Over the years, concrete had always been a major star in home improvements. Whether it is to add a few yards to your walkway or to your garage, concrete is always the most preferred material due to its stability and durability. It can also withstand nature’s deteriorating mechanisms and could last for many years.
On rare occasions, homeowners would do the mixing themselves. They would always find the time to combine the cement with water and other materials and finish the projects on their own. In most cases, however, it would be beneficial and hassle-free if the concrete is delivered by companies that offer such services. Doing such would be convenient, cheap, and what’s more is it saves you from all the muscle pains you may have the possibility of getting after all the hauling and pouring that needs to be done.
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Concrete Delivery Average Cost
On the average, the expense would be anywhere from $120 to $365 per yard. Sometimes, it could go lower than $120 per yard.
For example, ConMex Concrete Delivery, Inc., a family-owned company in Spring Valley, California has a starting price of $98 per yard. On the other hand, Hard Rock Concrete in Haymarket, Virginia has a per yard rate of about $350 to $365.
In certain instances, companies would also charge per pound per square inch (PSI). This is true in the case of a company in Seattle, Cadman that would charge you $127.70 for 2,500 PSI.
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It is also important to note that companies would also have a different pricing for short-load deliveries. Companies would normally deliver a minimum load equivalent to nine to ten yards per load. If what you need is less than the minimum, there is sometimes a surcharge for every yard under their minimum requirement.
For example, Cadman charges a $30-surcharge for every yard below nine (which is their minimum). Some companies would already give you their prices outright for short-load deliveries. This is true for a company in Utica, Michigan named Paragon Ready Mix Inc., who would charge $60 for a 6 to 6.75 cubic yard load.
While short-load prices are common among companies, there are also those that would only bill you depending on how much concrete was used. One concrete example for this is for a company in Wisconsin, James Peterson Sons, Inc. who would only charge you for the exact amount you used.
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If you happen to have ordered concrete that is good for ten yards and has only used up an amount for eight, you will only be charged for the concrete for eight yards.
Inclusions
To calculate for your area in cubic yards, you must first determine the area in square foot (length x width). You multiply that by the height of the space, the product of which should be divided by 27, which is the number of cubic feet in a cubic yard. The result is your area in cubic yards.
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Usually, the best mix includes a proportion of cement, combined with gravel and/or sand, and water. And if you live in freezing regions, you could also ask for 5% air entrainment to make sure the concrete avoids damages as caused by the freezing and thawing cycle during winter.
A representative from the supplier usually visits a day or so after you ordered through the phone. Make sure to discuss with the representative your calculations, ask about options, and make sure to find out whether your place is accessible to trucks that would deliver the concrete.
Other Costs to Consider
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While you do not normally pay for the labor charges during concrete deliveries, you would be paying for their overtime in excess of their working hours. The usual rate is about $1.50 or so per minute after the agreed working hours. You can check with your contractor as to their specifications in terms of overtime pay.
An environmental fee, normally around $5, is also added to your cost of concrete delivery.
Some companies would also have fuel charges to your total cost. Prepare to shell out around $35 or so for this.
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There is also an added expense to your delivery of concrete during winter. Winter hot water from November to March of the next year could cost you an additional amount of about $5 to $9 per yard.
While some companies would only charge you on the amount of concrete that you used, there are some that still don’t, and would charge you based on how much you ordered. And before making that call to order, be very sure of the amount of concrete that you are using. Companies like Cadman charge an extra $30 per cubic yard for the disposal surcharge and truck time to the disposal site. This applies to orders of over two cubic yards.
Depending on the admixtures that may be needed for your concrete, you can spend anywhere from $10 per cubic yard for fibers to $125 per truck for the colored concrete washout.
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A cancellation fee of about $150 or so may be charged for orders that are canceled in less than three hours from the time of the delivery.
Buying Tips
When looking for suppliers, make sure to look for those that are nearest to you. Remember that concrete should be discharged after an hour and 30 minutes after it is mixed. More than that time frame and it starts to settle and harden.
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You may also check for referrals. Talk to your neighbors or to your local hardware store. You can check around whether anybody from your neighborhood recently had a project similar to yours, so you can discuss not just the quality of their work but the prices as well.
Once you are able to finalize the supplier of your choice, make that call and check their prices. You should also ask for the lead time before the delivery date.
Before the date of your delivery, always call to confirm with the supplier. While this may be overlooked by many, it is pretty important, especially to suppliers that are servicing many clients.
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When looking for a contractor, you can check out the Concrete Network’s locator. And in order for you to get a grasp of how much you are likely to spend, you can go to the Bergen Mobile Concrete’s website and use their concrete calculator.
Concrete Delivery Cost Factors
As mentioned above, one of the major financial influencers is the area that is involved in the project. As in the case of Hard Rock Concrete in Virginia, a concrete delivery that is good for one yard costs $350. As the number increases in terms of area, the amount per yard decreases. For three yards, it only costs $556 ($185.33 per yard); $765 for five yards ($153 per yard); $140 per yard for seven yards; and so on.
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Another example is Concrete on Call in Tampa that charges $160 for the first yard and $110 for the yards thereafter. If the finished area exceeds five yards, your per yard rate will only be $110 (including the first yard); you save $50.
Most companies operate from Mondays until Fridays only (some until Saturdays). Before finalizing a schedule, you can first check with the supplier of your choice. Some companies charge extra for weekend work. Concrete on Call charges $125 extra if your schedule falls on a Sunday. They also have night deliveries for an extra amount of $125.
Environmental conditions can also affect your cost. If the delivery falls on a winter, there is an extra charge of anywhere from $5 to $10 per yard. Site conditions like poor soil quality, contamination, and other circumstances like traffic issues could also influence your total cost.
If you are a DIY fan, prepare to shell out as much as $350 or so per yard. It would take 60 of the 60lb-bags to cover a yard. A bag would be available for about $4 each that would give you a total of $240 for the bags. A mixer costs $50 in rentals, and another $50 is needed for the truck rental to transport the mixer and concrete. That would give you a total of about $340, plus sore muscles and other pains.
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