Ordering concrete is not as simple as calling a concrete supplier and telling them how many cubic yards of concrete is needed for your project. To order concrete, you will need to provide additional information to ensure that your mix is correct for your project. There are a million different mixes that can be selected and not all the mixes will work well in all situations. To determine what your concrete mix should be, it is helpful to ask and answer the following questions:

1. Determine the PSI needed. The higher the number, the higher the strength will be per square inch and the more expensive the concrete will be.
2. Do you need straight cement or Fly Ash?
3. Do you need air or non-air? Air is typically used for exterior use and non-air for interior use.
4. What slump should you order (1-3″, 3-5″, 5-8″). The higher the slump the easier the concrete will flow and the longer it will take to cure. Many things will be used to determine the slump requirement. Once example is if a line pump will be used.
5. Will the concrete be used for city, commercial, or residential?
6. Will a line pump be used? If yes, what will the diameter of the line pump be (2”, 3”, 3.5”, 4”, greater)?
7. What type of line pump will be used (line/trailer pump, traditional pump, place and boom, tele-belt)?
8. What type of finish will you be doing (sand finish, broom, stamped, decorative, hard troweled)?
9. What will be the usage (lite weight, post-tension slab, long distance pumping, mass concrete, temperature controlled, high early straight, etc.)?
10. Finally, what will the exposures look like? Will there be a sulfate report?

Answering the aforementioned questions will help the factory to send you the right concrete for your particular job. Ordering the wrong concrete can result in a host of issues that could impact the quality of your finished project and or the longevity of your new surface or foundation.