I’ve been producing concrete for
more than 30 years at my company’s
batch plant in Iowa. By
now, I know just about what to
expect from any mix my plant produces.
If you know what you want to
accomplish, I can tell you which concrete
mix is appropriate.
Concrete in general is a pretty simple
material, with just four main
ingredients: cement, water, sand, and
stone. Those elements mostly determine
its characteristics. But most
concrete also contains a variety of
admixtures, which have an important
effect on the results.
For best results, you should use
admixtures where they’re appropriate.
It’s important to understand all
their effects because they can change
the way concrete behaves. You may
have to adjust your concreting