The complete estimator cost guide for concrete  

You’re about to begin a new project, and concrete plays a major role in it.  

Yet, before you begin pouring and mixing, you’ll need to measure out your materials.  

While this should be a simple step, there are special elements of concrete composition that make it a little more challenging to measure.  

Are you wondering, “How much concrete do I need?”   

If so, you’ve come to the right place. We’re dedicated to helping our customers navigate the tricky and technical details of concrete so they can get to work quicker.   

Today, we’re sharing a quick guide to help you measure your concrete the right way, every time.  

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in! These are basic volume measurements.  

Materials to Gather  

Before you begin this tutorial, it helps to have all of your materials in place and ready to go.   

The materials that go into creating a batch of concrete include:  

• CementAggregate (washed and crushed rock)SandWaterBucket  

Most contractors stick to a simple four-two-one ratio when mixing their concrete. This means they’ll pour in four parts aggregate, two parts sand, one part cement.   

While these variables are relatively predictable, water proportions can fluctuate some. A few of the factors that help determine how much water your batch needs include:  

• The outdoor air temperature, humidity level, the amount of direct sunlight, the concrete mix ratio  

As you add more water, remember that you’re weakening the concrete’s cured tensile strength. This means it’s more susceptible to breaking under tension.   

Projecting Concrete Measurements and Costs  

There are a few steps to follow to help you determine the amount of concrete you’ll need to mix for your projects.   

Step 1: Determine Concrete Thickness  

Before you get too far into the process, how thick do you want your concrete to be?  

Different applications will require different measurements, so consider how you plan to use the surface after the concrete hardens.  

Let’s review a few common concrete slabs scenarios to keep in mind.  

Standard Concrete Sidewalks  

Pour these around four inches thick. If the sidewalk crosses a driveway, make it eight inches thick. The same measurements apply if service vehicles will use the sidewalk.  

Residential Driveways  

As long as they’re only intended for average vehicles, pour these at least six inches thick.  

Commercial Driveway Aprons  

Pour these at least eight inches thick. Ideally, try to make them around 10 inches, as this will allow trash trucks and other utility vehicles to use the surface without damaging it.  

Dumpster Pads and Concrete Loading Docks  

Pour these at least 10 inches thick, increasing it to 12 inches where you anticipate heavy loads.   

Concrete Footing and Foundations  

Measures beam volume then slab area  

Step 2: Measure Your Surface Area  

Once you know how thick you need your concrete to be, you can go ahead and measure the area you’ll need to cover.   

Take the length and width measurements and write them down.  

Step 3: Calculate the Square Footage  

With your measurements in hand, multiply the length by the width. This will provide you with your total square footage.  

For example:  

10 feet x 10 feet = 100 square feet  

Step 4: Convert Your Thickness Metric  

Remember Step 1 above? By now, you should know how many inches thick you’ll need your concrete to be. Use an online calculator such as this one to convert that number into feet, instead.  

Here are a few examples:  

• Four inches=0.33 feet  
• Six inches = 0.5 feet  
• Eight inches = 0.66 feet
•  10 inches = 0.83 feet
• 12 inches = 1 foot 

Step 5: Calculate Cubic Feet (total volume of concrete)  

Now that you’ve converted your desired thickness from inches to feet, take this measurement and multiply it by your total square footage determined in Step 3 above.  

Using the example above, your calculation might look like this:   

100 x 0.5 = 50 cubic feet  

Step 6: Convert Cubic Feet to Yards  

There are 27 Cubic feet in a yard. You can get 10 yards in a ready-mixed concrete truck  

With your total cubic feet measurement in hand, you’ll need to convert this measurement to cubic yards.   

To do so, multiply the measurement by .037.  

Once you know the total yards of concrete you need, you can use this number to gauge how many raw ingredients or pre-mixed bags you’ll need to complete the project.  

Continuing the example, your calculation becomes  

50 x .037 = 1.85 cubic yards of concrete required.   

Step 7: Measure How Many Bags of concrete You Need (estimate the amounts) 

If you’re using pre-mixed bags, you’ll notice that each bag has a distinct yield. The most common types are 40 pounds, 60 pounds, and 80 pounds.   

Here are the average yields for each size:  

• 40-pound bag: .011 cubic yards 
• 60-pound bag: .017 cubic yards
• 80-pound bag: .022 cubic yards  

Knowing this, you can take the total number of cubic yards you need for your project (Step 6 above) and divide it by the average yield size to see how many bags you need for your project.   

In our example, we calculated that we’d need 1.85 cubic yards of concrete.  

Remember any time you order less than a full truck there are short load fees  

If you buy a 40-pound bag, it will take around 167 bags to fulfill our needs.

If we buy a 60-pound bag, it will take 111 bags.

For an 80-pound bags, we will only need around 84 bags.   

If you are a concrete contractor and hire a ready-mix truck then be aware that you should account for about 10% waste rate. Once you figure out your yardage remember there are 10 yards in a truck and add the waste factor.  

Concrete pumper

Do you need a pumper or are you going to wheelbarrow the concrete? Most ready-mix drivers may give you 2 minutes per yard to unload the truck. Depending on your wheelbarrow size it could take 9-14 wheelbarrow loads per yard.   

So you better have 4-5 guys with wheelbarrows. If you can shoot it off the truck great. Keep in mind the weight of an existing concrete truck will break most concrete surfaces it will drive on.  

I good driver will not drive through the dirt as the probability of getting stuck is high, especially after rains.  

So it’s a good idea to hire a pump truck too($1000 and up) to pour large foundations or someone with an inline pump ($600-875) for smaller projects)  

There’s either the expense of using a pump or the labor of offloading by hand. My recommendation is to get a pump, Do you want to waste time while the clock is ticking and you are justing going to wear out your team right before you need them most. It’s risky doing it any other way.  

Calculator estimates 

Rather than buying some concrete calculator and worrying about the setting’s concrete functions, just use our online tool.  

“How Much Concrete Do I Need?” Now You Know!  

Undertaking a concrete project can be a challenge. You shouldn’t have to spin your wheels and dwindle your resources by asking, “How much concrete do I need?”  

Though the process can be laborious, taking the time to figure out your exact needs beforehand can save you from costly and time-consuming errors down the road.  

Consider your required thickness, measure your square footage, and perform the necessary calculations to get the metrics right the first time.   

Does all of this sound like a chore? It is. And very risky the more you have to pour.  

Why not hire a professional contractor to take care of the legwork for you? This way, you can make sure the finished product is top quality.  

When you’re ready to take this next step, we’d love to help. We have a vast network of contractors ready to tackle your next concrete project, from countertops to stamped sidewalks. Contact us today to get in touch with an expert you can trust! 

The post How Much Concrete Do I Need for My Project? appeared first on Concrete Index.

For big home projects, you’re likely to need to know how to hire the services of a concrete contractor. Concrete is the most used material for home projects like a concrete patio, retaining walls or decorative concrete, and it serves as the foundation of your home. It’s critical that whomever you choose is up to the task.

You need to know how to properly evaluate and pick the right concrete contractor for your project whether commercial or residential. Otherwise, your project can be more expensive and take longer.

Are you ready to find out what you need to look for and ask before you sign a residential concrete contract?

Keep reading to find out.

Research Contractors

Hiring a contractor starts with high-quality research. You’ll want to do some research to find a few contractors to contact. Ask your neighbors, friends, and colleagues to start with.

You can also check out your local chamber of commerce or look online at the Better Business Bureau, too.

Once you have a few names, take a look at the websites of each potential contractor. The first thing you want to check is the years of experience. A quality concrete contractor will have many years of experience and a great reputation in your city and surrounding areas. 

Take a look at the types of projects they’ve worked on before. You want to know that they have the experience to match your needs, whether that for a concrete foundation or a concrete driveway. 

For a home-related project that can boost your curb appeal, you want to work with a residential project. For commercial projects like parking lots or a large concrete construction project, a commercial contractor would be used. Some contractors are able to do both. 

Concrete contractors should have a portfolio of good work. You want to make sure they do quality work and have high levels of customer satisfaction. 

Check for Licenses

A local concrete contractor needs to be licensed and insured by their state(if applicable) contracting board in order to work on a job as a contractor. These contractors have to go through strict licensing requirements and if they don’t do a good job, you have some recourse.

You can file a complaint with the contracting board. Concrete contractors know this and want to avoid any negative marks on their license. They have expertise in their field, and they’ll do a better job.

Most will have their license information listed on their websites. You can then do an online search with the contractor’s board to verify that it’s active and in good standing.

You can also check to see if they are members of any industry or community associations.

If you are in a state like Texas or contractors serving the greater Houston area General Contractor Licenses are not required or even available. So in the example of using concrete contractors in Houston, you will have to rely on services like the BBB and google reviews, yelp reviews and even contacting the directories they are listed in.

The key is finding a good contractor with a good reputation that cares about their good reputation for service. Reliable Contractors with good visibility have skin in the game to keep a good online reputation and do not want negative reviews out there. For example, Houston tx recently had a record high cases of home remodeling rip-off after Harvey flooding.

What you are looking for is contractors that value 3rd party endorsements or associations that will hold their members accountable to you. Many associations or even directories have ethical guidelines and will boot contractors after unresolved complaints.

Evaluate Their Presentations

You want to get at least three proposals from different concrete contractors. Most concrete contractors offer a free estimate, but you want to verify this before you schedule the appointment. 

The contractors you invite to make a proposal are going to leave an impression.

You want to evaluate the entire interaction and the proposal. It’s like the saying goes, “how you do anything is how you do everything.”

• Are the company representatives professionally dressed? Did they act in a professional manner? Were they clear about the pricing of the concrete project? Did they mention similar projects that they worked on?

If a presentation came across as indifferent, you can bet that the customer service will be too. 

You’ll also want to look through the proposals and compare the scope of work, pricing and payment schedule. You want to make sure that everything is covered (material and labor costs) in the proposal before you move forward to sign a contract.

Ready to Hire a Concrete Contractor?

Just about every project starts with concrete. It’s used to build concrete driveways, sidewalks, foundations, walls, and counters.

No matter what your project is, you need to hire a concrete contractor that will pour with precision to ensure the best results. Otherwise, your project will be vulnerable to more damage.

When you hire a concrete contractor, do your research, ensure they’re licensed or have a good reputation and references if not applicable in your state, and get several quotes to compare.

Are you ready to hire a concrete contractor for your next project? It’s a good idea to search our directory to find one near you. Make sure you vet them good. Also, read 10 tips for hiring a contractor and learn what should be included in a proposal.

The post How to Hire a Concrete Contractor appeared first on Concrete Index.

This article is for consumers and contractors to assist them in Identifying a good improvement contract. A well-written contract is one of the best tools to facilitate communication regarding the terms of an agreement.

In a home improvement project, this helps the contractor and homeowner lay out the terms and expectations for creating accountability. But a good agreement contract is helpful for commercial construction as well.

Having a good contract doesn’t guarantee results but it sure is a good outline for communication.

Many states have different requirements for home improvement contracts depending on whether there are license requirements or Licensing boards.

Some states have different requirements for font sizes or disclosures. Whether required or not, It makes sense to lay out the terms to make sure the parties involved are on the same page.

In my opinion, if these items are not present, the contractor should be disqualified from winning the bid as it introduces unnecessary risk, poor communication and a sign of bad organization.

• Contractor Contact Information & Lic Number (if required) at Top.
• Purchaser Information
• Property or real estate Address of Project.
• Description of service

For homeowners or other consumers, you want descriptions laying out the details of the project.

• Description of materials and equipment used

Was there a promise to use a certain type of material or can the contractor use any grade of material?

• Contract Price
• Progress payment schedule with payments equally spread for work done.

High down payments are a red flag for the purchaser. In some states, it’s illegal to ask for more than 10% down. Lopsided progress payments where contractors are getting the lion share upfront can be a red flag.

In some cases that involve customer materials, its common for contractors to ask for special material deposits. Progress payment schedules should be fair to both parties. Giving too much upfront puts purchasers in a position on weakness.

On the other side, contractors should be quickly compensated at predetermined competition points to enable them to push forward.

Generally, you can get better terms from more established companies then smaller operations. Larger Contractors may have better terms with their vendors to front materials. More established contractors are more aware of their rights and are less paranoid or desperate regarding payments.

Choosing the best price from a less experienced contractor usually comes with added nonsense with regards to payment terms.

• Work schedule: Approximate start date and completion date and Access to project
• Purchasers acceptance and Signature agreement section.
• Lien notifications and other required disclosures. (check if you have state contractors licensing board requirement)
• In many cases, a contract may have a shop drawing or other supporting illustrations to communicate details.

In Conclusion, a detailed agreement is a cornerstone for communicating expectations of a project. It doesn’t mean that a contractor presenting a thorough agreement is grounds for hiring them, but if they don’t have one its definite grounds for not hiring them.

The post What should a concrete contract and proposal look like? appeared first on Concrete Index.

Hiring any contractor should require a little research and a little work. If you want to get lazy, that on you.  If you want to do the best you can do to avoid undesirable outcomes, then follow these tips. 

The first thing that anyone must be honest about is their general state of mind. Have you been screwed before by a contractor? 

If you have its important to be aware of these feelings and try and not project them on a potential good future contractor.  The odds are that any contractor you have hired has been screwed harder than you could ever be. 

I’m not saying ignore gut feelings or anxiety. Just be aware of it while using these guides and step by ste processes to help weed out unqualified help. 

Yes, use your gut.  How do you fell about the person presenting to you? Do they seem knowledgeable in their trade? Do you notice any character flaws? 

What type of vehicle did they show up in? 

How were they dressed? 

Where they pushy or were they educational and respectful? 

Did they respect the fact that you were getting several bids and will be making this decision on your own time when you are ready? 

If your state issues licenses do, they have one? 

Do they have a business address or real location? 

How do thier reviews look? 

What is their rating on the BBB? 

What does their written proposal look like? Read this too 

Do they have references? 

Do their Google reviews look good? above 4 stars? 

Do they care about their companies’ reputation? 

Are they involved with industry groups and associations that provide accountability? 

Do your expectations and theirs line up? 

The post 10 Tips for selecting the right Contractor appeared first on Concrete Index.