Concrete Guides & Advice

Practical guides on ordering, mixing and pricing concrete — written to answer the questions our calculators leave open. No filler, no sales pitch.

Pouring Concrete in Cold Weather

October 10, 2026 5 min read

Below 5°C concrete slows dramatically. Below freezing, water in the mix expands and the damage is permanent.

October 6, 2026 6 min read

Mesh does not stop concrete cracking. It holds cracks tight once they form — and only if it sits in the middle of the slab, not on the ground.

October 2, 2026 5 min read

Loading order matters more than most people realise. Water first, then aggregate, then cement — dry cement into a dry drum cakes on the blades.

September 28, 2026 5 min read

Suppliers quote against what you tell them. Five pieces of information get you a firm price and a load that turns up right.

September 24, 2026 5 min read

Ten blocks per square metre for UK standard, and the arithmetic barely changes from there. Openings and wastage are what people get wrong.

September 20, 2026 5 min read

A retaining wall holds back soil that is actively trying to push it over. Almost every failure comes down to water, reinforcement or the footing.

September 16, 2026 5 min read

Divide the total rise into equal parts first. Everything else follows, and unequal risers are both a trip hazard and a regulations failure.

September 12, 2026 5 min read

One third of the height above ground, and never less than 600mm. Hole width matters just as much and gets ignored far more often.

September 8, 2026 5 min read

The base should match the shed footprint, not overhang it. Everything else follows from getting that and the levels right.

September 4, 2026 5 min read

Five dabs of mortar under each slab is how most failed patios were laid. A full bed takes slightly longer and lasts decades longer.