buying ballast to make concrete, help please

happyhero

Hi I can't believe I cannot find the answer to this anywhere, such an obvious question but I have searched and googled and had no luck. Plenty of information on mixes etc but no answer to what I need.

I am making concrete for various jobs in back garden, putting posts in etc., and have been buying those normal standard bags of ballast but I need a fair bit now and I am wondering whether it is worth ordering one of those jumbo bags instead.

Are they also called 1 tonne bags?

And most importantly since I know how many standard bags I need for each job, how many standard bags are in a jumbo bag?

Any help appreciated.

robv_3

Jumbo bags work out about the same as little bags. Loose on the other hand is cheap, eg £16 per ton.

0.6m2
~800->1000kg

happyhero

robv wrote: »

Jumbo bags work out about the same as little bags. Loss of the other hand is cheap, eg £16 per ton.

0.6m2
~800->1000kg

cheers robv but sorry if I am being dumb here but you have lost me.

what does loss of the other hand mean?

where do you get the £16 from, I have found that a tonne is about £40 in most places?

Also I thought buying in bulk would save money?

spakkker

Where I live you can get stuff delivered loose from £30 a ton ,now its quiet in building trade. You will be surprised how much more you get like this than in a bag- 800kg.
Used to be cheaper to bulk buy when transport cost more than the sand!
Ask for mixed gravel ,and maybe chuck in some sharp sand when you mix it- the idea is for particle size to be graded so you need less cement to "fill in the gaps" - for what you are doing I'd include a good bit of hardcore if availadle and if you are really doing a lot of area may be worth getting a wacker in as then you can lay concrete a bit thinner.

maninthestreet

happyhero wrote: »

cheers robv but sorry if I am being dumb here but you have lost me.

what does loss of the other hand mean?

where do you get the £16 from, I have found that a tonne is about £40 in most places?

Also I thought buying in bulk would save money?

Perhaps he meant 'lots on the other hand..' ??

heretohelp

the last time i got a jumbo bag of sand the invoice i think said it weighed 940kg + or - so many kg. the small bags out of b&q weigh 20kg.

27col

I have always made concrete from "20mm all in aggregate" Which means everything up to 20mm. I have done a lot of concreting with my neighbour around his garden. I am not sure what it costs delivered per bag.
I loved the bit about the"loss of the other hand"
If you are going to be mixing your own, then you really need to know the volume of the bag and not its weight. When you do your calculations for your mix. they are based on volumes of materials. In any event, the weight of the bag will vary according to how wet the contents are.

markie1980

happyhero wrote: »

what does loss of the other hand mean?

I think he meant loose - as in a big lorry drives up to your house and dumps a big pile of it on the floor!

I pay about £36 per bag for the '1 tonne' bags (0.6m2) so at about 40-50 little bags (20kg) bags @ about £3-4 each i would say it works out alot cheaper!

robv_3

soz, was ment to be loose.