Concrete sticker shock

[Stein]

So, I am debating whether to pour a slab foundation or frame one up for a medium sized shed.  I calculated 0.75 yards for the slab and got a quote of $364 plus tax to have 1 cubic yard of concrete delivered?!  I was expecting maybe $150 for an easy dump about 2 miles from their plant.

Is that the going rate these days?  I can buy the sacks from Lowes for $138.60 full retail.

[Ice Cap]

You are looking at that cost due to it being a short load.

[Jonathan_S]

I don't even like thinking about concrete costs.  When I had my 36'x24'x6" shop done 

[trophyhunt]

It's been a while but I think it's also cheaper to have it delivered during the week.

[Dhoey07]

You usually get charged for 3 yards min.  You could go buy some sand and gravel and bags portland cement and mix it yourself.

[Timberstalker]

No idea where you are located, however, if there is a landscape or a rental yard around some of those sell the 1-1.5 yard buggies.  Those are always about $125 per yard.  You haul it in a mixer.  Works awesome.

[Timberstalker]

Here is an example, Richland, WA.:

http://beaverbark.com/concrete-mixing-buggies/

[Stein]

Here is an example, Richland, WA.:

http://beaverbark.com/concrete-mixing-buggies/

Great idea, thanks!  I found on in Snohomish that is $137 for the amount I need.  I'll drive and pick it up to save $225.

[b0bbyg]

Here is an example, Richland, WA.:

http://beaverbark.com/concrete-mixing-buggies/

Those look nice, Make sure whatever you rent is like what is pictured with the ability to mix.

 I did a similar thing years back but it was not a buggie more a concrete cart, since it was not able to rotate and keep mixed it was pretty bad by the time I got home.  Lots of little bumps caused all the rock to start settling to the bottom and only some of it came out willingly.  Had to hand shovel/pick the last parts out and it was not the best experience.

[nwwanderer]

Try the mix on site guys, could be by far your best buy, especially if they have others close by.

[Magnum_Willys]

http://www.buncerental.com/concrete-sales.asp

[CAMPMEAT]

Ask them what kind of "slump" you should have, to be able to work the concrete before it start setting up, where you are in trouble and it the mud becomes worthless. I drove mixer and people who don't know what they're doing can get into trouble by not knowing what concert does and how fast it sets up. The hotter the day, the worse it will be.

[DRobnsn]

I used to work ready mix and currently work next door to one. I've seen guys come in and have 55 gallon drums filled with the return mud and haul it off for small jobs. If you do go this route pick a cool day and try to get the freshest mud possible. It should be extremely cheap or possibly free, most outfits just dump the mud and recycle it at that point anyway. I would think you'll have better luck with a small time ready mix outfit if you were to try this route.

[jackelope]

Call this guy. He'll get you hooked up.

[jackelope]

Talk about sticker shock!
 

[206]

Tall Concrete pic taken last week.  Halfway done.

[jackelope]

Tall Concrete pic taken last week.  Halfway done.

That one is probably a little bigger sticker shock than what's going on here.
Geesh...

[CAMPMEAT]

We poured 10,000 yards in one day at the Fred Meyer distribution center in Puyallup. They had a crew that's all they did. We had 10 inch slumps, I swear, the mud was like dirty, rocky, semi thick water almost. We'd shoot 11 yards out in a couple minutes.

[tlbradford]

You can try to negotiate to tailgate on a pour and get the short load fee reduced, however most companies have eliminated that option.  I would pay the fee rather than mix on site, but that is just my preference, after mixing many yards of concrete over the years.

[Mudman]

Are you sure its .75 yards?  Must be very small shed.  Thick edge should be present for anchor bolts and even if its not you have about 60 sq ft. 6x10?  Down here in the Oly area I am faced with 8 yard short loads now.  I cant get a truck on any small job under 450$.  Method not used much is put down visqueen.  Open and dump bags/concrete. add water and use garden rake to dry mix it.  Use quality mix not cheaper bags of sakrete its junk.  Mixing it in place saves time and money and work.  Mix it wet and be patient if your new to this.  I like to mix 1 bag fast set to 2 bags 80lb regular.  Sets quick but not crazy fast. 20 minute work time.  Also if construction is in your area stop and talk to a concrete contractor.  Flip some $ and they may stop by with some extra and help ya out.

[Ridgeratt]

You can try to negotiate to tailgate on a pour and get the short load fee reduced, however most companies have eliminated that option.  I would pay the fee rather than mix on site, but that is just my preference, after mixing many yards of concrete over the years.

Sometimes this goes sideways when the pour in front of you misjudged the forms and the 4 yards you need they ended up using a yard of yours makes for a unsightly hole in your slab.

[Crunchy]

There is a place somewhere around Puyallup that delivers and mixes it per your load order when they arrive.  I did a shed and only needed 1.5 yards.  They were able to back up next to my house and pour directly into my forms.  I didn't pay over $225 if I remember correctly.  Not sure where you are located though.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I'd look up a ready mix truck. Only pay for what they give you.

[carpsniperg2]

I always get housed with concrete deals. They always do another delivery before me. Give them extra and short me
Any one around goldendale stay away from rapid mix

[2labs]

You can try to negotiate to tailgate on a pour and get the short load fee reduced, however most companies have eliminated that option.  I would pay the fee rather than mix on site, but that is just my preference, after mixing many yards of concrete over the years.

Sometimes this goes sideways when the pour in front of you misjudged the forms and the 4 yards you need they ended up using a yard of yours makes for a unsightly hole in your slab.

AKA. Cold joint!

[Ridgeratt]

You can try to negotiate to tailgate on a pour and get the short load fee reduced, however most companies have eliminated that option.  I would pay the fee rather than mix on site, but that is just my preference, after mixing many yards of concrete over the years.

Sometimes this goes sideways when the pour in front of you misjudged the forms and the 4 yards you need they ended up using a yard of yours makes for a unsightly hole in your slab.

AKA. Cold joint!

Or the Home Depot Dash scrambling for 20+ bags of quik crete

[huntandjeep]

Are you sure its .75 yards?  Must be very small shed.  Thick edge should be present for anchor bolts and even if its not you have about 60 sq ft. 6x10?  Down here in the Oly area I am faced with 8 yard short loads now.  I cant get a truck on any small job under 450$.  Method not used much is put down visqueen.  Open and dump bags/concrete. add water and use garden rake to dry mix it.  Use quality mix not cheaper bags of sakrete its junk.  Mixing it in place saves time and money and work.  Mix it wet and be patient if your new to this.  I like to mix 1 bag fast set to 2 bags 80lb regular.  Sets quick but not crazy fast. 20 minute work time.  Also if construction is in your area stop and talk to a concrete contractor.  Flip some $ and they may stop by with some extra and help ya out.

8 yard short load is crazy !  In Yakima we have a 4 yard short load ( or most do I pour so much a year I don't have to worry about that ) .

[tlbradford]

8 yard short load fee is not right.  8 yards is what a standard mixer holds.  10 yards if they have the extra wheel set and no steep hills to climb.  I guess it would be about 10 years ago, I started to see some fees get added into concrete pricing.  You would get "environmental fee" and "fuel surcharge" added onto each bill.  Yakima has some of the highest concrete prices in the state.  I couldn't believe the bids I received for the physical therapy office I am building right now. 

[tlbradford]

You can try to negotiate to tailgate on a pour and get the short load fee reduced, however most companies have eliminated that option.  I would pay the fee rather than mix on site, but that is just my preference, after mixing many yards of concrete over the years.

Sometimes this goes sideways when the pour in front of you misjudged the forms and the 4 yards you need they ended up using a yard of yours makes for a unsightly hole in your slab.

AKA. Cold joint!

Or the Home Depot Dash scrambling for 20+ bags of quik crete

Been there.  However, I only would tailgate if it was 2 yards or less and not an important pour. 

[huntandjeep]

8 yard short load fee is not right.  8 yards is what a standard mixer holds.  10 yards if they have the extra wheel set and no steep hills to climb.  I guess it would be about 10 years ago, I started to see some fees get added into concrete pricing.  You would get "environmental fee" and "fuel surcharge" added onto each bill.  Yakima has some of the highest concrete prices in the state.  I couldn't believe the bids I received for the physical therapy office I am building right now.

Here in Yakima the trucks can legally haul 11 yards , as for the high price  I get contractor price . Just over a $100 a yard + fuel , environmental fee and zoneage. Key in Yakima is don't use Pre Mix. They use to have competitive prices but since Newcastle bought them they stopped being so competitive.

[Dhoey07]

8 yard short load fee is not right.  8 yards is what a standard mixer holds.  10 yards if they have the extra wheel set and no steep hills to climb.  I guess it would be about 10 years ago, I started to see some fees get added into concrete pricing.  You would get "environmental fee" and "fuel surcharge" added onto each bill.  Yakima has some of the highest concrete prices in the state.  I couldn't believe the bids I received for the physical therapy office I am building right now.

Here in Yakima the trucks can legally haul 11 yards , as for the high price  I get contractor price . Just over a $100 a yard + fuel , environmental fee and zoneage. Key in Yakima is don't use Pre Mix. They use to have competitive prices but since Newcastle bought them they stopped being so competitive.

I thought Oldcastle owned Pre-mix?

[dontgetcrabs]

I think it's still Oldcastle? PreMix's concrete prices aren't that far out of line, but their crushed rock prices are obscene.

[tlbradford]

I think it's still Oldcastle? PreMix's concrete prices aren't that far out of line, but their crushed rock prices are obscene.

Correct, it's Oldcastle now.  They bought into the market about a year and a half ago.

[dontgetcrabs]

I think it's still Oldcastle? PreMix's concrete prices aren't that far out of line, but their crushed rock prices are obscene.

Correct, it's Oldcastle now.  They bought into the market about a year and a half ago.

Oldcastle has had the Yakima market for at least 4 years and I think more than that, but can't recall the exact year.

[huntandjeep]

I think it's still Oldcastle? PreMix's concrete prices aren't that far out of line, but their crushed rock prices are obscene.

Correct, it's Oldcastle now.  They bought into the market about a year and a half ago.

Oldcastle has had the Yakima market for at least 4 years and I think more than that, but can't recall the exact year.

You guys are right it's Oldcastle ( not sure why I typed Newcastle ). They've had Yakima for easily 9+ years.

[2labs]

Talking Central pre-mix? The Murphy's sold out?

[huntandjeep]

Talking Central pre-mix? The Murphy's sold out?

Yes Central Pre Mix. Oldcastle bought them , Graham and Morris , ECP ( I believe )  and a few others around Washington.

[dontgetcrabs]

I think it's still Oldcastle? PreMix's concrete prices aren't that far out of line, but their crushed rock prices are obscene.

Correct, it's Oldcastle now.  They bought into the market about a year and a half ago.

Oldcastle has had the Yakima market for at least 4 years and I think more than that, but can't recall the exact year.

Dang time flies, it's been 14 years.

[Mudman]

Well you can still get cont. price under 90$ but usually around 87-96$ish depending on your volume.  Homeowner prices well over 100+.  Miles has destroyed local competitors and price increases followed.  As much as 25$ in less than 2 years.  Short loads, environmental, fuel surcharges even charges can be levied if you send back to much concrete.  Example a recent pour I did, pump mix was 92$ yard but with all the crap its 103$ plus tax so 112$ a yard.  And they are not the most expensive.  11 yard mixers typical.  Truck time is another hidden cost for many, it sucks.  If your a regular they don't charge it usually.  When I started pouring concrete it was under 40$ a yard!!!20+ years of inflation??  Wow.  It sucks too when Customers get that deer in headlights look for prices. $ isn't going in my pocket but the concretes pockets are full.