The range of concrete in the domestic building materials market is diverse. For the convenience of selection, they were divided into types, classes and brands, which differ both in operational characteristics and in cost. Moreover, the price of products with similar properties from different manufacturers may differ.
Too high cost is not always a direct reflection of the quality, and large manufacturers of this material try to maintain it at a low level, compensating for costs due to large volumes of supplied products. The price lists indicate the price for a cube of concrete, which is convenient for both customers and supplier. It is not a constant value, because it depends on many factors. The most important of them are:
The brand of the mixture that indicates the strength qualities. It is indicated by the letter M, after which there is a figure indicating a compression expressed in kgf/cm2. The difference in value is quite significant, which is quite justified.
The purpose of concrete. Depending on the requirements for sulfato – and fire resistance, the ability to withstand significant shock loads and vibration, as well as taking into account operating conditions, the following types of this building material are produced:
ordinary and special;
for airfields and roads with great intensity of movement;
For use at hydraulic structures, various scale and purpose.
The presence of special additives and their number. They are able to significantly improve the quality of concrete: increase its strength characteristics, wear resistance, water permeability and other important parameters. Perhaps this is only if the company has its own laboratory, whose experts know the features of each of the additives well and can control the process of their use.
The density of the mixture. It changes depending on the preparation recipe, as well as the type of cement and additives. Depending on the tasks to be solved, you can purchase light concrete, the density of which is in the range of 500-1800 kg/m3 or heavy – up to 2500 kg/m3.
Some companies include in the price of a cubic meter of concrete not only taxes, but also transportation costs, without a preliminary agreement with the customer. But most often the delivery is paid separately, about which an additional contract is concluded. The cost of this service varies not only depending on the region, but also on the company that provides it. It should also be borne in mind that when concrete with delivery is ordered, the price depends on the range of transportation, the urgency of the execution and the quality of the roads along which it will be carried out.