What’s the best way to save money on concrete? If you’re building a big project like a driveway, patio or sidewalk, you can save money by buying your concrete in bulk. If you’re doing a small project like pouring a slab for a hot tub, you can save money as long as you know how to order the right amount and control waste. Here are four tips for saving money on concrete:

1.Call around for pricing and availability.

2.Order only what you need.

3.Save money on small orders by mixing it yourself.

4.Keep your waste to a minimum

While concrete is a popular choice, the cost of paving your driveway and other concrete projects can add up quickly. This blog post will give you four tips for saving money on concrete.

1. Plan ahead

The best way to save money on concrete is to plan ahead and buy early. When you need a large amount of concrete for a big project, it is important to have time to shop around and find the best deal. If you need 20 yards of concrete, you will not have time to shop around if you wait until the last minute. Be sure to start planning ahead as early as possible.

2. Buy in bulk

You may be able to get a better price per yard if you buy more than ten yards at a time. The exact number varies by company, so it is important to call several different companies and ask what their discount is for buying in bulk. Remember that if you are going to be doing many projects, it is possible that one concrete company will give you a discount for all of the work that they do for your business or organization. It never hurts to ask!

3. Buy raw materials yourself

If you have access to gravel, sand, cement and water near your job site, consider purchasing these items yourself rather than having them delivered

If you are pouring a new concrete driveway, walkway or patio, you will want to save money on concrete. Buying the concrete is a major expense. I have four ways to help you save money on the cost of concrete for your next project.

The easiest way to save money on concrete is to create your own mix at home in advance and then use that for your project. This is not as hard as it sounds. You can easily make a good grade of ready mix concrete at home.

The second way to save money on concrete is to only order what you need. Some local companies will not charge for delivery if you order 1 – 3 yards of concrete. If that is the case, only order what you need, or order in bulk and then use the extra for other projects around the house.

The third way to save money on concrete is to check with the local construction supply companies to see who has the best pricing on bags of ready mix cement. In my area they vary from $6 all the way up to $20 per bag plus tax, so it really pays off to shop around and do some price comparisons.

We get a lot of questions about how to save money on concrete. We have been in the concrete business for a while now and we are always looking for ways to cut costs. Over the years we’ve learned a few tips to help you save money when buying concrete.

Buy only what you need. Concrete is generally sold by the cubic yard (27 square feet). If you only need 1/2 cubic yard, then don’t buy an entire yard. When it comes to concrete, buy only what you need and no more than you need. You can always come back and get more if needed.

Shop Around

Concrete pricing is not consistent. Contact multiple suppliers for quotes and negotiate. If you are buying a large quantity, say over 100 cubic yards, you should be able to get a much better price than the standard $80 to $85 per cubic yard when purchasing less than that.

Order Less Than What You Need

Concrete is sold by volume, not weight. The ratio of cement, aggregate (sand or gravel) and water is what determines the designation of concrete. For example, a 4-inch slump (amount of “sag” in the concrete after it has been placed) is considered normal. If the water content is lowered slightly (1/2 inch slump), the concrete will still retain its strength but will require less water – and less cement – per yard of concrete.

It may seem counterintuitive to order less material which results in weaker concrete with lower compressive strength, but it doesn’t really matter if you use 5,000 psi or 6,000 psi for a sidewalk. You can also add fiber reinforcing if you lower the water content too much as long as there is sufficient water for hydration of the Portland cement.

Use Less Cement

You can save money by using less Portland cement when making concrete

1. Make as few pours as possible.

2. Use a thinner slab thickness.

3. Minimize the use of steel reinforcing.

4. Reduce the number of joints in the slab.