Modern-day buildings contain a quantity of concrete, making it one of the most popular construction materials used globally, one that is used extensively in the construction industry. Whether it’s a new driveway, a hospital or school, or a tunnel or bridge, there will always be a significant amount of concrete present. As suppliers of ready-mix concrete in Southwest Florida for small and medium-sized projects, we realize the importance of supplying the right quality concrete and ensuring it arrives on time at your site. Our experienced team combined with the latest technology and equipment, go the extra mile in producing the best quality products while respecting the safety and environmental needs. Whatever your needs are, we can support you and your team every step of the way.

What will you need?

What you need depends on the size and scope of your project. Concrete mixtures for small home projects can be made in a wheelbarrow. However, larger projects might require a portable cement mixer.

The Mixing Ratios

The first thing you need to know about mixing this material is what the proper ratios are to make a substance capable of supporting 3000 pounds per square inch (PSI), which is suitable for most home improvement projects. The mixing ratios are extremely important and must be strictly adhered to in order to produce a strong, long-lasting substance for your project. The four basic components should be mixed at the following guidelines in order to produce 3000-PSI concrete: one part ready mixed cement, three parts sand, three parts aggregate, and one-part water. It is important to note that the water to cement ratio determines the strength of the substance. A common mistake made by homeowners when mixing is to add more water to make it easier to mix and spread. Doing this only results in a weaker product with a shorter lifespan. On the flipside, not using enough water results in a strong product that is too thick to mix and too difficult to work with.

Measuring the Concrete

Five-gallon buckets are ideal for measuring concrete mixtures used for small projects. Simply follow the ratios above using the bucket as your measuring tool: one bucket Portland cement, three buckets sand, three buckets aggregate, and one bucket of water. This will not only produce enough mixture for most small home improvement projects, but also produce a mixture that can withstand approximately 3000 PSI.

Mixing the Concrete

For smaller projects, placing the materials in a wheelbarrow and hand-mixing with a hoe, rake, or shovel is often adequate. Larger projects might require using an electric cement mixer that spins or mixes the materials in a tub, eliminating the arduous task of hand-mixing, which can be quit labor intensive. In either case, be it a wheelbarrow or cement mixer, the mixing ratios remain the same.

Curing the Concrete

Concrete requires approximately less than a month of curing time. It is important that during the first seven days after you pour it you wet the concrete surface daily. This will allow the curing process to go smoothly and correctly as the cement reaches its maximum strength potential.

For quality ready mix concrete, Jot & Tittle Concrete is here to help you with your concrete needs in Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Punta Gorda, and Lehigh Acres, Florida. No job is too small for us that's why we offer quality concrete services in Southwest Florida. Contact us today at 239-369-8007!