How Expensive is Concrete? 2023 Cost Guide!

Concrete is the most widely used structural and composite material on construction sites. It is composed of aggregate and cement fluid, which binds together with rebar and hardens over time. The reason for this hardening is that concrete becomes strong and adheres to slabs and retaining walls.

The concrete is a mixture of port land cement and mineral aggregate like sand, gravel, and rebar with an adequate amount of water. People combine these substances in a mixer to make a paste and this all gets set within some time and binds the entire mass. This mixture contains 10 to 15% of cement with 65 to 75% aggregates like gravel, sand, and crushed stone, including slabs and rebar, and 15 to 20% of water.

The hardness of the cement material is unbreakable after mixing this cement mixture. But the important thing is that most people want to know how expensive is concrete? As concrete, which is made by mixing cement and water, is the second most widely used substance after water and is used in the construction of almost every building.

But the high demand for cement can result in enhancing its prices. Due to this reason, people find it hard to complete the construction within the budget. In this article, we will discuss thoroughly how the costs of cement are measured and what factors that affect the costs of cement slabs.

Read more : How To Select the Best Water Damage Restoration Services?

So are you ready to begin the discussion? Let’s start by asking some example questions about jobs. What are you waiting for?

What is the Cost of Concrete? 

The cost of cement differs according to the area and quality. Therefore, people easily get confused about how expensive cement is. The average cost of good-quality cement is $117 per cubic yard. It means you can get high-quality cement at a price range between $104 and $144 per cubic yard.

In addition, according to the NRMCA (National Ready Mixed Concrete Association), the average cost of cement slabs is around $108 per cubic year to $113 per cubic yard. In other words, the average costs range from $8 to $18 per square foot.

When you hire someone to install cement slabs, the costs are typically charged per square foot instead of per cubic yard. However, when you order a truckload of cement, you have to pay per cubic yard. The price of cement varies based on its strength, the quantity you order, and the distance the delivery company needs to travel if you order online.

Which Factors Affect the Cost of Concrete?

We have discussed above that homeowners pay between $104 per cubic yard to $144 per cubic yard to buy the cement truckload. But costs for cement projects are influenced by different factors such as square foot fees.

The concrete costs for homeowners can vary depending on the delivery range. The price range gets changed if your home is out of the concrete delivery range. Additional fees may apply for homes outside of the designated range.

Therefore, before buying concrete, it is important to know all the factors that affect the costs of concrete and get to know how expensive concrete is. To help people in calculating the total cost of cement, here we will discuss all the factors shortly, including slab costs and the number of cubic yards needed.

So have a look at these factors such as costs and see if these factors like cement and slab change the cost of concrete per cubic feet.

• Cement costs : The cement cost can significantly impact the overall expense of your project. The more cubic yards of high-quality concrete you use for your slab, the more you have to pay.

• Concrete Costs: The costs of any concrete project are influenced by the cement and supplies used. These costs can vary depending on the amount of material needed, usually measured in cubic yards.

• Delivery Distance: If your property is outside the delivery range, you will need to pay for the extra distance in cubic yards.

• Total labor rate: The total expenditure of concrete costs is affected by the local labor wages of homeowners in the state.

• Site Conditions: If the condition of your place is not ideal, the costs of the project, especially for the concrete slab, may increase. You may need to consider using precast concrete to mitigate these costs.

• Project Schedule: if the schedule of the cement project is too small for the slab work then costs tend to be high. The concrete mix required for the project is measured in cubic yards.

• Delivery Day: If you want to get cement delivered on the weekend, then you have to pay extra costs. The cost will depend on the number of cubic yards of cement you order.

• Pre-Mixed Concrete Bags: The cement bags contain the paste made by builders with different materials. By buying these bags, you can save time but you will have to spend more money on the costs of the cubic yards of cement needed for your slab.

This was just a short review of the factors. But for you, we have discussed all the factors in detail, including the mix, cement, cubic feet, and cubic yards. So have a look at all the factors keenly till the very end.

Quality of Concrete

If you buy strong quality cement, then you have to pay more for that cement per cubic yard. But if you want to save money, then go for medium-quality cement. Because not all types of cement are available at the same time and the strength of the cement decides the price rate. 

To enhance the quality of the lower price cement, you can add extra material to the mix that makes it stronger. In this way, you can achieve high-quality concrete and save money. The other disadvantage of high-quality concrete is that it is not portable. Builders need machines to move such concrete slabs and use them in the construction of building sites.

Material Costs

The cost of any concrete construction project is directly affected by the materials and supplies used, such as cubic yards of concrete and cubic feet of slab. Additionally, the associated shipping charges influence the cost of the mix and can make them more expensive.

Delivery Distance

The other factor that affects the cost of the concrete is the delivery distance. The concrete companies take no delivery charges within a specified distance of 20 miles. Usually, they provide free delivery to the people who want the concrete within this range of cubic yards. But if you live away from this range, you may have to pay for delivery based on the cubic feet.

Then you have to pay the delivery charges for the cubic yards or cubic feet of concrete. The more distance after 20 miles means more charges for the slab. But you can avoid these extra charges by contacting the concrete company that is near your house. In this way, you do not have to wait for a long time and pay the delivery charges.

So try to find a concrete company near your home that can provide the right amount of concrete for your slab. Discuss your requirements in terms of cubic yards or cubic feet to ensure high-end quality.

Labor Rates

Labor rates are an important factor to consider when calculating the expenditure for any concrete project. The local labor rates, specified by the state, can greatly impact the overall cost. However, using construction timesheet software enables construction employees to accurately record their time on the job digitally, allowing for correct calculation of the bill.

Site Conditions

The project estimates for concrete slab installation can shoot up if site conditions are not ideal according to the cement contractors. Conditions like this include poor soil quality, wetlands, contamination, utility, and environmental or traffic issues. It is important to consider these factors before scheduling concrete delivery and starting work on decorative concrete projects. Proper planning and preparation can help ensure a smooth and efficient mix concrete process.

Project Schedule

The project costs tend to be higher if the project schedule is too small for the type of work. Projects involving a significant liquidated damage clause often require a concrete slab. It is important to accurately mix concrete in order to ensure a strong and durable structure. The amount of concrete needed can be calculated by determining the cubic feet required for the project.

Delivery Day

After a delivery distance of cubic feet, the next factor is the delivery day that affects the cost of the concrete. There are no extra charges if you order the concrete on normal days.

But if you buy concrete on the weekend, then you have to pay extra charges for the cubic feet. So make sure to avoid ordering the concrete on the weekend.

Pre-mixed Concrete Bags

If you are wondering how expensive concrete is, the cost of pre-mixed concrete bags in cubic feet is quite high. This is because these bags have other elements that help concrete to get hard. By using these bags builders just have to mix water in the combination to make a paste. But you can avoid the extra cost by ordering just concrete in cubic feet.

All the other material that builders mix in the concrete is available at a low rate, making it unnecessary to waste extra money on the bags. Additionally, calculating the required amount of material in cubic feet can help optimize costs.

Extra Services

The cost of concrete is also affected by the extra services, such as the cost per cubic feet.

• Concrete Installation

• Landscaping

• Concrete Removal

In addition to these services, the timing of bid for a concrete slab and contingency are also included. You can hire professional workers that charge less money if you want to acquire the construction work within your budget line. They can mix concrete for you in cubic feet.

Wrapping It All Up!!!

How expensive is concrete in terms of cubic feet? Indeed, the cost of concrete per cubic foot is high. But if you want to get affordable prices for concrete services, then you should consider all of these factors that can enhance the prices of concrete per cubic foot. By avoiding these factors, you can save money when hiring any installation company or working on a DIY project. Just keep these factors in mind and help yourself save money on cubic feet of concrete.