FAQs

You may have heard these two terms used interchangeably in grade school. Cement is actually an ingredient of concrete, while concrete is a more complex mixture of aggregates and paste. Typically, the aggregates are made from sand, gravel or crusted stone with batching and mixing by your concrete supplier. The paste usually comprises water and Portland cement in a specific water-cement ratio. Despite its name, Portland cement is a generic term for the type of cement that is used in nearly all concrete.

Honestly, it’s hard to say without taking a look at your project specifications. It’s important to plan ahead so that you don’t overspend on product and get stuck with disposal costs. Even worse is paying for a short load of cement content, which can cause significant quality issues. Meanwhile, your crew is accruing overtime as they sit and wait on your concrete ready mix delivery.

Another risk of not ordering enough is called a cold joint. This is an unpleasant discontinuity between layers of concrete that occurs when one layer hardens before the rest is poured into a single, solid body of concrete. Setting time makes all the difference. It can happen if your ready mix contractor calculates your order incorrectly or doesn’t load up properly before bringing your delivery to the jobsite.

After our founders experienced these problems and realized the negative impact it had on their business profits, they created Drake Ready Mix as the solution!

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Curing is one of the most important steps in concrete ready mix creation. A chemical reaction between water and cement, called hydration, causes concrete to harden – or cure. For this reason, it is critical to keep the surface moist to continue the hydration process and control the water-cement ratio during setting time. Additionally, water can be lost by evaporation from the newly poured concrete, impacting the hydration process. When it’s done right by a reliable and experienced contractor like Drake Ready Mix, curing greatly improves concrete durability and strength.

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Actually, concrete comes in many colors! The gray color that many associate with natural, uncolored concrete comes from one of its key ingredients, cement. The iron ore in cement creates that gray tint in natural concrete. Depending on the finish you want to achieve, Drake Ready Mix can provide alternate colors from its high-quality product lines.

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It depends heavily on what type of concrete ready mix work you are doing. Is this for a building structure or a pavement slab? You should pick the right joint for what you are intending to achieve, and maybe even consider whether a joint is needed at all.

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The cost of concrete is influenced by several factors including the type of concrete mix, the volume required, distance of the delivery site from the plant, site accessibility, and any additional features like additives or special finishes.

Florida’s hot and humid climate can impact concrete curing times. Our experienced professionals manage the process to ensure proper hydration and curing. We use specially formulated mixes and additives to mitigate extreme weather effects.

We adhere to strict quality control measures including sourcing high-quality raw materials, precise mixing processes, and regular testing of concrete samples. Our commitment is to meet or exceed industry standards. 

Before your concrete delivery, ensure the site is properly prepared and accessible. This includes clearing obstacles, having forms set up if needed, and arranging for the necessary labor and equipment to handle the material upon arrival. 

For custom mixes, we work with you to determine the specific performance requirements of the concrete. We’ll develop a tailored mix design as per your specs to ensure it meets your project’s needs.