While you might assume that all concrete is the same, you’ll need to order the correct mix for the job in question. Concrete is typically made up of four key components: 

• Sand (fine aggregate)
• Stone (coarse aggregate)
• Cement
• Water

No matter what kind of building work you’re carrying out – whether you’re laying a new driveway, building a house extension or constructing a new stable – getting the right mix is vital to ensure the concrete has the correct proportion of materials to provide the necessary strength and durability. That’s where the team at Tor Multimix comes in, working closely with you to order the exact concrete needed for your project,

What other components can be used in concrete?

Here at Tor Multimix, we’ll work closely with you to design a mix suited to your exact demands. Certain projects may have specific requirements that need a more specialised concrete mix, and that’s where we can help. 

For example, we can add fibres to increase impact resistance or incorporate admixtures that make your concrete mix easier to lay and more resistant to freeze-thaw cycles – an attribute that’s especially beneficial for helping footpaths, driveways and roads survive the worst of the winter weather!

However, the most popular – and the most visible – admixture is pigments. Concrete pigments can be added to a concrete mix to produce colour, and we have a range of specially formulated pigments to enhance the look of your project – simply ask our team for a colour chart.

Some additional components that can also be used in concrete include:

• Microfibres
• Macrofibres
• Steel fibres
• Pigments
• Air entraining agents
• Superplasticiser 

Each individual element of a concrete mix plays an important role, and the experienced team here at Tor Multimix will ensure that each component is of the best quality and used in the most effective proportions. An incorrectly proportioned mix can create weak concrete and may even cause cracks or structural instability in the future.

General concrete mix 

There is no such thing as a general-purpose concrete that can be used for all applications; instead, the proportion of each component must be adjusted based on what you’re planning to use the concrete for. When you work with Tor Multimix, we’ll discuss the needs of your project with you and suggest the most suitable concrete mix to use, so you can rest assured it will have the correct proportions of each ingredient.

Concrete mix for footings 

Concrete footings minimise settling and help to support the weight of a structure, so it’s important they are suitably strong and durable. 

The mix design for concrete footings ranges from GEN1 – suitable for house extensions and garden walls – to a much stronger mix for use on larger building projects, such as warehouses, office blocks and more. 

This concrete can be designed to have a high workability and can even be pumped. Concrete pumping is fast, efficient and also reduces the amount of manual labour needed to make for a safer working environment. Here at Tor Multimix, we have both line pumps and boom pumps available for hire to help streamline your next construction project.

Concrete mix for slabs

There is no one set mix for concrete slabs; instead, it will depend on various factors, such as the use of the slab, where it will be located (inside or outside) and whether it will be used in a domestic or industrial setting, as well as the level and type of traffic. If you share a little more detail about what your concrete slabs will be used for, our team can suggest a suitable concrete mix.

Concrete mix for driveways

If you’re laying a new domestic driveway or footpath, the best concrete mix to use is typically a PAV1. This contains an air-entraining agent which will provide increased protection against adverse weather and reduce damage caused by the freeze-thaw cycle.

For commercial driveways, however, PAV2 concrete is typically a better choice as this has the durability and load bearing capacity needed to cope with larger vehicles and an increased volume of traffic.

As an additional benefit, incorporating fibres into this mix will help with the impact resistance and durability of these mixes too.

Screed for floors

Here at Tor Multimix, we produce two types of screed. As both are designed to be applied in thinner layers, neither screed mix contains the coarse aggregates found in concrete.

• Sand cement floor screed: Usually delivered in tippers, this type of screed comes in three different ratios: 1:3, 1:4 and 1:5. A retarding admixture can be incorporated to slow the rate of setting and allow additional time to lay the screed, while microfibres can also be added too to improve impact resistance.
• Liquid floor screed: Here at Tor Multimix, we supply Longfloor screed, a cement-based product with high fluidity. The Longfloor product range includes IntegraCure which is suitable for most applications, Rap7d for time-sensitive projects and Th7n for use when working to minimal tolerances. Discuss your project with our team for recommendations on the right floor screed for your project; we can also put you in touch with a contractor to lay your screed if you wish.

Here at Tor Multimix, our team supplies a variety of BSI-accredited ready-mixed concrete products. With over 40 years of technical, production and customer service experience, we’re always on hand to help your next project run smoothly and safely.

We will work closely with you to determine the right concrete mix for your needs, by listening to your requirements and then creating a bespoke batch of concrete or floor screed that is tailored to your specifications. Get in touch with us to find out how we can help with your next building  project in Glastonbury, Bridgwater, Wells, Somerset, Dorset, West Wiltshire, Bristol, Bath and beyond.