Guide · Central Arkansas
Which concrete mix do you need?
Most residential and light-commercial pours come down to four questions: how strong, exposed to weather or not, how fast it needs to carry load, and whether plans already specify it. Here is how each answer changes the mix, and what to tell dispatch.
PSI: what the strength number means
PSI is the compressive strength the concrete is designed to reach at 28 days. A higher number costs a little more cement and buys a denser, more durable slab. For most work the choice is between 3,000 and 4,000 PSI:
- 3,000 PSI — footings and piers, fence posts, interior floors not exposed to weather, pads that carry foot traffic.
- 3,500–4,000 PSI — driveways, garage and shop floors, patios and sidewalks, equipment pads, anything that carries vehicles or sits out in freeze-thaw weather. This is the usual choice for exterior flatwork in Central Arkansas.
- 4,000 PSI and up — heavy equipment pads, commercial floors, and anything an engineer has specified. Send the specification and we confirm in writing.
Fiber-reinforced mixes
Synthetic fibers blended into the mix reduce plastic-shrinkage cracking (the fine cracks that show up in the first hours as the surface dries) and add some toughness. Fiber is a good default for slabs, driveways and pads. It does not replace rebar or wire where the design calls for structural reinforcement, and it can leave a slightly hairy finish on a broom-finished surface, which weathers off.
Air-entrained mixes
Air entrainment puts millions of microscopic bubbles in the paste so water has room to expand when it freezes. Ask for it on exterior flatwork that will see freeze-thaw cycles and de-icing: driveways, sidewalks, steps, patios. Do not use it on interior floors that will be hard-troweled; the bubbles make troweling difficult and can cause surface blistering.
High-early-strength options
When a slab has to carry traffic sooner, or when cold weather slows curing, a high-early-strength mix reaches working strength in days instead of a week or more. Typical uses: a driveway that has to be drivable by the weekend, a repair on a busy access road, a cold-weather pour with a tight schedule. It sets faster, so the finishing crew needs to be ready when the truck is.
Decorative and specialty options
Integral color, exposed-aggregate finishes and stamped work start with the right base mix and the right slump. Tell us what the finisher is planning so the mix is batched for it. Decorative options are subject to approval per job.
Flowable fill
Flowable fill (controlled low-strength material) is a self-leveling, low-strength mix used to backfill utility trenches, fill abandoned pipes and tanks, and bed culverts. It flows into place without compaction and can be dug out later with hand tools. It is not a slab or footing material.
Job to mix, at a glance
| Job | Typical mix | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Footings, piers, post holes | 3,000 PSI | Fiber optional; follow the plans if there are any |
| Driveway, parking pad | 3,500–4,000 PSI, air-entrained, fiber | Broom finish; 4 in. minimum, 5–6 in. for trucks |
| Garage or shop floor | 3,500–4,000 PSI, fiber | Interior: skip air entrainment if hard-troweled |
| Patio, sidewalk, steps | 3,500 PSI, air-entrained | Exposed to weather and de-icers |
| Equipment or generator pad | 4,000 PSI, fiber | Thickness and rebar per the equipment's spec sheet |
| Barn, shop or carport slab | 3,500–4,000 PSI, fiber | Air-entrained if open to the weather |
| Culvert bedding, trench backfill | Flowable fill | Not for slabs or footings |
| Anything with engineered plans | As specified | Send the plans and submittal requirements before booking |
These are common starting points, not a substitute for the plans, the inspector or the engineer on your project. When a specification exists, it wins.
Slump: how wet the mix should be
Slump measures workability. A stiffer mix (lower slump) holds its shape for footings and slopes; a wetter mix (higher slump) flows into forms and pumps more easily. Adding water on site to make concrete easier to place lowers its strength, so tell dispatch how the crew plans to move and finish the concrete and the mix is batched for that instead.
What to send with your quote
- The job: what you are pouring and how thick.
- Exposure: inside, or outside in the weather.
- Timing: when it needs to carry load, and whether it is a cold-weather pour.
- Any plans, specifications or inspector requirements.
- Placement: chute, wheelbarrow, buggy or pump, and how far from the truck.
- The yards. The concrete calculator does that math and carries it into the quote form.
Standard structural, fiber-reinforced, air-entrained, high-early-strength, decorative and flowable-fill mixes are available subject to approval. Start at performancereadymix.com/quote or call dispatch at (501) 722-2246. Se habla español: (501) 260-7391.
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