Concrete Calculation: Buying the Right Amount for Your Project
You need to pour concrete for a commercial or residential project? You don’t know how much concrete to order, to make sure there is no waste and incur additional costs? Our concrete calculator is there to help you!
In this guide, we'll teach you the finer points of using a concrete calculator, and give you tips on how to make sure you buy the right quantity for your projects.
Once you have all the information you need to start your project, Groupe Bellemare offers a wide variety of concrete products and services to meet all your needs.
The Importance of Calculating the Quantity of Concrete
Depending on the size of your project, concrete costs can increase rapidly. An accurate estimate of the quantity of concrete required can help avoid unnecessary expenses.
Ordering as accurately as possible is also more eco-friendly.
- Buying too little concrete will lead to delays and additional costs.
- Ordering concrete in excess will lead to waste and unnecessary expense.
What you need to know before using the calculator
Before using the concrete calculator, please gather the following information:
Project Details: Determine the type of project you're working on: a foundation, a paver or a patio, for example. Each project has its own specific requirements.
Measurements: Measure the length, width and thickness of the area where the concrete will be poured. To avoid errors, make sure all measurements are in the same units (e.g., feet, inches or metres).
Concrete Strength: Determine the required concrete strength. This information is usually specified by engineers or described in building codes and regulations.
Use the concrete calculator
The measurement method differs depending on the shape of your future concrete slab. For example, you would measure a rectangular shape using the length and width. A circular shape requires you to find the diameter.
Once you have found the dimensions of your slab, enter them into the calculator and add the thickness. This will give you the amount of concrete needed for your project. You can change the unit of measurement to your preference.
The tool also gives you the amount of concrete needed based on your loss estimate between 5% and 10%.
Factors affecting the quantity of concrete to be ordered
Several factors influence the quantity of concrete required for a project.
Think about losses: It is essential to take into account wastage due to spillage or mixing errors. A common rule of thumb is to add 5-10% waste to the calculated quantity.
Reinforcement: If your project calls for reinforcing the concrete with rebar or mesh, take into account the additional space these materials occupy in the concrete volume.
Irregular Shapes: For non-rectangular or irregularly shaped areas, divide the project into smaller sections that can be measured with basic geometric shapes. Calculate the volume of each section separately and add them together to obtain the total.
Bagged Concrete or Mixer Rental?
Should you order concrete that is already prepared by mixer or is it better to buy your concrete in bags and prepare it yourself?
Larger jobs are easier to accomplish by renting a concrete mixer (rather than trying to mix bag after bag manually). However, for smaller jobs, you should opt for bagged concrete.
Bagged concrete is ideal for:
- Casting of small slabs for sidewalks or patios;
- Installation of fence posts;
- Repair of foundation walls, walkways or steps;
- Casting of small curbs, steps or ramps;
- Bases for decks, pergolas, walls, and more.
If you buy bagged concrete, you will also need additional equipment to mix concrete. A rented mechanical mixer can be very effective!
Concrete delivered by mixer is good for:
- Large patios, walkways, pool decks, and more;
- House foundation slabs;
- Parking lots, sidewalks or any other commercial project.
If you choose delivery by concrete mixers, you will have to calculate the quantity of concrete needed for your work. To avoid additional costs and travel, it is important that the truck carries enough concrete on its first trip. In large projects, several concrete mixers could be deployed and even the use of specialized tools like a concrete pump to spread the concrete more efficiently.
It’s up to you!
If you need more information about your concrete order, do not hesitate to contact our experts!
Our Bellemare Béton division has been delivering a wide variety of concrete for all types of work for over 50 years.
