Summer has arrived, and across London, homeowners are cracking on with extension projects, loft conversions, and garden room builds. The warmer months bring longer days, more predictable weather, and the perfect conditions for concrete work to cure properly. If you’re planning a home improvement project this season, you’re certainly not alone.
But here’s what separates the projects that finish on time from those that drag into autumn: the quality and reliability of your materials supply. More specifically, how you source your concrete can make or break your build schedule. This is where working with a trusted ready mix concrete supplier becomes genuinely valuable.
Why Summer Is Prime Time for Home Extensions
There’s good reason why builders and homeowners alike target the summer months for major construction work. Concrete needs temperatures above 5°C to cure effectively, and the consistent warmth between May and September provides ideal conditions. You’re also less likely to face weather delays that push back your schedule by days or even weeks.
The flip side? Everyone else has the same idea. Builders are booked solid, skip hire companies are stretched thin, and demand for materials increases across the board. This makes planning and organisation more important than ever. Securing reliable concrete delivery in London during peak season isn’t just convenient—it’s essential for keeping your project moving.
The Real Cost of Mixing Concrete On-Site
Some contractors still opt for on-site mixing, particularly on smaller jobs where they assume the quantities don’t justify ordering ready concrete. While this might seem cost-effective on paper, the reality often tells a different story.
Mixing concrete on-site requires space for storing aggregate, sand, and cement. You need a mixer, which means either hiring equipment or relying on whatever’s available. Your team spends hours measuring, mixing, and transporting material rather than actually laying foundations or pouring slabs. And consistency? That’s genuinely difficult to achieve when you’re mixing batch after batch throughout the day.
The quality of on-site mixed concrete varies depending on who’s doing the measuring, how accurate the ratios are, and even how long each batch sits before being used. Inconsistent mixes can lead to structural weaknesses, surface cracking, and problems that only become apparent months or years down the line.
When you work with a professional ready mix concrete supplier, every batch arrives precisely mixed to specification. The concrete is manufactured under controlled conditions, tested for quality, and delivered ready to pour. Your team can focus entirely on the skilled work of construction rather than the labour-intensive process of mixing materials.
How Ready Mix Concrete Keeps Projects on Schedule
Time is genuinely the most valuable resource on any building site. Every day your extension remains unfinished is another day of disruption to your household, another day of paying contractors, and another day your project sits exposed to the elements.
Ready concrete transforms the pouring stage from a half-day operation into something far more efficient. When the mixer truck arrives, your team can begin pouring immediately. Large volumes that would take hours to mix on-site can be laid in a fraction of the time.
Consider a typical single-storey rear extension. The foundation might require several cubic metres of concrete. Mixing this quantity on-site could easily consume an entire working day, with multiple batches needed and inevitable delays between pours. Order the same volume from a ready mix concrete supplier, and you’re looking at a couple of hours from first pour to finishing.
This efficiency compounds throughout the project. Faster foundation work means your builders can move on to blockwork sooner. Earlier completion of the structural shell means internal trades can begin their work ahead of schedule. The time saved at the concrete stage ripples through every subsequent phase of construction.
The Importance of Reliable Delivery
Of course, ready mix concrete only saves time if it actually arrives when you need it. A delivery that shows up late—or worse, doesn’t show up at all—can leave your team standing idle and your carefully planned schedule in tatters.
This is why choosing your concrete delivery London provider matters as much as the product itself. You want a supplier with a fleet capable of meeting demand during the busy summer months. You want clear communication about delivery windows and the flexibility to adjust timing when site conditions change. You want a team that understands construction schedules and treats your project deadlines as seriously as you do.
At Express Concrete, reliable delivery isn’t an afterthought—it’s central to how we operate. We know that when you book a pour for 8am, your entire day’s work depends on that concrete arriving on time. Our scheduling team coordinates deliveries to minimise waiting time on-site, and our drivers know London’s roads well enough to navigate the inevitable traffic challenges that come with working in the capital.
Getting the Right Mix for Your Project
Home extensions typically require concrete specified for structural foundations. However, the exact mix depends on ground conditions, load requirements, and building regulations applicable to your project. A reputable ready mix concrete supplier will discuss your requirements and recommend the appropriate specification, ensuring the concrete performs exactly as needed for your particular build.
Whether you’re pouring strip foundations, a reinforced slab, or concrete for a more specialised application, getting the specification right from the start prevents problems later. This is another advantage of working with professionals rather than attempting to formulate mixes on-site.
Make This Summer Count
If your home extension project is scheduled for the coming months, now is the time to lock in your supply arrangements. The contractors who plan ahead—securing their ready concrete supply before the peak season rush intensifies—are the ones whose projects run smoothly.
Don’t let unreliable materials supply turn your summer build into an autumn nightmare. Whether you need a single delivery for a garden wall foundation or multiple pours for a larger extension project, Express Concrete provides the quality product and dependable concrete delivery London homeowners and builders rely on.
Ready to discuss your project requirements? Contact Express Concrete today for a no-obligation quote. Call our team or fill out our online enquiry form to secure your delivery slots for the summer season.
