Get the sub-base right first
Concrete is only as good as what's underneath it. Make sure the sub-base is excavated to the correct depth, filled with MOT Type 1, and compacted in layers. A soft or uneven sub-base will settle and crack the slab above it.
Set the levels and falls before pour day — once the concrete is in, it's too late to fix the ground shape.
Formwork and reinforcement
Have your formwork fixed firmly to the correct levels. If you're using mesh reinforcement, lay it on chairs or spacers so it sits in the middle of the slab — not on the sub-base and not on the surface. Plan where your movement joints will go so the concrete cracks where you decide, not randomly.
Check access for the wagon
Our volumetric mixer is an 8-wheel lorry. It needs a route wide enough and firm enough to get to the pour location. Check for overhead cables, low branches, narrow gates and weak covers over drains. If access is tight, tell us in advance — we can advise on pump options or a barrow run.
Send us photos of the access with your quote request and we'll confirm before the day.
Have help and tools ready
Concrete doesn't wait. Have enough people on site to place, level and finish the concrete before it starts to set. Have your screed rails, tamp, floats and edging tools ready before the wagon arrives.
Check the weather — don't pour into standing water or onto frost. If the forecast is poor, we'd rather move the date than risk the finish.
Related services
Need concrete for your project? We supply volumetric concrete across South Wales, mixed fresh on site to the exact quantity you need. Request a quote or call 01495 820164.