Pumping concrete is a cost-effective, efficient and versatile alternative to using dumper trucks, wheelbarrows and buckets – methods that can be strenuous, cumbersome and wasteful. By enabling you to direct the flow of concrete into the exact spot that it’s needed, pumps allow you to accurately apply concrete to the site, and achieve a smooth, attractive finish. Pumps are ideal if you need to lay the concrete in hard-to-reach areas (e.g. sites with narrow entrances, or that have limited access) as they are flexible enough to extend over, under or around obstacles above the ground.
There are two main types of concrete pump that you can hire: a landline pump and a boom pump. The option that’s best for you depends on the exact requirements of your project.
Landline concrete pumps
A landline pump uses hoses (which are either made from steel or rubber, depending on how flexible they need to be) to direct the liquid concrete to the desired location, such as a basement. Landline pumps can reach up to 200 metres, and are generally used for ground-level sites and accessing hard-to-reach spots. The flexible hose enables the concrete to pass around obstacles as it is pumped across the floor.
You might decide to use a landline pump if you require low volumes of concrete, but do not want the effort, mess and expense of using a dumper, wheelbarrows or buckets. It’s a great option if a site has a small entrance or tight spaces, and is a clean way to pump concrete directly through buildings.
Boom concrete pumps
A boom pump consists of a remote-controlled robotic arm that lifts the concrete pump up onto the site or over an obstacle, in order to lay the concrete as precisely as possible. The articulating boom is attached to a truck that can move the pump along the length of the site as necessary, and that can fully control the arm so as to reduce the manual labour involved.
Boom pumps are particularly well suited to properties or places where access is made difficult by the height of an obstacle – for example, if a back garden has no direct side access and the only option is to manoeuvre the concrete over the house, or if the concrete is being applied to a tall structure (e.g. a bridge). A boom pump’s ability to lay high volumes of concrete means that it is a popular option for large-scale construction projects.
Here at Rapid Readymix, our team can help you decide on the best concrete-laying solution for your project – whether that’s a barrow and lay service, or the use of a landline or boom concrete pump. Contact us today to find out more.
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