Concrete, even in its liquid form, is very hard to move, especially in a wheelbarrow. And it has only around a 2 hour life-span. So you need to be sure that you have a reliable source who will deliver to exactly where the concrete is needed, at the time it is needed.

GET IT RIGHT FROM THE START ......
Damage can be done to concrete before it is laid as well as after. This is why quality control throughout the manufacturing process - and a rapid delivery to site - is essential to maximise the working time of your concrete.

........ AND WHILST IT IS DRYING
After laying, concrete needs to be protected as it settles and grows. Ideally it is kept damp and covered so that it can grow at a constant rate. Failure to do so can result in surface cracking, which reduces the concrete’s ability to resist chemical and frost attack.

NOT ALL CONCRETE IS THE SAME!
Concrete mixes should be varied to suit the application. For example, concrete used for footings, driveways and stabling are all different. Getting the right mix can save money and make laying easier. Talk to us and we will make sure you get the right product for your project.

CAREFUL CALCULATIONS
It is important to ensure that the area you are concreting is as per the measurements agreed at the time of pricing the project. It is important to realise that a change in dimensions has a dramatic affect on the requirements - for example increasing depth by just 1cm on a 10m x 10m base requires an extra cubic metre of concrete! As with all aspects of concrete delivery, we are happy to advise you on this.

USE THE FLEXIBLE EXPERTS
We are the experts in concrete manufacturing and delivery. If there are any issues with achieving prompt delivery to the point of use, we probably know the solution. Bear in mind that even a mini-mixer is 18 tonnes in weight and needs 2.7m of width access; but if this is a problem, we will find another solution. And if all else fails, concrete deliveries can be re-directed to other sites, or more concrete can be sent to a site that does not have enough.

DAILY CONCRETE NEWS FROM THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

There are constant developments within the construction industry related to concrete such as this article on Sustainable Precast with British Precast . This website has been established by the British Precastas a resource for all those with an interest in the sustainability of precast concrete. The UK precast concrete industry acknowledges that it has a responsibility to improve its performance on sustainability. The British Precast Concrete Federation has therefore established a research programme with Loughborough Universityto develop and deliver a sustainability strategy for the industry. For the full article published on 15/06/2007 click More

Another recent article that may interest you is BWEA - Offshore Frequently Asked Questions . Unfortunately, as the distance to land increases, the cost of building and maintaining the turbines and transmitting the power back to shore also increase sharply, limiting the distance out to sea at which offshore wind projects will be built. Find out more about BWEA's marine renewables work. Obviously the closer to shore the turbine are, the bigger they will look. For the full text published on 03/07/2007 click More