Why It's Not A Good Idea To Mix Your Own Concrete

If you are planning a project that uses concrete, you might have noticed the affordable bags of concrete mix that you can purchase at just about any home improvement store. It might seem like a cost-effective option to get your project done, but mixing your own concrete really isn't a good idea unless you have the right equipment and know what you are doing. These are a few reasons why.

You Won't Get Consistent Results

Without the right equipment -- which can be very expensive and quite difficult to use -- you will probably have to mix your concrete in multiple batches. No matter how hard you try, it will be very difficult to get them all to the same consistency. This can cause serious issues when you start pouring your concrete, since you'll be using concrete with different consistencies for the same project. When it's all brought on a concrete truck, however, you'll know that it's all the same.

You Might Mix it Wrong

You might think that you'll get the right results by mixing your concrete according to the directions on the bag. However, these directions generally include varying amounts of water to be added, leaving you to figure it out yourself. If you don't handle concrete on a regular basis, you might have a hard time deciding on the right mix, and you could end up with concrete that has too much or too little water in it. A concrete company that delivers ready mixed concrete will ensure that the concrete is mixed right, however.

It's More Laborious Than You Think

Mixing up a bag of concrete mix with some water might not seem like a big deal. However, it can be backbreaking work to mix the concrete correctly. Then, actually pouring the concrete out of the bucket that you mixed it in can be even harder. This is a good way to hurt yourself -- or just plain ruin your weekend off from work. When you hire a concrete company that delivers concrete that has already been mixed, however, your concrete will be pumped to where it is needed with minimal work required on your part.

Before you go out and purchase a lot of concrete mix to mix up your own, you should think about these potential problems. If you are like many homeowners, you're sure to find it worthwhile to hire a concrete company to bring you a batch of pre-mixed concrete that is ready for use instead.


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