Share:

You probably see concrete mixers on the road all the time, and there’s a reason for that. Concrete mixers deliver ready-mix concrete, which is extremely popular in commercial and residential construction for its ease of use and affordability, but why does the chamber have to spin around? If you’ve often wondered why concrete mixers are designed this way but never looked into it, now is your chance to find out.

Understanding Aggregate

Concrete is an aggregate material consisting of cement, water, and crushed stone. (So while many people use “cement mixer” and “concrete mixer” interchangeably, this is incorrect.) When left alone even for a short amount of time, a concrete aggregate will start to set. This is inconvenient if you need to transport the material, but the constant motion of a drum mixer prevents concrete from hardening.

Inside the Drum Mixer

commercial and residential constructionConcrete drums have a large spiral blade inside, which is designed to continuously push concrete in a particular direction. Concrete, which has traveled all the way through the revolving blade to the end of the drum, comes back up through the center of the blade and gets pushed back down again. When it’s time to make a delivery to a commercial and residential construction project, the operator changes the direction of the spiral blade, allowing the compound to pour out. Some concrete mixers keep the dry ingredients separate from water, only allowing them to mix right before the delivery.

Why Can’t You Just Mix Concrete Yourself?

Getting the correct consistency of concrete is very tricky, and one small mistake can result in a poor installation. For most projects, it’s more cost-effective to order ready-mix concrete from a truck than to attempt mixing concrete from scratch.

 

If you need concrete for an upcoming project, whether it’s a new parking lot, road, or driveway, Ackerman Contractors is at your service. They work out of Columbia, MO, and have aided in commercial and residential construction projects for over 25 years. To request an estimate, call (573) 256-1986. Details about the local concrete contractors is available online.

tracking