If you are and expert or if you are new to DIY then if you are looking for help with the perfect concrete mix Allmix have put together a guide to enable you to mix perfect concrete every time for different project requirements. Using a perfect mix will mean that your concrete will be long lasting, safe and the best it can be for your particular needs.
The most simple of concrete mix is 1 sand 2 cement 4 aggregates mixed for half an hour to a smooth finish which is a mix suitable for concrete flooring .
Grades:
Concrete grades tell you the strength of concrete after a 28 day period. Many concrete mixes abbreviate with the following;
Mix – M
Megapascal which is the compressive strength of the concrete – Mpa
Concrete compression is measured in pond per square inch – PSI
We found a helpful table that shows you a fantastic guide to various mixes for different concrete requirements;
| Concrete Grade | Mix Ratio (cement : sand : aggregates) | Compressive Strength | |
| MPa (N/mm2) | psi | ||
| Grades of Concrete | |||
| M5 | 1 : 5 : 10 | 5 MPa | 725 psi |
| M7.5 | 1 : 4 : 8 | 7.5 MPa | 1087 psi |
| M10 | 1 : 3 : 6 | 10 MPa | 1450 psi |
| M15 | 1 : 2 : 4 | 15 MPa | 2175 psi |
| M20 | 1 : 1.5 : 3 | 20 MPa | 2900 psi |
| Standard Grade of Concrete | |||
| M25 | 1 : 1 : 2 | 25 MPa | 3625 psi |
| M30 | Design Mix | 30 MPa | 4350 psi |
| M35 | Design Mix | 35 MPa | 5075 psi |
| M40 | Design Mix | 40 MPa | 5800 psi |
| M45 | Design Mix | 45 MPa | 6525 psi |
| High Strength Concrete Grade | |||
| M50 | Design Mix | 50 MPa | 7250 psi |
| M55 | Design Mix | 55 MPa | 7975 psi |
| M60 | Design Mix | 60 MPa | 8700 psi |
| M65 | Design Mix | 65 MPa | 9425 psi |
| M70 | Design Mix | 70 MPa | 10150 psi |
It’s important to realise and ensure you get the best out of your concrete and use a mix most suited to your needs. We will look at now the different settings and uses for concrete and which mix to use.
C10 Concrete – This is used for domestic and commercial settings mainly for patios, pathways and outdoor gardens.
C15 Concrete – This is used for domestic and commercial for floor bindings and curbs mainly.
C20 Concrete – This is mainly a domestic concrete used for flooring, driveways and garages.
C25 Concrete – This is used for domestic and commercial projects and is used for foundations and floors.
C30 Concrete – This is a commercial concrete used in roads and driveways and some flooring.
C35 Concrete – This is a commercial large scale concrete used in external walls and buildings.
We hope this guide helps you with the mix requirements you need for your projects however if you need any assistance or have a concrete requirement contact the experts at Allmix.
