water in it.
- It saves a lot of graft. Mixing concrete by hand is back-breaking work. When the truck turns up, it is ready to pour straight into your footings or onto your driveway.
- Less waste. We mix exactly what you need. This is better for your wallet and better for the environment too. You don’t end up with a pile of leftover sand sitting on your drive for six months.
- Expert advice. If you aren’t sure what you need, you can just chat with us. We aren’t here to sell you the most expensive thing; we want to give you the right stuff for the job.
Finishing the job
Once the concrete is out of the truck, the clock starts ticking. you need to get it levelled and finished before it starts to harden. We offer products like optiflow which makes the concrete behave more like a liquid. It levels itself out a bit more easily, which can save you a lot of time on big slabs.
It is also worth thinking about how you are going to look after it while it cures. Concrete doesn’t just “dry”, it cures through that chemical reaction we mentioned earlier. Keeping it from drying out too fast, especially if it is a rare sunny day in Manchester, will help stop it from cracking.
Get in touch with Mark Bates & Sons Ltd
We have been a family-run business for a long time and we take a lot of pride in what we do. Whether you are a local tradesman or just doing up your garden, we are happy to help. You can collect from our plants if you have got your own transport, or we can bring it to you.
We cover quite a big area including Oldham, Rochdale, Burnley, and Blackburn. If you are unsure about what mix you need or how much to order, give our team a call on 0161 653 7252 or complete our online contact form.
We hope this guide on how ready mix concrete is made has been helpful. It is a bit more involved than just mixing mud, but that is why it lasts for decades when it is done right.
