Not enough concrete: who is to blame and what to do

Wangyu. You hire a team of builders on an ad or recommendation. They put up formwork, order concrete, but when pouring, it turns out that there is not enough concrete mix. Who is guilty? Of course, the builders (you say). Let's figure out how to work, so as not to look for the guilty and not overpay.

Who is still responsible for the volume of concrete for monolithic works

If you ordered a turnkey monolithic foundation, ceiling or any other structure from a construction company, as a rule, there are no issues with volume. Contractors themselves resolve all internal issues and deliver the result.

And if you decide to save money and hired a team of builders “on an ad”, be prepared to actively participate in the production of work. Brigade of builders - ordinary performers. You are a foreman, foreman and supplier. It is your task and your area of ​​responsibility to accept intermediate results of work, calculate volumes and supply materials.

Why is there not enough concrete?

Perhaps the most common problems you encounter are:

• Formwork geometry was not taken into account. When a strip foundation is poured directly into the ground or a monolithic slab is made without concrete preparation, it is impossible to take into account all the irregularities. Concrete must be taken with a margin.
• If only where they ordered concrete. If you ordered the material not at the factory, but from a private trader, there is a high risk that you will be deceived - they will bring a volume less than you ordered. Work with trusted suppliers and require an invoice.
• The concrete was ordered too early. Builders are often in a hurry - the formwork is not yet ready, and they are already asking the owner to order concrete for the next day. A gap of even a couple of centimeters over a large area can increase concrete consumption by 0.5-1 cubic meters.

What to do so that there are no problems with the supply of concrete

If there is not enough concrete mix, it can be re-ordered, but there are two problems:

1. The missing "half cube" of concrete will cost too much. After all, you will have to pay the full price for transportation costs. The material that will be delivered to you will cost 2-3 times more.
2. Time is working against you. The concrete you have accepted is starting to set. If it’s hot outside, the last mixer arrived in the evening, and the missing volume is delivered only in the morning, you will get a “cold joint” - the main and pre-monolithic parts can be considered different designs.

To prevent this, it is enough to follow a few rules:

1. Order concrete only when the formwork with reinforcement is ready, you have checked and accepted these works.
2. Calculate the volume of concrete yourself. Do not take the numbers from the project. Do not shift the responsibility to builders. Take a piece of paper, a tape measure, a calculator and calculate the actual volumes yourself.
3. Order concrete from trusted suppliers: at the factory or from carriers with whom you work more than once. Be sure to check the volume and grade of concrete in the invoices.
4. Increase the calculated volume of concrete by 10% (by 15% if you pour into the ground). Do not subtract fittings and mortgages for communications from the total volume.
5. Prepare additional formwork under a street toilet, garden path, change house or other non-responsible structure. If the concrete remains, you will not "bury" it, but use it for its intended purpose.
6. Order concrete in the morning. Even if somewhere you made a mistake in the calculations, you can re-order the material on the same day and ensure “continuous concreting” without expansion joints.

Learn from the mistakes of others and make as few of your own as possible. If this article was helpful, give it a thumbs up 👍. If suddenly not signed, welcome to the channel.