Ready-mix vs site-mixed
Ready-mix concrete is batched at a plant to a specified grade and delivered in a truck. Site-mixed concrete is made on site from cement, sand and stone, in a mixer or by hand. For a slab or a foundation, ready-mix is the normal choice; site-mixing suits small jobs.
The Building Regulations allow a 1:7 cement to aggregate mix by volume for small projects, for plain foundations (TGD A) and unreinforced ground floors (TGD C).
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Ready-mix and site-mixed side by side
| Ready-mix | Site-mixed | |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | Ordered by grade, C8/10 to C50/60 | Depends on batching by hand or by bucket |
| Quality check | Producer certified to I.S. EN 206, with a delivery docket | None, unless you test it |
| Quantity | Small loads from 1 m³; a minimum load charge under 6 m³ | As much as you can mix and place before it stiffens |
| Suits | Slabs, foundations, yards, driveways | Posts, small bases, repairs, places a truck can't reach |
| Regulations | Any grade the design calls for | 1:7 by volume allowed for plain foundations and unreinforced floors on small jobs |
What to tell the supplier
An order reads like C20/25 D20 S2: the strength class (20 N/mm² cylinder, 25 N/mm² cube), 20 mm maximum aggregate, and a medium slump. S2 is stiffer for controlled placing; S3 is easier to place and finish. Pumping needs a more workable mix.
- The volume: length × width × depth, plus 5 to 10% for uneven ground and waste
- The grade, aggregate size and slump, or the engineer's spec
- The Eircode, and how the truck gets in: 3 m width and 4 m height for a truck about 11 m long
- How it's placed: straight off the chute, by wheelbarrow, or by pump
- When: usually the first hour on site free for a full load, then about €15 per quarter hour
What ready-mix costs
Ready-mix is priced per load, from your Eircode, the mix and the volume. The quote includes the Defective Concrete Products Levy, which Revenue sets at 5% of the value at first supply, before VAT, since 1 September 2023. Ready-to-pour concrete is charged VAT at the reduced rate, not the standard rate.
Mixing on site
For small jobs, the bags: about €3.99 for a bag of concrete mix (sand and stone only) and €9.65 for 25 kg of cement. One thing applies to every mix: extra water reduces strength and durability and raises the risk of cracking.
Floors laid by the contractor who takes your call
Calls on this site ring JAM Floor Screeding: James Mulhall, based in Portlaoise, 25 years laying floors. Lines open Mon to Sat, 7am to 6pm. He pours concrete floors, slabs and foundations as well as screed. These are his jobs.
“JAM were punctual, professional and efficient and did an outstanding job on pouring our new floor as part of a renovation. Very highly recommend!”
“Excellent work, laser level finish, neat and tidy worker, highly recommend.”
“Top class work by james and his crew, highly recommend”
Quoted word for word from JAM Floor Screeding's Google reviews. Read them on Google
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Ready-mix vs site-mixed questions
Is ready-mix concrete better than mixing my own?
For slabs and foundations, ready-mix gives a certified grade and a docket. Site-mixing suits small jobs; the Building Regulations allow a 1:7 mix by volume for plain foundations and unreinforced floors on small projects.
What's the smallest ready-mix load?
Ready-mix comes in loads from 1 m³, with a minimum load charge for deliveries under 6 m³.
How much is ready-mix concrete per m³ in Ireland?
It's quoted per load, by location, mix and order size. The quote includes the 5% Defective Concrete Products Levy, and ready-to-pour concrete is at the reduced VAT rate (Revenue).
What does C20/25 D20 S2 mean?
Strength class C20/25 (20 N/mm² cylinder, 25 N/mm² cube), 20 mm maximum aggregate, slump class S2 (50 to 90 mm).
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