Concrete has a lot of uses, but it is not a generic substance or one-size-fits-all solution. You need to understand a few things to ensure that you get concrete that will hold up to your needs and will last over the years.

The concrete mix is the most critical part to consider when you buy concrete. Cement, gravel, sand, and water make up the mix, which is customized to fit the use. The concrete company can adjust the aggregates to create a mix that works well for your situation. They will custom mix the concrete at the plant for you before delivery.

When you pour concrete in a slab or in a large area, the concrete may need some extra help to avoid damage over time. To keep the concrete together, place steel rebar in the forms so that the concrete covers them. The rebar is cut in small sections and built into a grid the runs through the concrete. Once the concrete cures, the rebar becomes a part of the concrete slab or wall.

The forms that hold the concrete in place until it cures need to be built carefully so that they stand up to the weight of the wet concrete. The material is heavy when you first put it in the form, and if you don't construct the form properly, the concrete coming out of the truck chute can place a lot of pressure on the walls of the form.

Figuring out how much concrete you need is a little harder, but some great calculators are available online. You only have to enter the dimensions, and the calculator will tell you how much concrete you need. Some of these calculators give you the amount in cubic yards of concrete, and some tell you how many bags or ready-mix concrete you are going to need.