Ready-Mix Concrete Guide: Ordering, PSI, Delivery & Frequently Asked Questions
Ordering ready-mix concrete doesn't have to be complicated.
Minimix Concrete created this guide to answer common questions from homeowners, contractors, masons, landscapers and builders ordering concrete in Northern New Jersey.
From determining how many yards of concrete you need to understanding PSI, admixtures and delivery preparation, here are answers to common ready-mix concrete questions.
What Is Ready-Mix Concrete?
Ready-mix concrete is concrete produced using controlled proportions of cementitious materials, aggregates, water and, when required, admixtures before being delivered to the project site in a concrete mixer truck.
Instead of mixing individual bags of concrete at the job site, customers can order concrete by the cubic yard and have the mixed concrete delivered for the pour.
Ready-mix concrete is commonly used for foundations, footings, slabs, driveways, sidewalks, patios, curbs, retaining walls and many other residential and commercial applications.
Where Can I Order Ready-Mix Concrete in Northern New Jersey?
Minimix Concrete supplies ready-mix concrete from Pequannock, New Jersey.
We serve Morris, Passaic, Bergen and Essex counties, as well as portions of Sussex, Warren and Hudson counties.
We supply both contractors and homeowners.
Contact Minimix Concrete at 973-970-3334 to confirm delivery availability for your location.
Does Minimix Concrete Sell to Homeowners?
Yes.
Minimix Concrete supplies ready-mix concrete to homeowners as well as contractors, masons, landscapers, builders and other construction professionals.
Homeowners can order ready-mix concrete for projects such as patios, sidewalks, slabs, footings, outdoor fireplaces, landscaping projects and other concrete improvements.
If you have never ordered concrete before, contact us to discuss your project.
How Is Ready-Mix Concrete Sold?
Ready-mix concrete is typically ordered by volume in cubic yards.
One cubic yard is a three-dimensional volume measuring 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet.
The number of yards needed for a project depends on the dimensions of the area being poured.
How Do I Calculate How Many Yards of Concrete I Need?
For a rectangular slab, begin with the length, width and thickness of the pour.
When all measurements are expressed in feet:
Length × Width × Thickness = cubic feet.
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard, so divide the cubic-foot volume by 27 to estimate the number of cubic yards.
For example, a 10-foot by 10-foot slab that is 4 inches thick has a theoretical volume of approximately 1.23 cubic yards.
Real projects may require additional material because excavation and subgrade dimensions are rarely perfect.
Carefully measure the project before ordering and consider whether an appropriate allowance is needed.
What Does PSI Mean in Concrete?
PSI means pounds per square inch and is commonly used to describe the specified compressive strength of cured concrete.
For example, 4000 PSI concrete is designed to achieve a specified compressive strength under defined testing and curing conditions.
A higher PSI number represents a higher specified compressive strength, but that does not mean customers should automatically order the highest PSI available.
The appropriate mix depends on the project requirements.
Minimix Concrete offers:
3000 PSI
3500 PSI
4000 PSI
4500 PSI
5000 PSI
For projects governed by engineering plans, architectural specifications, building requirements or other specifications, order the concrete required by those documents.
What PSI Concrete Should I Use?
The correct PSI depends on the application and project specifications.
Factors may include structural loads, freeze-thaw exposure, environmental conditions, project design and local requirements.
A patio and a structural footing, for example, may have different specifications.
Do not substitute a general recommendation for the requirements of an engineer, architect, contractor or applicable building code.
Minimix Concrete offers strengths from 3000 through 5000 PSI to accommodate a variety of project requirements.
What Is the Difference Between 3/4-Inch and 3/8-Inch Stone Concrete?
The terms 3/4-inch and 3/8-inch generally refer to the nominal size of coarse aggregate used in the concrete mix.
Aggregate size can affect placement, workability and suitability for particular applications.
Minimix Concrete offers both 3/4-inch stone and 3/8-inch stone concrete mixes in multiple PSI strengths.
The appropriate aggregate size depends on the project specifications, placement conditions and desired mix characteristics.
What Is a Concrete Admixture?
An admixture is an ingredient added to concrete to modify certain characteristics of the mix.
Depending on the product, admixtures can affect setting time, workability, water resistance and other properties.
Minimix Concrete offers several admixture options for customers with specific project requirements.
What Does an Accelerator Do in Concrete?
A concrete accelerator speeds certain hydration and setting characteristics and can be useful when faster early strength development or reduced setting time is desired.
Accelerators are often considered during colder conditions or when project scheduling requires faster early performance.
Minimix Concrete offers calcium chloride and non-chloride accelerator options.
The appropriate accelerator depends on the project and materials involved.
What Does Concrete Retarder Do?
A retarder slows the setting process of concrete.
Retarders can be helpful during hot weather or other conditions where concrete might otherwise set more quickly than desired.
Additional working time can make placement and finishing more manageable for appropriate projects.
What Does Fiber Do in Concrete?
Fiber is incorporated throughout the concrete mix and can help control certain types of cracking and improve characteristics of the concrete for appropriate applications.
Fiber is not automatically a substitute for reinforcing steel, wire mesh or other reinforcement required by project specifications.
Ask about fiber when ordering if it is appropriate for your project.
What Does a Water Reducer Do?
A water-reducing admixture can improve the workability or flow characteristics of concrete without achieving that change simply by adding more water.
Adding excessive water at the job site can negatively affect concrete performance.
When greater workability is required, the appropriate mix design or admixture should be considered rather than automatically adding water.
Does Minimix Concrete Offer Colored Concrete?
Minimix Concrete can mix color at the job site.
Customers can provide an appropriate color pigment or liquid, and we can mix it into the concrete at the job site.
Discuss colored concrete with our team before delivery so the process can be planned appropriately.
How Much Concrete Can One Truck Carry?
Minimix Concrete's maximum truck load capacity is 9 cubic yards.
Orders exceeding 9 cubic yards require additional trucks.
For larger pours, contact us ahead of time so the required deliveries can be scheduled appropriately.
Can I Order a Small Amount of Ready-Mix Concrete?
Minimix Concrete serves customers with projects of many sizes and specifically works with homeowners and small contractors as well as other construction professionals.
Contact us with the quantity you need and your delivery location to discuss the appropriate delivery option and current pricing.
Is Ready-Mix Concrete Better Than Mixing Bags for a Project?
It depends on the size and nature of the project.
Bagged concrete can be practical for very small repairs or projects requiring a limited amount of material.
As project volume increases, manually mixing bags requires substantial material handling, mixing, water measurement and labor.
Ready-mix delivery allows larger quantities of concrete to arrive mixed and ready for placement.
For slabs, patios, sidewalks, footings and similar projects, customers should compare the volume required, labor involved and placement needs when deciding between bagged material and ready-mix concrete.
Can a Concrete Truck Drive on My Driveway?
This needs to be evaluated before delivery.
A loaded concrete truck is a heavy commercial vehicle, and not every residential driveway, yard or job-site surface is suitable for truck access.
Access considerations can include:
Driveway construction and condition
Ground stability
Width and turning radius
Overhead wires
Tree branches
Gates
Low clearances
Slopes
Septic systems
Underground utilities
Soft or recently disturbed ground
Never assume that because a passenger vehicle can access an area, a loaded concrete truck can safely do the same.
Discuss job-site access with Minimix Concrete before your delivery.
How Should I Prepare Before the Concrete Truck Arrives?
Preparation should be completed before the scheduled delivery.
Depending on the project, this can include completing excavation and subgrade preparation, installing and securing forms, placing specified reinforcement and having the required labor and finishing tools ready.
You should also have a clear plan for moving, placing and finishing the concrete once it arrives.
Check truck access in advance and remove vehicles, materials or other obstacles that could interfere with delivery.
What Should I Tell the Concrete Company When Ordering?
Be prepared to provide as much of the following information as possible:
Your name and contact information
Job-site address
Requested delivery date
Approximate delivery time
Number of cubic yards
Required PSI
Aggregate or mix requirements
Requested admixtures
Type of project
Job-site access information
Special delivery considerations
For projects based on professional plans or specifications, have the specified concrete requirements available when ordering.
Can I Add Water to Concrete When the Truck Arrives?
Water changes the characteristics of a concrete mix.
Customers should not assume that adding water is harmless or that more water simply makes concrete easier to work with.
If workability is a concern, discuss the desired characteristics of the concrete and available admixtures when ordering.
Does Weather Affect a Concrete Pour?
Yes.
Temperature, wind, precipitation, humidity and other environmental conditions can affect concrete placement, finishing and curing.
Hot weather can accelerate setting, while cold weather creates different challenges for placement and curing.
Minimix Concrete offers admixtures such as accelerators and retarders that may be appropriate for certain conditions.
The contractor or person responsible for the project should plan placement, finishing, protection and curing according to the project requirements and weather conditions.
How Far in Advance Should I Order Ready-Mix Concrete?
Scheduling availability varies, so it is best to contact Minimix Concrete as soon as you know the anticipated date of your pour.
Before scheduling, make sure the project will be ready for concrete and that you know the approximate quantity and required mix.
For larger pours requiring multiple trucks, advance planning is particularly important.
Who Delivers Ready-Mix Concrete Near Pequannock, NJ?
Minimix Concrete is located at 10 Irving Street in Pequannock, New Jersey and provides ready-mix concrete delivery throughout Morris, Passaic, Bergen and Essex counties, along with portions of Sussex, Warren and Hudson counties.
We supply concrete to homeowners, contractors, masons, landscapers, builders and other customers throughout Northern New Jersey.
Where Is Minimix Concrete Located?
Minimix Concrete is located at:
10 Irving Street
Pequannock, NJ 07440
Our regular hours are Monday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
How Do I Order Concrete From Minimix Concrete?
Call Minimix Concrete at 973-970-3334 to discuss your project and schedule an order.
Have your project location, estimated cubic yards, desired delivery date and required concrete specifications available when possible.
If you are unsure about part of the ordering process, tell us about your project and we'll help you understand what information is needed.
Ready-Mix Concrete Questions? Talk to Minimix Concrete
Every concrete project is different.
Whether you are a contractor scheduling your next pour or a homeowner ordering ready-mix concrete for the first time, Minimix Concrete is here to make the process easier.
We provide ready-mix concrete delivery from Pequannock throughout much of Northern New Jersey.
Call 973-970-3334 to discuss your project, pricing, mix options and delivery availability.
