As with all the commercial and industrial products, concrete prices are all impacted by the micro and macro-economics, demographics and most of the consumer trends all around us.
Again, as with the prices of concrete, cement and sand (all major components in the manufacture of concrete), they in turn causes an impact into the other intra-related industries.
Price changes
First, the changes in the price of sand and gravel reverberates in the construction industry and can influence the industry revenues. Like all the price changes of consumer items that are consumed everyday (i.e., gas), the price of sand, for instance, had slightly decreased.
This, in turn, resulted in the reduced demand for these manufacturing inputs in the production of concrete.Reduced demand for these inputs contributes to lower final prices, negatively affecting industry demand if volumes remain stable or fall.
Raw materials
Domestic concrete, cement and sand prices are expected to decrease slightly (circa 2023). This domestic price of concrete, cement and sand can be used as a proxy for the pricing of rock, limestone and clay due to some similar demand drivers and markets.
On one hand, an increase in the price of industry products can give the industry an opportunity to expand. This is the time when revenues and profits can rise.
On the other hand, however, a decline in these prices can negatively affect the industry if volumes do not increase. Several factors shape these price changes, even amid demands and availability. (The last one was the recent occurrence and decline of the pandemic.)
As it is, cement and aggregates are the principal inputs into concrete production. Trends in construction influence fluctuations in cement price and its availability.
Concrete cost
Concrete is the main common building material in the making of a structure. However, the prices for it can fluctuate dramatically all throughout, based on the project and a number of key factors.
The first measure for the price of concrete is calculated in square meters. Your supplier’s concrete installer will visit your project or property first and will want to measure your exact needs in order to get the job properly.
Labor
The next variable component is labor. How much concrete you need will also affect the volume of labor involved. The more extensive your project is, the more workers will be needed to get it done in a timely manner.
Since concrete is a time-based project that has to move efficiently while the mixture is ready, you do not cut corners or do shortcuts.
Choices
In projects involving concrete, you can do some significant savings if you choose to go with a mainstay like plain concrete.
Concrete comes in a wide variety of colors, finishes, applications, and uses. But when all is said and done, there’s nothing like the versatility and timelessness of plain concrete.
You simply can’t go wrong whether you’re installing a new slab, updating a driveway, or installing modern floors in your home. Plain concrete has a classic grey look that goes with any design aesthetic and can easily take care of it over its lifetime.
PCC (plain cement concrete)
Plain concrete, also known as PCC to industry experts, is a mixture of cement, an aggregate, usually sand, and water that creates a solution that hardens naturally as it dries.
The drying, or curing, process can take several days to complete, and should be allowed to finish before walking on or using the surface in any way.
This versatile building material can be found everywhere from home foundations to driveways in commercial and many other residential applications. In fact, it’s the second most used item in the world after water.
It has become an essential part of our building processes. To date, it has developed some techniques like reinforcement to add strength to the material and allow it to perform its high-pressure functions.
Drainage
This one is a big component of installing concrete of any sort. Since concrete is naturally non-permeable, you’ll need to make sure that the surface is not only stellar-looking, but also graded away from the home to allow for proper runoff.
Some contractors will also allow for the proper drainage solutions around the job site that include gravel and soil compaction to ensure that your concrete will not settle and crack over time.
Delivery fees
Be wary in dealing with companies that also charge extra delivery fees. Concrete is costly enough to move.Often, it is mixed or prepared near the job site to reduce labor and inconvenience on behalf of the contractor.
There may be other costs involved in coordinating the delivery of your concrete to your job site especially if the company you choose is not concrete specialists themselves.
Timing
Depending on your project, you might have to wait for your concreter to be available to do the work for you. It has been long enough for construction and concrete services are in high demand.
Ensure that you work with a company that has room in its schedule not only for new projects but also for projects of your type and size.
Extras
Even if it is plain concrete, there is still so much one can do to jazz things up. Plain concrete can be stamped, etched, or even pave-cut to give it a new dimension and design interest.
There is no need to do changes in the mix itself. It is simply a matter of choosing a finish that goes with your design aesthetic and depending on your project requirements. These extras, in turn, will cost you a bit more in their own right.
Depending on the factors we mentioned, you can expect for the time being to pay anywhere between the old price of $85 to $135 per cubic meter for plain concrete. Thatdoes not include yet the cost of labor, which can vary depending on labor availability and demand.
When you add stamping, stenciling or other additional style to your plain concrete, you will have additional costs, and looking at pricing that jumps much higher.
Finally, concrete (at near-present levels) costs an average of $117 per cubic yard, with a typical range between $104 and $144 per cubic yard. These costs will also vary depending on how far you live from the delivery company, how much concrete you order, and the type of concrete you need.
