Concrete is the backbone of modern construction. From the moment you break ground to the final touches on exterior walkways, it plays a role in every phase of your project. But not all concrete delivery methods are created equal—and if you’re still relying on traditional ready-mix, you’re likely losing time, wasting material, and struggling with rigid timelines.
This is where volumetric concrete mixing stands apart. By delivering freshly mixed concrete on-site, directly when it’s needed, volumetric systems eliminate waste, cut downtime, and offer unmatched flexibility across every construction stage.
Whether you’re pouring deep foundations, forming structural walls, laying slab-on-grade floors, or handling last-minute patchwork, on-site volumetric mixing adapts to the demands of the job. Below, we’ll break down how this method supports each phase—giving builders, developers, contractors, and property managers a smarter way to work.
What Is Volumetric Concrete Mixing?
Volumetric mixing involves a mobile concrete truck that carries raw materials—cement, sand, aggregates, water, and admixtures—in separate compartments. The concrete is mixed on location, in real-time, as it’s being poured. You’re not receiving concrete that was mixed an hour ago. You’re getting it fresh, every single time.
This approach means:
- No more over-ordering or short pours
- No stress about delays affecting the mix quality
- Full control over slump, PSI, and additives
- The ability to stop and start without wasting product
It’s not just about better concrete. It’s about better project management.
1. Groundwork and Early Site Prep
Before anything vertical can be built, the site must be excavated, leveled, and prepared. During this phase, small but crucial pours are needed—like base pads, elevator pits, trench footings, and isolated pads for equipment.
Volumetric concrete is perfect for early site work because:
- The volumes are often small and irregular—hard to estimate
- Traditional delivery minimums make small pours expensive
- Access can be tight, especially in downtown or infill lots
With mobile concrete mixing, the truck can pour exactly what’s needed—no waste, no risk of ordering too much. It also eliminates the need to wait for a second delivery or pay short-load fees.
2. Footings and Foundations
Concrete foundations carry the load of the entire structure. Getting this phase right is non-negotiable. But when you’re working with trenches of varying depth and different bearing conditions, flexibility is key.
Volumetric concrete allows you to:
- Adjust the mix on-site depending on soil conditions
- Pour different footings across one session, with one truck
- Pour continuously for longer stretches, with consistent quality
There’s no stress about the concrete starting to cure in the drum or arriving too late. You’re in full control of timing and mix design, which means your crew can focus on the pour—not managing logistics.
3. Foundation Walls and Load-Bearing Elements
Once the footings are done, the next phase includes forming and pouring foundation walls, piers, and retaining elements. These elements often require high-strength concrete and have specific rebar placements that take time to work around.
Benefits of volumetric concrete in this phase include:
- Pouring as slowly or quickly as the crew requires
- Adjusting mix properties in real-time if weather conditions shift
- Handling multiple structural elements with one truckload
This eliminates the risk of cold joints or waste from an unused drum load. Your crew sets the pace, and the mixer follows.
4. Slab-on-Grade and Flooring Systems
Large concrete slabs are foundational to commercial and industrial buildings. But they’re also sensitive to mix temperature, hydration timing, and workability. With traditional delivery, you’re locked into a fixed schedule—and any delay can ruin the finish.
Volumetric delivery solves that by:
- Allowing you to pause and resume as needed without affecting mix quality
- Customizing mixes mid-pour for different PSI requirements or additives
- Ensuring fresh material throughout extended pours
Whether you’re pouring a warehouse floor, an office slab, or multi-phase podium levels, you get total consistency—no matter how many hours the pour takes.
5. Columns, Shear Walls, and Stairs
Vertical concrete elements require careful timing and often smaller quantities. You don’t want to over-order, but you can’t risk a shortage either.
Volumetric mixing offers:
- Fine-tuned volumes for exact amounts
- Mix adjustability for vertical flow and faster curing
- Less pressure on your crew to “pour fast before it sets”
This is especially helpful in staged high-rise or multi-unit developments where different pours are scheduled across various floors and timelines.
6. Exterior Concrete and Hardscape Elements
Once the building structure is complete, attention turns to exterior work: sidewalks, ramps, entry pads, loading areas, retaining walls, and patios. These are small pours, but they need to look good and perform well.
Volumetric concrete is ideal for hardscaping because:
- You only pay for what you use (even for 0.75m³ or 1.1m³ pours)
- You can schedule multiple pours in one trip—like a curb, pad, and ramp
- The mix can be adjusted for decorative finishes, colour, or sealing additives
This is especially helpful for projects in retail, residential, or municipal settings where traffic or public access needs to be maintained.
7. Specialized Applications and Final Touches
In the final stages of a project, you may need small concrete volumes for things like:
- Bollard footings
- Sign bases
- Equipment pads
- Stairs and step extensions
- Garage aprons or transition ramps
These are often added late in the schedule, when traditional delivery options are no longer cost-effective. With volumetric concrete, your crew can knock off these pours efficiently without waste or rescheduling.
And because the mix is prepared on demand, there’s no waiting or guessing—just show up and pour.
8. Rework, Repairs, and Add-Ons
Almost every construction project involves some kind of correction, patch, or additional work. Whether it’s a revised curb layout, a last-minute electrical trench, or a misaligned ramp, volumetric mixing helps close out those final tasks fast.
Here’s how it adds value:
- Dispatch a small truck for next-day service
- Pour exactly what’s needed—no overage
- Save time by combining different repair pours into one visit
This flexibility makes volumetric concrete essential not only during construction but in ongoing maintenance cycles as well.
Extended Benefits Across All Phases
Volumetric mixing isn’t just a solution for one part of your build. It offers measurable benefits across the entire project lifecycle:
Time-Saving
- No delays waiting on supplier windows
- No rush unloading to beat set times
- Less downtime for crews on-site
Cost Control
- Eliminate short-load fees
- Reduce waste to nearly zero
- Pay only for the exact amount you use
Better Scheduling
- Pour when your crew is ready
- Avoid mix degradation during traffic delays
- Simplify logistics with one truck, multiple pour options
Improved Quality
- Fresh mix for every pour
- Admixtures added at the right moment
- Consistent results regardless of weather or pour duration
Use Cases Across Construction Sectors
Volumetric concrete is being used in:
- Commercial construction (retail plazas, offices, industrial)
- Residential builds (custom homes, subdivisions, basements, driveways)
- Municipal projects (sidewalks, curbs, utility trenches, ramps)
- Institutional jobs (schools, health facilities, government buildings)
- Infrastructure maintenance (patching roads, catch basins, access points)
No matter the project size or complexity, the ability to produce the exact mix you need—on-site and on demand—is a game changer.
Building Smarter with Volumetric Concrete
From the first footing to the final curb, every construction phase has its challenges. Materials, timelines, weather, crew coordination—it all adds up. But when it comes to concrete, you can eliminate a major variable by switching to on-site volumetric mixing.
You’ll spend less time waiting, waste fewer materials, and have more control over your mix, your schedule, and your project outcome. Whether you’re pouring early morning footings or wrapping up with a parking pad, this method meets the demands of today’s fast-paced, detail-oriented building environments.
Need Concrete That Works on Your Terms?
CeMix Concrete delivers volumetric concrete solutions across Southern Ontario, from foundations to finishes. Our trucks are ready to mix when and where you need them—no waste, no waiting, just dependable, flexible concrete that works with your schedule.
Contact us today for a quote or to schedule a delivery.
📞 1-866-660-0009
🌐 www.cemix.ca
