2001 13th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713

How to Buy Concrete

How to Order Concrete

Ordering Concrete from Carroll’s Building Materials is a simple process, and can be done over the phone, or online. The following is a step-by-step guide to help make your next concrete order quick and easy:

Step 1

The Basic Information: Gather Information About Your Concrete Needs

Before you call, gather this basic information:

  • What are you pouring? What are you using the concrete for?
  • How many yards of concrete do you need? For a detailed tutorial on how to measure concrete yardage, please see our DIY Concrete Guide — Or, just call with your project measurements and we can help you figure out how much concrete is needed.
  • Gather the contact info for the person who will be managing the concrete pour on the day of delivery: Name, cell phone number, backup phone number
  • Optional: Read our complete DIY Concrete Guide to learn everything you need to know for a successful concrete pour.

Step 2

Give us a call!

  • Date of Concrete Delivery?
  • Name, Address of project, Phone number.
  • Do you need a Concrete Pump? — How many feet to the farthest point of the pour?
  • Do you need Concrete Fiber? — Learn about Concrete Fiber. Read our complete DIY Concrete Guide.
  • Compression Strength? — Compressive strength must be specified at the time of ordering. (ie. 3000 psi, 3500 psi, 4000 psi, 4500 psi and 5000 psi). More psi = more strength and durability. (Also Note: the higher the PSI the shorter the set time will be.) Typically 80% of the slabs in Florida will be 3000 psi.
  • Will you need a grout mix?
  • Is there a washout area?
  • Will a wheelbarrow be used to transport the concrete?

Step 3

Get Ready. 

Now that your concrete is scheduled, here are a few things that might help —

Note: Concrete Dispatch will call the night before the pour to make sure we are still ready to go. We do not finish concrete. We only deliver concrete. However, we can recommend a competent finisher for your specific job.

 

Do-It-Yourself check List Prior to Pour:

  • Sub grade must be compacted and moist but, free of standing water
  • Forms must be secure and capable of withstanding load pressure of fresh concrete
  • Arrange enough help to place and finish concrete. Start with a minimum of two (2) people for a 2 cubic yard pour. Add one (1) person for each additional 8 – 9 cubic yards of concrete. If you are using wheelbarrows to move the concrete from the truck to the forms, add an additional person
  • Assign specific responsibilities to helpers before concrete arrives (I.e. who screeds, bull floats, washes tools, etc.)
  • Provide acceptable access for delivery: Pathway must be of stable soil able to support up to 80,000 lbs concrete trucks. Pathway must be at least ten (10) feet wide and fourteen (14) feet high. Avoid bringing trucks over curbs, sidewalks, or driveways.
  • Move any vehicles that may be in the way, or that may get splattered with concrete.
  • The discharge chutes can reach approximately twelve (12) feet
  • Determine what type of control joints will be used to control cracking: hand tooled or saw cut.
  • Concrete used for residential applications should be at least four (4) inches thick
  • Placement of control joints should be determined in the planning step
  • Control joints should be cut as square as possible.
  • The control joint depth should be at least ¼ the thickness of the concrete
  • Avoid creating triangles or odd shaped panels when placing control joints. Have all tools out and ready to go.
  • Have water hose ready
  • Pick up any debris around the work area that may become a tripping hazard.
  • Make sure to have all imbeds ready to go, (i.e. Truss straps if you are pouring a lintel).
  • If required, have a washout area ready
  • Never hurts to have plastic ready in case of bad weather.
  • If you are pouring next to something that may get splattered with concrete (ie Sliding glass door), cover it with plastic prior to the pour. One less thing you have to worry about.
  • Have drinking water available for your crew
  • If curing compounds are to be used have them ready to go
  • Have a cell phone on-site so you can keep in touch with our concrete dispatcher

Carroll’s Building Materials is a top seller of Ready-Mix / Mix on site Concrete for the Tampa Bay, Pinellas, and St. Pete areas. Order a concrete truck delivery from Carroll’s for your next commercial or residential project. Whether you’re pouring a simple concrete driveway, or you need concrete for a large office building, Carroll’s has everything you need.