Differences Between Ready Mix and Site Mix Concrete

Differences Between Ready Mix and Site Mix Concrete

Ready mix concrete and site mix concrete are two types of concrete used in construction projects. The main difference between these two types of concrete is the way they are prepared and delivered to the construction site.

Ready-mix concrete, as the name suggests, is concrete that is pre-mixed and delivered to the construction site.

The concrete is mixed in a batching plant, where various ingredients such as cement, water, and aggregates are measured and mixed together to produce a consistent quality of concrete.

Once the concrete is mixed, it is transported to the construction site in a truck mixer. Ready-mix concrete is ideal for large construction projects that require a high volume of concrete to be poured in a short amount of time.

Site-mix concrete, on the other hand, is concrete that is mixed on the construction site. The ingredients are delivered to the site and mixed together using a concrete mixer.

Site-mix concrete is suitable for small to medium-sized construction projects that require a lower volume of concrete.

Both types of concrete have their advantages and disadvantages. Ready-mix concrete is more expensive than site-mix concrete, but it is more convenient and saves time on the construction site.

Ready-mix concrete also produces a consistent quality of concrete, which can be important for large construction projects.

Site-mix concrete, on the other hand, is cheaper than ready-mix concrete and is more suitable for smaller construction projects.

Site-mix concrete also allows for more flexibility in terms of adjusting the mix design and can be useful for projects that require different types of concrete mixes.

In summary, the choice between ready-mix concrete and site-mix concrete will depend on the specific requirements of the construction project, such as the volume of concrete needed, the location of the construction site, and the time constraints.

Difference Between Ready Mix Concrete Vs Site Mix Concrete

Comparision between Ready mix concrete and site-mix concrete,

Sr. No.	Activity	Site mixed concrete	Ready Mixed Concrete
1	Raw materials required at the location	Near site	At batching plant
2	Time	Less time required; as it is delivered ready for placement	More time is required; as it has to be mixed thoroughly
3	Weigh batching	Manually	Computerized
4	Accuracy while batching materials	Approximate	Computerized
5	Adjustment for moisture	Manually	Computerized
6	W/c ratio	Manually	Computerized
7	Admixture Dosage	Manually	Computerized
8	Discharge of concrete	On platform	Transit mixer or Pump
9	Degree of Control over Processes	Medium	Excellent
10	Yield of concrete	Variable	Consistent through all batches
11	Selection and Testing of Raw materials by	Client	Concrete supplier
12	Testing of Fresh Concrete at the interval of	Per 25 batches	Each batch
13	Storage of Materials	At various location	At single location
14	Space requirements	Large	Comparatively less
15	Delivery of Concrete	Manually	Transit mixers
16	Distribution of concrete	Multiple sites located in the vicinity of central batching plant	Can be distributed at a single site only
17	Mode of Placing Concrete	Manually OR Hoist OR Crane	Pumping
18	Wastage of material	Minimal	Material is wasted during storage and mixing at site
19	Size of a single batch of concrete	140 L	1000 L
20	Rate of Discharge of Concrete	3 m3/hr/mixer	3 m3/hr/plant
21	Rate of Placing Concrete	1.5 m3/hr	As needed; < 56 m3/hr

What Is Concrete?

Concrete is a mixture of the owing constituents- fine aggregates, coarse aggregates, water, and cement or lime.

Admixtures like calcium chloride are also added sometimes in the concrete to modify its properties like setting time, strength, etc.

Fine aggregates also called sand are particles below size 4.75 mm and greater than 0.2 mm that are obtained from river deposits. Coarse aggregates include crushed stones, stone boulders, gravels, etc.

Both fine aggregates and coarse aggregates are inert materials while the other two materials- water and cement are active materials.

Cement is generally used as the main binding agent in concrete. Many types of cement are also available in the market, which may be used as per the need.

Lime can also be used in place of cement. However, it is not much preferred in recent times

What Is Site Mix Concrete

Site mix concrete refers to the process of preparing concrete at the construction site itself, rather than having it pre-mixed and delivered by a ready mix concrete supplier.

In site mix concrete, the raw materials like cement, aggregates, water, and admixtures are combined in the appropriate proportions and then mixed together to form the desired consistency.

This can be done using portable mixers or mixer trucks, depending on the volume of concrete required.

Site mix concrete requires more manual labor and equipment than ready mix concrete, and the quality can be variable depending on the skill of the workers.

However, it may be more cost-effective and convenient for smaller projects or projects in remote locations where transportation of pre-mixed concrete is not feasible.

Overall, the choice between site mix concrete and ready mix concrete depends on the specific needs of the project, such as volume requirements, quality standards, location, and budget.

Read More: What is a Concrete Pump? How it’s Better Than Normal Placing?

What Is Ready Mix Concrete?

Ready-mix concrete, abbreviated as RMC, is manufactured in either a batching plant or a factory where the constituents of concrete are batched as per the proportion mentioned and mixed together.

Then, this mixed concrete ready for placing is transported to the site of work through transit mixers mounted on the trucks.

The very first ready mix concrete was developed as early as 1930 itself, however, it gained popularity after 1960.

The first RMC plant in India started in 1992 in Pune. Nowadays, ready mix concrete is widely used.

The concrete is delivered to the site in the form of freshly mixed concrete that is still in the plastic state (i.e. Unhardened state).

No other treatment to the concrete is required after it is delivered to the site; it can be placed directly in the formwork.

RMC is bought and sold in terms of the volume calculated in cubic meters.

Advantages of RMC

• Centralized concrete batching plant is established from where the concrete can be easily supplied to several sites.
• As the constituents are batched and mixed with precision, a better quality of concrete is produced.
• Also, the consistency in the quality of concrete can be maintained precisely.
• With a better quality of concrete, construction speed is increased and maintenance costs are reduced too.
• It can solve the problem of mixing concrete in narrow roads. The plant can be located in the remote industrial areas and the concrete ready to be placed is delivered to the site of place.
• The space consumed by the materials stored on the site is liberated.
• Hiring or procurement of machinery for concrete preparation is not required in the case of RMC.
• The noise and dust pollution at the site of work is reduced, as concrete mixers are mostly noisy.
• The labor engaged in the production of the concrete is also eliminated.
• Basic materials are not much wasted in the plant as compared to the site.
• Modern construction techniques can be easily implemented while using RMC.
• For mass concreting and construction work at narrow sites, RMC is quite useful.

Disadvantages of RMC

• It should be ensured first that the basic road and access roads to the site are not blocked.
• Traveling time from the plant to the site is crucial in the case of RMC. Batching of materials is done at the central plant. However, the mixing is carried out while the truck is in transport. If the time is not properly calculated and managed, then the concrete would not be appropriately mixed when it reaches the site.
• More careful planning is required as compared to on-site concrete as the mixed concrete ready for placement arrives at site and delay in placement may result in concrete starting to harden before placement.
• If there is traffic on the route, the setting of concrete may occur. The unpredictable nature of traffic may prove to be a problem during the transport of RMC.

Read More: Construction Joints and Types of Joints in Concrete

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the differences between ready mix concrete and site mix concrete lie in the method of preparation and delivery.

Ready mix concrete is produced in a batching plant and transported to the construction site in a mixer truck, while site mix concrete is prepared at the construction site itself using portable mixers or mixer trucks.

Ready mix concrete is preferred for large projects due to its consistent quality, while site mix concrete is suitable for smaller projects or those in remote locations where transportation of pre-mixed concrete is not feasible.

Both types of concrete have their advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between them depends on the specific needs of the project.

It is important to carefully consider these factors to make an informed decision on the type of concrete to use for a construction project.

FAQs:

You May Also Like

• What is a Concrete Pump? How it’s Better Than Normal Placing?
• Grade of Concrete – Their Ratio, Uses & Suitability
• Vacuum Concrete – Procedure, Pros & Cons
• Concrete Mix Design Calculation as Per IS Code -10262: 2019