Building a patio is a rewarding DIY project that adds real value to your home and creates a great outdoor space. But should you buy ready-mix concrete or mix your own? Let’s look at both options to help you choose what works best for your project.
What is Ready Mix Concrete?
Ready mix concrete arrives at your home already mixed with the right amounts of cement, sand, gravel, and water. A truck delivers it straight to your door, which means no measuring or mixing for you.
Ready Mix Concrete: The Benefits
Speed and convenience are the biggest advantages. When the concrete truck arrives, you can pour your entire patio in one go. No stopping to mix more batches or running out halfway through.
Reliable quality because professionals mix it using exact measurements and proper equipment. This means your patio will be strong and even throughout.
Less hard work for you. Instead of spending hours mixing concrete, you can focus on preparing your base and getting everything level.
Perfect for larger patios. If your patio is bigger than about 10 square metres, ready-mix concrete makes much more sense. Mixing that much concrete by hand would take ages and leave you exhausted.
Ready Mix Concrete: The Downsides
Higher cost upfront is the main drawback. You’ll pay more per cubic metre compared to buying materials separately, though this often evens out when you consider your time.
You need to be ready when the truck arrives. Once the concrete starts flowing, you can’t pause the delivery. Your base must be completely prepared, and you need enough helpers on hand.
Minimum orders mean you might need to buy more than your small project actually needs.
Mixing Your Own: The Benefits
Lower material costs make this option attractive if you’re watching your budget. Buying cement, sand, and gravel separately costs less than ready mix.
Work at your own pace. You can mix a wheelbarrow at a time, place it carefully, then mix the next batch. Great for weekend projects where you want to take your time.
Good for small jobs. If you’re building a small path or tiny patio, mixing your own makes perfect sense.
Learn as you go. You’ll understand exactly what goes into concrete and gain useful skills for future projects.
Mixing Your Own: The Challenges
Really hard work. Mixing concrete by hand is genuinely tough going. Even with a small mixer, you’ll be lifting heavy materials all day.
Quality can vary between batches. It’s difficult to get exactly the same mix every time, which can create weak spots in your finished patio.
Takes much longer. What could be finished in a morning with ready mix might take a whole weekend when mixing your own.
Risk of weak joints. If you take too long between batches, you get weak lines where old concrete meets new. The Concrete Society explains how these joints can weaken your finished patio.
Which Should You Choose?
For most patio projects, ready mix concrete from National Mini Mix is the smart choice.
Choose ready mix if:
- Your patio is bigger than 6 square metres
- You want the job done quickly
- You have several people to help
- Quality matters most to you
- You don’t mind paying extra for convenience
Choose to mix your own if:
- Your patio is very small (under 4 square metres)
- You’re on a tight budget
- You enjoy the physical challenge
- You have plenty of time
- You’re comfortable with potentially uneven results
Getting Good Results
Whatever method you choose, success depends on proper preparation. Your base must be level, well-compacted, and properly marked out. Have all your tools ready before you start, and don’t work with concrete in freezing weather or blazing heat.
If you choose ready mix, make sure you have enough people to help. Concrete doesn’t wait around, and you’ll need to work quickly once it arrives.
The Bottom Line
Ready mix concrete costs more initially but saves you time, effort, and usually gives better results. For most DIY patio projects, it’s worth the extra cost. You’ll finish faster with less stress and end up with a stronger patio that lasts longer.
Mixing your own works for smaller projects where budget is your main concern. Just be prepared for serious physical work and accept that results might not look quite as professional.
Whatever you choose, take time with planning and preparation. Good patios start with solid groundwork and realistic expectations about what’s involved.
