Ensuring Your Concrete Delivery Runs Smoothly
Posted on 3rd October 2017 by Ever Readymix Concrete
Before a single square metre of concrete can be poured, you’ll need to have your concrete delivered using any number of methods designed to make the process as quick and simple as possible. Your delivery might be wheelbarrowed onto site, poured directly from the mixing lorry, or pumped to the location using a concrete pump. All of these methods require you to be ready for a delivery so that it runs smooth and you avoid any unnecessary delays.
Choose the right company
For the best possible customer experience, there are a few things you should look for in a concrete company. We highly suggest you choose a concrete supplier with:
- Decades of experience that will inform their mixing processes and customer service
- Multiple depots that cover a large area
- Commercial and domestic concrete suppliers
- A quality website with lots of information about the company, their fleet, the types of concrete supplied, etc.
- Check that the company can supply the correct grade and quantity of concrete for your needs
- Accreditations and industry recognition is a must to ensure your supplier is safety and quality conscious
Choose the right amount of concrete
The easiest way to ensure you purchase the right amount of concrete is a concrete calculator, like the one at the top of this page. By entering the length, width and depth of the area to be filled, you can quickly and easily provide the exact amount of concrete you require to your supplier. Of course, if you are unsure or need advice before you make your order, ask the professionals.
Get prepared
For a comprehensive guide to preparing for a concrete delivery, take a look at our previous post. Back in February, we covered everything you need to know to get your job site ready for receiving a mixing lorry and concrete pump.
Get prepared: weather
If your delivery is arranged days in advance, you should take the time to check the weather forecast on the day before delivery. Rain can affect the performance of the concrete mix and make it weaker than originally intended. To avoid cracks and crumbling in the future, you must be prepared to protect the concrete from falling rain if you absolutely need the concrete that day.
This means erecting tenting, or covering trenches with waterproof tarps and digging basic drainage ditches to cope with the influx of water. Otherwise, it’s sage advice to wait for a dryer day and reschedule your delivery.
Get prepared: access
Before the concrete is delivered, you need to ask yourself, ‘Is my site easy to access?’. If not, why not? Bear in mind that a concrete mixing lorry is just that, a lorry. It’s no smaller than a typical waste/recycling lorry and needs just as much space to manoeuvre into position.
What can you do to improve access to your job site? For a typical domestic concrete delivery, all you will need to do is move cars, wheelie bins, garden and driveway furniture out of the way and your delivery should go ahead without a hitch. It may also be worth warning neighbours about the delivery, in case they would benefit from moving their vehicles, too.
Ever Readymix is proud to supply high quality ready mix concrete throughout the Yorkshire region. Whether you require domestic concrete for a single car garage or commercial concrete for a multi-storey car park, we’ve got you covered. Our experienced and knowledgeable team can help from the start if you’re not sure about grades of concrete and quantities and can even provide tips on how to prepare for delivery day. Contact us today to find out more.