DIY Pouring Concrete Guide

Tips On Pouring Concrete For DIY Projects

By far the easiest way to move wet concrete is the ‘straight pour’; tipping the concrete from the mixer truck directly into the trench or slab. A traditional 6 m3 mixer truck can discharge its load in just six minutes but the driver normally expects to take 20 - 30 minutes on site.

1. A truck is 2.48m  wide and weighs 24t with a full load. If access is difficult the following methods of moving the concrete are commonly used on smaller sites:
2. If there is sufficient fall, a temporary chute can be constructed from timber. It will need to be well supported
3. Plant hire centres stock a wide range of small dumper trucks. These are ideal if the concrete needs to be transferred over a relatively long distance
4. Concrete can be pumped and pumps are quick and overcome most access problems.
5. Builders often use an excavator with a large bucket to place the concrete but this is seldom suitable in confined space
6. The traditional wheelbarrow is still widely used for concrete on many sites. However, a standard 6 m3 load is equal to 240 barrow trips and it will take four people about one hour to move the full load.

More tips on laying ready mixed concrete can be found in our practical concrete guides.