Ready-mixed concrete has some useful work advantages for your job. You don't have to worry about mixing concrete on-site. You order what you need and use it as soon as it arrives.
These mixes also have another advantage. You can add extra materials to them to change the way your concrete works. For example, concrete with a plasticizer admixture has some benefits you might find useful. What are they?
1. Get More Workable Concrete
While concrete is workable when it is wet, regular mixes limit the amount of time you have to get the concrete in the right places and states before it sets. Regular concrete can also be hard to pour and shape effectively in areas that aren't easily accessible or that have irregular shapes.
If you use a plasticizer admixture, then your ready mix has a better flow. The plasticizer makes the concrete more flexible and softer for longer. This mix is easier to pour and mold, even in difficult spots or builds. You get better coverage and more time to work with the concrete before it sets. This is particularly useful if you are laying decorative concrete surfaces.
2. Get a Better Concrete/Water Ratio
If you use a regular concrete mix, then you might have to add more water to the mix to change the concrete's properties. For example, concrete with a higher water content is easier to pump. However, the more water you add to concrete, the more you reduce its finished strength. Your concrete might be easier to deal with in a wet state if it contains more water; however, it might not be strong enough to do its job when it sets. Plus, if a mix contains too much water, then it might bleed as it dries. This bleeding can cause cracks as the concrete shrinks later.
Plasticized concrete makes things easier for you. Plasticizers automatically reduce the amount of water you need to add to a mix without making the wet concrete too stiff. You won't need to add more water to make the concrete more flexible. So its finished strength will be superior.
3. Get Extra Strength When You Need it
There are times when a regular concrete mix won't be strong enough for your build. For example, you might need a concrete wall or foundation to take in excess weight. You might find it hard to create the right weight-bearing load with a regular product.
You can easily adapt a plasticized mix to increase the strength of your finished concrete. You simply add less water to it to make the concrete stronger. The mix is still workable because of its plasticizer content; however, it will set harder and will have more strength.
To find out more about the benefits of using plasticizers, talk to ready-mix concrete suppliers.
Share17 February 2023
When I first moved into our house, I realized that the place needed a little bit of work. In addition to missing part of the back lawn, there was also an empty RV pad and a missing patio. I thought about what to do, and I realized that the best thing might be to hire a concrete contractor to make things right. After we got settled, we started pricing services. We were able to find an incredible contractor that we knew would do a good job. After he poured the pads, it was amazing to see how much better things looked. Read my blog for ideas on how to finish your property, so that you aren't left looking at an eyesore.