People often associate boom or ground line concrete pumping with large commercial, industrial or civil engineering projects, but keen DIYers and self-builders are beginning to realize that pumped concrete is the ideal solution for even small-scale works, such as garage, conservatory or extension footings.
As this method of delivering concrete grows in popularity and not just amongst construction contractors, but also the general public, here at North West Ready Mix we thought an informative article outlining the benefits of concrete pumping over other methods would be of interest.
Ideal for difficult-to-access sites
There are few concrete pours that can’t be achieved with a line pump due to the flexibility of using hoses to deliver the product. For example, a ground line pump using steel or flexible hosing can thread through the narrowest spaces, including the inside of buildings, which would be difficult to access using barrows. If you need to pump over a high wall or low building, a boom pump is the way to go. Remote-operated booms can even reach the higher floors of apartment or office buildings if necessary, where using a barrow would be completely impractical.
Save time and money
When overseeing a construction project, however complex, it’s important to manage time effectively and ensure that labour isn’t used unnecessarily.
Barrowing concrete to and from the mixer is time consuming, labour intensive and can be back-breaking work. You may also have to run boards from the mixer to where you’re pouring the concrete, in order to allow barrow access. However, a high volume pump could supply up to 35 cubes of concrete per hour (depending on the nature of the mix). Once the boom or hoses are in position, it’s simply a case of pressing a button and pouring the concrete where it’s required. This process is much quicker than barrowing, so you’re able to save money on labour or reassign your labourers to other jobs on site. Nor do you need to worry about the concrete setting too fast, which can be a concern when barrows are used.
Less waste
Not only is barrowing hard work, it’s also a messy business. Concrete regularly spills during unloading and also when being transported by barrow, which can be time consuming to clean up, cause damage to surfaces if left to set and of course, is concrete you paid for but that has gone to waste. With a line pump, whether boom or ground line, it’s unlikely that the concrete will spill before it gets to where you need it.
It seems clear that concrete pumping is the preferable option in almost all scenarios where concrete needs to be transported from the truck to a specific location on site, particularly where access is difficult.
Less waste, less mess and ultimately, less cost.
