- Most popular
- Floors & foundations
- Strongest grade
- C20/25
- Exposure class
- XC3
- Order margin
- + ~10%
Which concrete for a pad foundation?
A pad foundation is a block of concrete in the ground that supports a single point: a column, a post, a joist frame. Instead of a continuous strip, you only pour concrete where the load sits. For each pad you dig a hole down below the frost line, put in a tube form or formwork, and fill it up.
Rule of thumb for depth: at least 80 cm below ground level, so frost can't get to it. Exactly what you need depends on the soil and on what goes on top. For a heavy canopy or an extension, the structural engineer has the final say.
Calculate for a pad foundationWhich concrete for an indoor concrete slab?
The concrete slab is the layer everything else goes on. Tiles, a poured resin floor, laminate, or simply left as it is in a workshop. Order your concrete online and choose when it arrives.
An indoor concrete slab is the structural concrete floor, usually poured on a sand bed with insulation and a membrane underneath. Don't confuse it with screed: that's the thin finishing layer on top, made of sand-cement or anhydrite, a different product with different logistics. If that's what you're after, we're not your supplier.
Calculate for an indoor slabWhat concrete do I need for an outdoor floor slab?
A floor for your shed, summerhouse, storage unit or carport. Concrete takes more of a beating outdoors than indoors, so the build-up is slightly different. Calculate how much you need and order online straight away.
An outdoor floor sits on a stable, well-compacted sub-base of mixed granulate or sand. Only then does the concrete go in, usually 12 to 15 cm thick with reinforcing mesh. And it needs joints: saw or form control joints every 3 to 4 metres, or the floor will crack wherever it pleases.
Calculate for a drivewayWhat concrete do I need for an upper floor slab?
The structural topping on your lattice girder slab, or the poured floor on an upper storey. Always pumped, because there's no other way to get it up there. Work out how many m³ you need.
In most cases, an upper floor isn't poured from scratch. Lattice girder or hollow-core slabs go in first, then a poured structural topping goes over them to tie the slabs together into one unit. That layer contains the tie reinforcement. A structural topping is typically 5 to 8 cm thick. The structural engineer specifies the exact thickness and reinforcement, and their drawing takes precedence. We supply the concrete, not the design.
Calculate for an upper floor slabWhich concrete for a subfloor with foundation?
If you're building an extension, you'll usually pour the foundation edge and the floor in one go. One delivery, no cold joint, and you're done in a morning. Work out your cubic metres and order straight away.
With an extension, the foundation is often a thickened edge directly beneath the floor slab. Pour it separately and you get a joint right where the forces come together. Pouring in one go gives you a stronger whole, and it saves you a delivery day. This approach works for an extension, rear extension, conservatory, garage or detached shed. For a heavier structure or soft ground, your structural engineer decides what's needed.
Calculate for a subfloor with foundationWhich concrete for a strip foundation?
The classic foundation: a continuous strip of concrete beneath your wall. Under an extension, a shed, a garage or a garden wall. Calculate your trench volume and order online straight away.
A strip of concrete in the ground that takes the weight of a wall and spreads it over the soil beneath. It runs continuously under the whole wall, unlike a pad foundation, which only supports individual points. Typical sizes for an extension or shed: 40 to 60 cm wide and 30 to 40 cm deep, with the bottom below the frost line. What you need depends on the soil type and on what's going on top. For a load-bearing wall, your structural engineer has the final say.
Calculate for strip foundationConcrete grade by application: comparison
The recommended concrete grade, consistency, unloading method and thickness for every common job, all in one overview.
| Application | Concrete grade | Consistency | Unloading method | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pad foundation | C20/25 | XC3 | Chute/wheelbarrow/pump | Rule of thumb: min. 80 cm |
| Indoor concrete slab | C20/25 | XC3 | Chute/wheelbarrow/pump | 10 to 15 cm |
| Outdoor concrete slab | C20/25 | XC3 | Chute/wheelbarrow/pump | 12–15 cm |
| Upper floor slab | C20/25 | XC3 | pump | 8–12 cm |
| Subfloor with foundation | C20/25 | XC3 | Chute/wheelbarrow/pump | 10–15 cm |
| Strip foundation | C20/25 | XC3 | Chute/wheelbarrow/pump | 25–30 cm |
Frequently asked questions
What concrete does pinkbeton.nl supply?
C20/25 XC3, our standard grade. Consistency S3 for delivery via the chute, F4 for the trailer pump. This is set automatically based on your delivery method. Check your building plans: for load-bearing work, the structural engineer specifies the grade. If it's different, please get in touch before you order.
What is the exposure class of concrete?
The exposure class tells you what your concrete needs to withstand. We supply XC3, which is suitable for moderately humid conditions such as floors and foundations. Frost with de-icing salts or aggressive soil calls for a different class, so please get in touch. Is a class specified on your building plans? That one takes precedence.
Which unloading method is best for me?
Can the mixer truck get within about four metres of your job, and do you need less than one and a half cubic metres? Choose delivery via the chute, as it's the quickest and cheapest option. Is the job behind the house, does the concrete need to go upstairs, or do you need more cubic metres? Then the trailer pump is the answer. We pump the concrete through a hose right to where it needs to go.
How many cubic metres of concrete do I need?
Multiply length × width × thickness in metres. Add a margin of about 10% for shrinkage and an uneven subbase. Our calculator works this out for you automatically for each type of job.
What does the consistency (S3, S4, F4) mean?
The consistency tells you how fluid the concrete is. S3 is creamy and easy to work with, S4 flows out more easily for an even finish, and F4 is very fluid — handy for pumping and tight formwork.
Know what job you're doing? Work out how much concrete you need.
Choose your type of job, enter the dimensions and order the right number of cubic metres — margin included.
Go to the calculator