Q&A for How to Order Ready Mix Concrete

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  • Question
    How much concrete is needed for a driveway that is 16 x 16 feet by 4 inches deep?
    Community Answer
    16'x16'x4"=3.16 cubic yards. Typically it will take more than you think, I would plan for 3.5 - 4 yard depending on your grading. Also many concrete companies will give you a surcharge if you order less than 4 yards.
  • Question
    How much concrete do I need for a12x12x4 inches driveway?
    Community Answer
    Multiply those dimensions together and convert it to meters squared which directly converts to liters.
  • Question
    How much concrete is needed for a driveway that is 46 by 52 feet?
    Community Answer
    This depends on how thick you want your driveway to be. The minimum thickness should be four inches. Multiply 46' (552") by 52' (624") by 4" and you get 29.5 cubic yards.
  • Question
    What is the least amount of concrete that companies will deliver?
    Community Answer
    I have ordered one yard in the past, but this does not mean that it was any bargain, and it had crappy slump because it was the end of someone else's load. I sent it back for a fresh mix...
  • Question
    How much should be needed for 2000 square feet and a 4-inch depth?
    Community Answer
    667 cf = 2000*4/12. Add a little for losses.
  • Question
    What's the general cost for ready mix?
    Community Answer
    In my area, $95/yard, 4 yards minimum. Prices vary by location, and minimum required yards vary by company.
  • Question
    How many cubic yards per truck?
    Community Answer
    10 yards per truck is the usual load, however, due to weight restrictions, some companies only carry 8 yards per load.
  • Question
    How much concrete do I need for a walkway that is 31' ×2' 1/2" ×4"?
    Community Answer
    A quick way to do the math is multiply length in feet by width in feet and the depth is a fraction of a foot. For example 31 X 2.5 X (12/4) = 232.5 cubic feet. To go from cubic fee to cubic yards, divide the cubic feet by 27 as there are 3 feet in a yard and each dimension is a yard. 3X3X3 = 27. For your project you'll need 8.61 cubic yards. If the average truck is about 9 yards full, then get a full truck.
  • Question
    How do I know how much ready mix concrete I need when filling a hole?
    Community Answer
    Is the hole rectangular like a trench or circular like a cylinder? For a trench, Length in feet x width in feet x depth in feet = cubic feet required cubic feet required / 27 = cubic yards required. Add 0.5 cubic yards or 5% to your order, whatever is larger to lower the risk of running short. For example, 100' long x 4' wide x 2' deep = 50 x 3 x 2 / 27 = 29.6 cubic yards, 29.6 + 0.5 = 30.1 | 29.6 * 105% = 31.08. In this case, an extra 0.5 yards is not enough to reduce the risk of running short. I would order 31 yards instead. For a circular hole: pi ~3.14. V = pi()*r*r*h, 1.5' wide by 4' deep. 5 different holes. 1.5/2 x 1.5/2 *3.14 x 4 = 7.1 | 7.1 x 5 = 35.3 | 35.3 / 27 = 1.3. Order 1.75 yards.
  • Question
    How do I measure for ready mix concrete?
    Community Answer
    In the United States concrete is delivered by the cubic yard. There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard. Multiply the length of your feature in feet, by the width in feet, by the height in inches divided by 12. For example, a 40 foot long, 4 foot wide, 5 inch thick slab: 40 X 4 X 5 inches / 12 inches per foot = 66.67 cubic feet, 66.67 cubic feet / 27 cubic feet per yard = 2.46 cubic yards. Order 2.75 or 3 yards as a cushion to lower your chances of running short. (A mis-measured average depth of 5.5 inches would instead take (40 x 4 x 5.5 / 12) / 27 = 2.72 cubic yards, so a small error in measurement or an uneven ground can really screw up your estimate and increase the chances of running short.
  • Question
    Do cement trucks come with a pipe that is long enough to reach the roadside?
    Community Answer
    Most concrete trucks carry up to 3 chutes each about 4 feet long that they can use to extend the first chute. For anything more than 10 feet from where the concrete mixer can park, consider ordering a line pump truck or call your specific concrete provider to have them explain to you the exact pouring distance their trucks can achieve.
  • Question
    When do I add everything when creating ready mix concrete?
    Community Answer
    Talk to your local ready mix or precast professionals. Normally the batch order is large rock, then sand, then some water, then cement, then the rest of the water. Specialty chemical admixtures may be added at different points in the mixing process, as recommended by the chemical producer.
  • Question
    How much concrete would I need to cover a 7' by 7' area that's 6" deep?
    Community Answer
    7 ft x 7 ft x 0.5 ft = 24.5 ft3 / 27 ft3/yd = .907 yard. At least one yard and possibly extra needed, depending on the evenness of the excavation.
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