Short-load and ready-mix deliveries are excellent concrete solutions in their own ways. Learn the differences and how to choose the best solution for your concrete project.
Without concrete, building garden paths and sturdy home additions would be impossible.
Although concrete is a crucial part of building plans, it’s also one of the most challenging. A concrete pour sets the tone for your entire home improvement project. Done incorrectly, a concrete pour can create a string of additional problems in the future.
Whether you’re a homeowner or contractor, picking the right concrete delivery is crucial – for your project and budget.
The two most common types of concrete deliveries are short-load and ready-mix.
- Short-load concrete is commonly used by homeowners and small residential contractors for small to moderate-sized projects where the concrete is mixed on-site.
- Ready-mix concrete is often used by commercial contractors for large-scale projects where the concrete is mixed at a mixing plant.
Let’s take a look at the differences between short-load and ready-mix concrete delivery below.
Short Load Concrete
A short-load concrete delivery is best for small residential and commercial projects that require small quantities of concrete. At Arnold Ready Mix, we can deliver 1-11 yards of concrete to your job site in a single trip.
What to Expect: During a short-load delivery, concrete providers drive a truck (either a volumetric or mini-barrel) to your job site, where the company staff will mix the concrete on-site. You (or your staff) are then responsible for laying the concrete in the desired location.
Because it can take hours to mix concrete by hand, having the mixture prepared for you on-site saves enormous amounts of time (and money) in the long run.
Many People Choose Short-Load Deliveries for:
- Walkways
- Garden Walls
- Small Slabs
- Retaining Walls
- Outdoor Steps
- Footings
- Patios
Ready-Mix Concrete Delivery
Ready-mix concrete deliveries are best for specialty and commercial projects that call for a specific type of concrete.
What to Expect: When a ready-mix concrete order is placed in Jefferson County, clients set a date and time to deliver their concrete. On the day of fulfillment, the concrete mixture is prepared at a “batching location.” Because the concrete is prepared at the mixing plant, the quality of the finished product is much higher than that of a short-load delivery. Because the concrete travels from the mixing plant, however, it must be poured immediately upon arriving at the job site.
Some of the most common ready-mix concrete projects include:
- Commercial slabs
- Commercial retaining walls
- Large footings
- Concrete structures
Short-load and ready-mix deliveries are excellent concrete solutions in their own ways. Short-load concrete deliveries are best for small to moderate residential projects, while ready-mix concrete deliveries are more suitable for large commercial projects with special specifications. For the best results, homeowners who are uncomfortable laying their own concrete should work with a licensed contractor to design and build their projects.
Plan your concrete pour with professional help. Our team can help you calculate the amount of concrete needed for your project and schedule delivery on your preferred pour date. Call 636-464-1888 today to get a quote from our staff.
