Ready mix concrete is one of the most widely used building materials in the UK. Whether you are laying a driveway, building foundations, or working on a large commercial site, understanding what it is, how it is made, and how the service works will help your project go smoothly.
What Is Ready Mix Concrete?
Ready mix concrete is concrete prepared at a specialist plant before it reaches your site. A professional batching facility produces it to a precise recipe and delivers it in a rotating drum truck, ready to pour. Each batch is made to a specific mix design so the concrete meets the strength, durability, and workability your project requires.
The core ingredients are Portland cement (the binder), fine aggregate (sand), coarse aggregate (gravel or crushed stone), water, and admixtures when needed. Admixtures modify properties such as setting time, workability, or frost resistance. Aggregates make up roughly 60 to 75% of the total volume and are chosen to suit the application.
Common UK strength grades run from C20 for paths and garden slabs up to C40 and above for structural work such as foundations, beams, and columns. The Concrete Centre provides useful guidance on how ready mixed concrete is specified for different project types.
How It Is Made
At the batching plant, automated systems weigh and combine raw materials in exact quantities using load cells and control software. This precision is very difficult to replicate manually on site. Before any batch leaves the plant, quality control checks are carried out, including slump tests, compressive strength tests on sample cubes, and air content measurements. Only batches that meet the required standards are approved for delivery.
The concrete is then loaded into a rotating drum truck. The drum keeps it moving during transit to prevent premature setting. Drivers follow planned routes to minimise travel time and protect the quality of the mix.
The Service: Ordering to Delivery
When you order, you will need to confirm the volume required, the intended use, your preferred delivery time, and any site access restrictions. Before you call, use our concrete volume calculator to work out how much you need. Adding 5 to 10% on top of your calculated figure is good practice to allow for variations in depth and minor wastage.
Ready mix concrete has a working window of around 90 minutes from mixing, so you need to be fully prepared before the truck arrives. For a full checklist of things to think about, read our guide on what to consider when ordering ready mix concrete.
Express Concrete operates four plants across London, which means shorter travel times for most customers:
- Barking Plant — East London: Dagenham, East Ham, Ilford, Stratford
- Erith Plant — South East London: Bexley, Dartford, Sidcup, Woolwich
- Wembley Plant — North West London: Acton, Ealing, Harrow, Hendon
- Chessington Plant — South West London and Surrey: Kingston, Wimbledon, Epsom, Guildford
How to Use It on Site
Good results depend on preparation. Clear the area of debris and standing water, compact the ground, and build sturdy, watertight formwork. If the ground is very dry, dampen it lightly before pouring to prevent moisture being drawn out of the concrete too quickly.
Pour from the corners or edges and work towards the centre. Use a vibrator to remove trapped air pockets, moving it slowly through the mix. Avoid over-vibrating, which can cause the aggregates to separate. Level with a screed board and finish with a float.
Curing starts immediately after placing. Keep the surface damp for at least seven days by spraying it with water or covering it with a damp cloth. In cold weather, use insulated blankets to prevent frost damage. Concrete reaches around 75% of its design strength at seven days and full strength at 28 days.
When to Use Ready Mix
Ready mix is the right choice for most jobs above roughly half a cubic metre, for any structural work, and whenever you need consistent, guaranteed quality. For very small repairs, bagged mix may be more practical. For everything else, a professional ready mix service saves time, reduces waste, and removes the guesswork.
