Concrete is a structural material used in buildings that are made up of a hard, chemically inert particle component known as aggregate (often sand and gravel) that is cemented together by cement and water.
In most structural buildings and constructions, two types of concrete are used: site-mixed concrete and ready-mixed concrete (RMC). Ready-mix concrete is made in a plant and supplied to the job site in an unhardened and plastic state, ready for usage. Ready-mix concrete is sold by volume, which is often measured in cubic meters.
As the name implies, site-mixed concrete is volumetric concrete that is created on the construction site. To achieve the appropriate strength, concrete components are combined in precise proportions. This method necessitates the use of formulas to determine the number of ingredients and processes required to achieve the desired uniformity. To avoid any quality concerns in the concrete, workers must be precise and meticulous with the material’s proportions.
Both concrete types are viable in construction projects, however depending on the needs of the project, one may have substantial advantages over the other. Here, we discuss the factors that differ Ready-Mix Concrete from Site-Mix Concrete.
- Time
Ready-Mix Concrete is less time consuming since it is delivered in ready use state whereas Site-Mixed Concrete consumers more time to prepare due to multiple processes involved and the settings time.
- Equipment
Ready-Mix Concrete does not require equipment at the construction site since it does not need to be prepared on-site. However, Site-Mix Concrete requires a weighing batch mixer to prepare the concrete on the construction site.
- Distribution
Within a project, it is possible to deliver Ready-Mix Concrete to many places. But Site-Mixed Concrete must be prepared at the exact place where it is going to be used to avoid the contamination and quality of concrete.
- Storage Requirements
Ready-Mix Concrete does not require extra storage space to store and prepare raw materials from scratch whereas Site-Mixed Concrete requires specific space to store the materials and protect them.
- Waste
Talking about the waste factor, there is less chance of wastage of Ready-Mix Concrete since the concrete is used in a specific volume to be used on the site. However, Site-Mixed Concrete always comes with material loss during the time of mixing and storage as well.
- Quality
Since the Ready-Mixed Concrete is prepared in an automated and controlled environment, the quality of concrete is consistent. However, continuous supervision is required to prepare Site-Mixed Concrete among the batched. So there are high chances of preparing inconsistent concrete every time.
- Work Force
To pour and compact the Ready-Mixed Concrete, skilled labor is required, however, more manpower and time is required to prepare and pour the Site-Mixed Concrete at the construction site.
- Batch Size
A large amount of Ready-Mix Concrete can be delivered and used at a time but mixing a large amount of concrete on the construction site is difficult and there is a high chance of damaging the concrete.
- Site Location
If the batching facility is located a long distance away from the construction site, the concrete will require retardants and other admixtures to keep it from setting. Transportation costs will rise, and there may be quality issues in the case of Ready-Mix Concrete. All materials and mixing equipment must be transported to the building site in case of Site-Mixed Concrete.
Overall, despite its increased cost, ready-mix concrete is often preferable for many jobs. When concrete is manufactured in a factory environment, it has the greater quality and less fluctuation between batches. Another important issue is the project’s location: transportation requirements influence which type of concrete is best suited for a project.
So, Ready-mix concrete is recommended for large projects that require a large volume of concrete. Ready-Mix Concrete is being used widely in Nepal too because of the increase in large construction projects. Best quality Ready-Mix Concrete in Nepal is produced by Panchakanya Group and is used in almost all large construction projects in Nepal. Therefore, ready mixed concrete is used widely and is more applicable especially with the growth in construction projects.
