My name is Mike Day and I own Day's Concrete Floors, Inc. Below, I'm going to share with you my ready mix concrete prices for 2018.
Here's what I pay per yard of concrete for 3000 psi, 3500 psi, and 4000 psi concrete.
- 3000 psi concrete mix is $101.00 per yard
- 3500 psi concrete mix is $105.00 per yard
- 4000 psi concrete mix is $113.00 per yard
One of the ready mix concrete companies I purchase concrete from.
Are all ready mix suppliers concrete prices the same?
The simple answer to that question is NO.
I live in Maine, these are average concrete prices for my area. Depending on where you live, the average price of concrete per yard will vary from the prices I'm showing you here.
Here's what my ready mix suppliers charge me for 3000 psi concrete.
I purchase concrete from two different ready mix companies. Auburn Concrete charges me $108.00 per yard ($106.00 with discount) and Sargent Materials charges me $101.00 per yard for 3000 psi 3/4 aggregate concrete mix.
I use this mix for most of my residential house and garage floors. This is a standard floor mix for this area.
You can take a look at my actual invoices below.
(Video) DIY Concrete Mixing Ratios to make 3000, 3500, 4000, & 4500 psi concrete |
I know there's a few dollars per yard difference in price between the two companies. If I were pouring big yardage jobs that would play a part in my decision on who I use that day.
Since most of my pours are under 40 yards, I try to use the company that's closest to where I'm working that day
Here's what I get charged for 3500 psi concrete.
I use 3500 psi concrete mixes for garage slabs that are used for heavier vehicles than your standard car or pickup truck.
I also use it to pour all my floors when the weather starts getting colder. It has more cement per yard than a 3000 mix which helps it set-up faster.
Take a look at my invoices to see what I get charged for 3500 psi concrete.
If you look closely at the invoices, you'll see I get charged $105.00 per yard for 3500 psi 3/4 aggregate mix and $114.50 for 3500 psi 3/8 aggregate mix.
The smaller 3/8 aggregate mixes are always more $ per yard than the 3/4 aggregate mixes. This is true for all the psi mix designs.
I usually only use a 3/8 aggregate mix when I'm stamping concrete. The smaller stone in the mix is a little easier to stamp than a larger stone mix.
These are my ready mix prices for 4000 psi concrete.
If you take a look at the invoices below, you'll see I pay $113.00 per yard for 4000 psi 3/4 aggregate concrete and I pay $117.00 per yard for 4000 psi 3/8 aggregate concrete.
As you can see, the price per yard of concrete goes up as the concrete's strength (psi) goes up. This is because there's more cement used to make a yard of concrete as the psi increases.
I use 4000 psi concrete for all my exterior concrete jobs and some interior floors. It's a more durable mix than the 3000/3500 mixes and holds up better to Maine's many freeze/thaw cycles in the Spring and Fall seasons.
I use the 3/4 aggregate mix for concrete sidewalks, driveways, pool decks, patios, fuel station pads, and heavy truck pads.
I only use the 3/8 aggregate mix when I do stamped concrete.
How many yards of concrete are in a truck?
There's two different kinds of ready mix concrete trucks. A front discharge truck and a rear discharge truck.
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The front discharge truck can hold up to 15 yards of concrete and the rear discharge truck can hold 11 yards.
The amounts will vary slightly depending on the manufacturer of the truck, but these amounts are generally the maximum capacity they can carry at one time.
In Maine, because of weight restrictions on our paved roads, the maximum amount of concrete a front or rear discharge truck can deliver to our jobs is 10.5 yards per truck.
Does it cost more for a small load of concrete?
Yes it does, but every ready mix concrete company has their own policy when charging extra for small loads.
For example, when I have a small job and order a truck with 5 yards or less from Auburn Concrete, they just charge me for what I order. No small load charge from them. That's not the norm.
When I order 5 yards or less from Sargent Materials, they charge me for the amount of yards ordered plus $40.00 per yard for each yard under 5.
So a 1 yard load from them cost me the price of that yard, plus $160.00 extra.
Are there any other "extra" charges I should be aware of?
Ready mix companies usually have a maximum amount of time "per yard" you'll have to empty the truck. 7 minutes is about the average.
If you take more than 7 minutes per yard, they may charge you an hourly rate. This could be as much as $75.00 per hr. or more.
Some other things you'll get charged extra for are:
- Fibermesh reinforcement
- Calcium Chloride (liquid or flake) helps the concrete harden faster
- Winter delivery - They charge extra for using hot water in the mix
- Fuel surcharge - Some charge extra to help off-set the high price of fuel
- Saturday Charge - Some charge extra per yard and some charge a flat rate
For a complete list of extra charges, check out my page on how much does concrete cost.
How do I know how much concrete or order?
The easiest way to determine how many yards of concrete you'll need is to use one of my concrete calculators.
I have calculators you can use to figure the yardage for floors, walls, slabs, cylinders, footings, and even for filling block walls.
Another way to figure concrete is to use the formula:
Length x Width x Depth / 27 = how many yards you'll need.
The above formula dimensions are in feet. 27 is how many cubic feet are in a cubic yard of concrete.
An example would be:
A 24' x 24' x 4" thick garage floor would take how many yards of concrete?
24 x 24 = 576 square feet
576 x .35 = 201.6 cubic feet (4 inches is .35 feet)
201.6 / 27 = 7.46 cubic yards to do the garage floor
You can also figure cubic meters of concrete using the above formula but instead of dividing the cubic feet by 27, multiply the cubic feet by .0283
201.6 cubic feet x .0283 = 5.7 cubic meters of concrete
How many 80lb bags of concrete does it take to make a yard?
If you've got a really small project and are thinking of buying 80lb bags of Quikrete or Sakrete and mixing them yourself, it'll take 45 of them to equal a yard of concrete.
A cubic yard of concrete weighs about 3600 pounds. 45 bags x 80 pounds also = 3600 pounds.
An 80 pound bag of Quikrete cost about $4.50 at Home Depot. So 45 bags x $4.50 = $202.50.
Ordering 1 yard of concrete from a ready mix company will probably cost more than $200.00 (you would have to call them for an estimated cost), but mixing 45 bags of concrete isn't going to be an easy task.
How do I order ready mix concrete?
Ordering concrete from a ready mix company is really quite easy.
First, you'll have to search for the ready mix company nearest you.
You can use the search term READY MIX CONCRETE (YOUR TOWN OR CITY) enter the actual town or city you live in.
When you find a concrete company near you, call and ask for the concrete dispatcher.
The concrete dispatcher is the person who takes the orders, schedules the time of delivery and loads the trucks.
Make sure you call about a week in advance of needing it.
What is the price to have a concrete slab installed?
I've written a whole page about concrete slab prices. Check that out to see what I charge to install many different sizes of concrete slabs.
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FAQs
What is the difference between 3000 psi and 4000 psi concrete? ›
The more cement added to the mix, the higher the PSI rating of the concrete once it has cured. For example, a traditional 3000 PSI concrete mix contains 5 sacks of cement. To achieve 4000 PSI it takes 6 sacks of cement. The added cement is also why higher PSI mixes are more expensive.
What is 3500 psi concrete used for? ›3,500 PSI. Although less likely for general home use, where 3,500 PSI concrete shines is in slab foundations and footings. This is also a good choice wherever heavy loads are expected to be stored or moved, like RV pads.
Is Ready Mix Concrete cheaper? ›Since it is more convenient, ready mix concrete is more expensive than site mix concrete. When buying, it's important that you buy enough to account for any spillage during your project. We recommend you buy 5 to 10% more than you need to avoid running out.
What is 3000 psi concrete used for? ›Concrete footings and slabs on grade typically require a concrete of 3,500 to 4,000 psi. Suspended slabs, beams, and girders (as often found in bridges) require 3,500 to 5,000 psi. Traditional concrete walls and columns tend to range from 3,000 to 5,000 psi, while 4,000 to 5,000 psi is needed for pavement.
How long before you can drive on 3000 PSI concrete? ›Concrete professionals suggest waiting at least seven days after the crew is finished before parking or driving your personal vehicle(s) on your new concrete. The reason for this is because one week is the time period it takes for your new concrete to achieve 90% of its full potential strength.
What PSI concrete should I use for driveway? ›The typical concrete strength used for a driveway is in the 3000 psi to 4000 psi range, although temperate areas of the country may use lower strengths. Contractors, when ordering ready mixed concrete, should advise the producer of the intended use for the concrete.
What concrete mix is the strongest? ›C40 concrete is the strongest and most durable mix and for good reason townhomes for sale san diego. It can handle almost any abuse, including withstanding corrosion, making it ideal for farm-based and laboratory environments.
How much weight can a 3000 PSI concrete hold? ›A concrete floor, with a minimum thickness of four inches can hold upto 3,000 PSI compressive strength. Weight should not exceed 40 lbs/sq ft on an undetermined 4-inch slab.
How long does it take 3500 PSI concrete to cure? ›Concrete takes 28 days to cure to full strength. If you buy 3500 PSI concrete, that means the mix has 3500 pounds per square inch of compressive strength at 28 days. This assumes you mixed the concrete with the right amount of water and cured it properly.
What's the difference between concrete and ready-mix? ›Ready-mix concrete is delivered to the worksite, ready to use. This saves time and money. Site-mixed concrete, on the other hand, is prepared at the worksite. This process takes longer as the steps to prepare the concrete for pouring are done on-site.
How much concrete is in a truck? ›
Concrete trucks weigh an average of 25,000 lbs. by themselves and up to 40,000 lbs. when carrying a full load. Their capacity is around 8 cubic yards, but can be up to 10 cubic yards if fully-loaded.
Is Ready-Mix Concrete good? ›To conclude, ready-mix concrete is usually better for most construction projects despite the increasing costs. It offers a much higher quality, including a variation between batches during concrete preparation in the plant environment.
Is 4000 psi concrete good for patio? ›Foundations, Driveways, Patios, RV Slabs, Sidewalks
A strength of 4,000 psi (pounds per square inch) after a one month cure is the industry minimum for concrete driveways, slabs, and sidewalks. However, 4,500 psi as the ideal.
Rounded off it's basically a 1 : 3 : 3 mix ratio
A sack or "bag" of cement weighs 94 pounds so this tells us a 3000 psi concrete mix is also equal to a 5.5 sack mix of concrete.
Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) is a cementitious, concrete material that has a minimum specified compressive strength of 17,000 pounds per square inch (120 MPa) with specified durability, tensile ductility and toughness requirements; fibers are generally included in the mixture to achieve specified requirements ...
When should I start watering my concrete? ›Many construction specialists recommend watering it down five to ten times per day, for the first week, starting 2-4 hours after it has been poured. The first two to four hours lets the concrete “finish”, which refers to the setting process.
How thick should a concrete driveway be? ›As for thickness, non-reinforced pavement four inches thick is standard for passenger car driveways. For heavier vehicles, a thickness of five inches is recommended. To eliminate standing water, the driveway should be sloped towards the street a minimum of one percent, or 1/8 inch per foot, for proper drainage.
What if it rains after pouring concrete? ›HOW DOES RAIN AFFECT CONCRETE? Rain falling on top of freshly laid concrete can damage the surface and compromise a level and floated finish. Even worse, if too much extra water works its way into the concrete mix, this can result in weak concrete overall.
Does thicker concrete crack less? ›Concrete of a thickness of less than 5″ is more prone to cracking, unfortunately this includes nearly all the poured slabs out there. Slabs 4″ thick are twice as resistant to fractures (heavy loads from above as well as lifting from below) than are 3″ slabs.
Should rebar be used in driveways? ›The presence of rebar in a concrete project gives the final project considerably more strength than concrete alone. This strength is crucial for things like buildings, roads and driveways. Rebar is not necessary for every concrete project.
What is the best concrete for a driveway? ›
Portland Cement: Portland cement is a material commonly used to create concrete. It acts much like a strong glue, providing a reliable bond that makes it a popular choice for laying driveways and pathways.
Does adding more cement make concrete stronger? ›You can add more Portland cement to bagged concrete to make it stronger. You can also add hydrated lime. To make the strongest concrete, the sand should be sourced from volcanic lava that has a high silica content.
Which is more stronger white cement or GREY cement? ›Production of white concrete with a compressive strength between 25 and 50 Mpa is possible by using white cement. It was also found out in study that white concrete had higher compressive strength than normal gray concrete. The strength in opc cement comes from calcium aluminate present in it.
What is the mix ratio for 3500 PSI concrete? ›The concrete mix ratio to create 3500 psi concrete is 1:2.5:3. This means 1 part cement, 2 parts sand and 3 parts stone. Different strength concrete mixes have different ratios. I recommend using Portland cement but any brand cement will work.
Do you need rebar for 4 inch slab? ›Generally, you do not need rebar for a 4-inch slab. But if one should choose to reinforce their concrete patio, the reinforcement bar they should use should be a size #3, which is 3/8 in diameter. Generally, rebar has an immense impact on concrete.
How much weight will a 4 inch concrete driveway support? ›Concrete driveways are typically poured four inches thick, giving the concrete driveway enough strength to withstand loads of regular vehicles (up to approximately 8,000lbs).
How long can concrete sit between pours? ›Fresh concrete shall not be placed against in situ concrete that has been in position for more than 30 minutes unless a construction joint is formed.....
How often should you water new concrete? ›To put it simply, the goal is to keep the concrete saturated during the first 28 days. The first 7 days after installation you should spray the slab with water 5-10 times per day, or as often as possible. Once the concrete is poured the curing process begins immediately.
What is 6000 psi concrete used for? ›PSI 6000 can be used for any application requiring concrete in a minimum thickness of 50 mm (2”), such as slabs, footings, steps, columns, walls and patios. Each - 25 kg (55 lb) bag of QUIKRETE® PSI 6000 will yield approximately 12.2 L (0.43 cu ft) of mixed concrete.
What happens if you dont water concrete? ›Concrete that is not moist-cured at all dries too rapidly, and reaches less than half its potential design strength. It will also have a greater number of shrinkage cracks.
What are the disadvantages of ready mix concrete? ›
Disadvantages of Ready-Mix Concrete
Requires huge initial investment. Not suitable for small projects (less quantity of concrete is required). Need an effective transportation system from the batching plant to the job site.
Yes, RMC is little bit costlier than conventional concrete but it has many benefits than the conventional concrete. in terms of time, effort and hassle saved, RMC is definitely cheaper. Not much RMC is just little bit costly than the conventional concrete because it cut the cost of labor and Increase the quality.
Is it cheaper to mix your own concrete or have it delivered? ›Whether you're pouring concrete countertops or a patio out back, it may be cheaper to pour concrete yourself rather than hiring someone. Whether you'll save much in doing so depends largely on the amount of concrete needed and the amount of time you have to invest in your concrete project.
What is the cost of 1 yd of concrete? ›How much is a yard of concrete? When estimating the cost of concrete, use $125 per yard as a ballpark figure. However, concrete prices differ by region, and you'll have to pay a ready mix delivery fee, plus factor in labor charges if hiring a contractor.
Can you pour concrete over dirt? ›Long story short, yes you can pour concrete over dirt.
Is there a difference between concrete and cement? ›What is the difference between cement and concrete? Although the terms cement and concrete often are used interchangeably, cement is actually an ingredient of concrete. Concrete is a mixture of aggregates and paste. The aggregates are sand and gravel or crushed stone; the paste is water and portland cement.
What is the minimum amount of ready-mix concrete? ›Is there a minimum amount I can order? We usually operate around a minimum order of 0.5 m3 of concrete – roughly the same as a large shed base.
Can I use post mix as concrete? ›Post Mix Concrete is a versatile, pre-mixed and fast setting concrete product, ideal for both DIY and professional use. In the garden it provides strong foundations for gate posts and fence posts without the need for measuring different materials or a cement mixer.
What is the difference between 3500 and 4000 PSI concrete? ›3500 PSI is less common in sidewalks and patios. It is more often used for foundation footings, slabs, or driveways/parking areas for heavy vehicles like an RV. 4000 PSI is a great option for serious home workshops. For instance, if you are planning on installing a car lift, or have heavy equipment secured to the slab.
Which concrete is best for slab? ›GRADE: C25 CONCRETE
It is also the ideal concrete for domestic slab foundations for house and bungalow floors.
Is 3000 PSI concrete good for driveways? ›
3,000 PSI. The residential workhorse of concrete, 3,000 PSI can be used for driveways, patios and sidewalks. Its durability will help shrug off the freeze-thaw cycle of harsh winters. This is a fine choice for any general construction use.
How many bags of cement do I need for 4000 PSI concrete? ›Adhere to the first principle by using a minimum cement content of 6 bags per cubic yard of concrete (4,000 PSI).
What is 3000 PSI concrete used for? ›Concrete footings and slabs on grade typically require a concrete of 3,500 to 4,000 psi. Suspended slabs, beams, and girders (as often found in bridges) require 3,500 to 5,000 psi. Traditional concrete walls and columns tend to range from 3,000 to 5,000 psi, while 4,000 to 5,000 psi is needed for pavement.
What happens if I add sugar to concrete? ›Sugar increases the setting time of cement up to 1.33 hrs at dosage level of 0.06% by wt of cement. There will be no effect on workability, compaction by the use of sugar as admixture in concrete. Higher long-term compressive strength is achieved in concrete by the use of sugar as admixture.
How much weight can a 3000 PSI concrete hold? ›A concrete floor, with a minimum thickness of four inches can hold upto 3,000 PSI compressive strength. Weight should not exceed 40 lbs/sq ft on an undetermined 4-inch slab.
Is 4000 psi concrete good for driveway? ›The typical concrete strength used for a driveway is in the 3000 psi to 4000 psi range, although temperate areas of the country may use lower strengths.
How long before you can drive on 3000 PSI concrete? ›Concrete professionals suggest waiting at least seven days after the crew is finished before parking or driving your personal vehicle(s) on your new concrete. The reason for this is because one week is the time period it takes for your new concrete to achieve 90% of its full potential strength.
How much weight can a 3000 PSI concrete hold? ›A concrete floor, with a minimum thickness of four inches can hold upto 3,000 PSI compressive strength. Weight should not exceed 40 lbs/sq ft on an undetermined 4-inch slab.
What is the strongest PSI concrete you can get? ›The material can be formulated to provide compressive strengths in excess of 29,000 pounds per square inch (psi) (200 MPa).
What is 4500 PSI concrete used for? ›Garage Floors and Interior Floors
For both interior floors and garage floors, the minimum strength recommendation is 2,500 psi, however, similarly to slab projects, an ideal standard is 4,500 psi, especially for garage floors which must sustain much more wear and tear and heavy machinery.
What PSI should concrete slab be? ›
CONCRETE STRENGTH
Minimum compressive strength for garage and carport slabs is 3,500 psi and for basement floors and other interior slabs 2,500 psi.
Concrete of a thickness of less than 5″ is more prone to cracking, unfortunately this includes nearly all the poured slabs out there. Slabs 4″ thick are twice as resistant to fractures (heavy loads from above as well as lifting from below) than are 3″ slabs.
Do you need rebar for 4 inch slab? ›Generally, you do not need rebar for a 4-inch slab. But if one should choose to reinforce their concrete patio, the reinforcement bar they should use should be a size #3, which is 3/8 in diameter. Generally, rebar has an immense impact on concrete.
How much weight will a 4 inch concrete driveway support? ›Concrete driveways are typically poured four inches thick, giving the concrete driveway enough strength to withstand loads of regular vehicles (up to approximately 8,000lbs).
What mix makes the strongest concrete? ›To make the strongest concrete, the sand should be sourced from volcanic lava that has a high silica content. This is not easy to locate, and I'd not worry about it. But you should get a bag of pure Portland cement and a bag of lime and add some of those two things. Both ingredients are inexpensive.
How many bags of cement do I need for 3000 PSI concrete? ›Rounded off it's basically a 1 : 3 : 3 mix ratio
A sack or "bag" of cement weighs 94 pounds so this tells us a 3000 psi concrete mix is also equal to a 5.5 sack mix of concrete.
Production of white concrete with a compressive strength between 25 and 50 Mpa is possible by using white cement. It was also found out in study that white concrete had higher compressive strength than normal gray concrete. The strength in opc cement comes from calcium aluminate present in it.
What is 8000 psi concrete used for? ›It is estimated that a 50-story structure with 4-foot diameter columns using 4000 psi concrete can reduce column diameters by approximately 33% by using 8000 psi concrete (Peterman). High –strength concrete is occasionally used in the construction of highway bridges.
How long does it take 4000 psi concrete to cure? ›Curing should be continued for a period of five days in warm weather of 70 degrees F (21 degrees C) or higher, or seven days in cold weather of 50 degrees F to 70 degrees F (10 degrees C to 20 degrees C). Protect concrete from freezing for at least 48 hours.
What is 6000 psi concrete used for? ›PSI 6000 can be used for any application requiring concrete in a minimum thickness of 50 mm (2”), such as slabs, footings, steps, columns, walls and patios. Each - 25 kg (55 lb) bag of QUIKRETE® PSI 6000 will yield approximately 12.2 L (0.43 cu ft) of mixed concrete.
What psi concrete is waterproof? ›
Concrete is considered waterproof at 4,400 psi. An engineered foundation known as Superior Walls is poured at 5,000 psi.
Can concrete be too strong? ›Concrete is a very brittle material. If it were not able to relieve its internal stresses by creep, almost all concrete would crack. The stronger the concrete, the greater these internal stresses and the lower the creep capacity.
Is 3000 psi concrete good for foundation? ›Contractors often use 3,000 PSI concrete – which is sturdy and lasts long – in general construction. This type of concrete can be used while damp. Concrete with PSI levels exceeding 3,500 is used for construction of foundations and floor slabs.