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Drum Mixers, Volumetric Mixers & Hand-Mixing – What’s best?

Home 9 Latest News 9 Drum Mixers, Volumetric Mixers & Hand-Mixing – What’s best?

Drum Mixers, Volumetric Mixers & Hand-Mixing – Why 365 Concrete Offers the Smarter Solution

At 365 Concrete, we’ve been supplying high-quality concrete throughout Surrey and the surrounding areas for nearly 50 years. Over that time, we’ve seen every method of mixing concrete, from old-school hand-mixing, to traditional drum mixers, to the modern and highly flexible volumetric mixers we proudly use today. With advances in concrete mixing technology, the age old arguement of Drum vs Volumetric Mixers is often debated in the construction field.

So how do they all compare? And why do we believe volumetric mixing is the best choice for today’s construction needs? Let’s break it down.

Hand-Mixing Concrete – Labour-Intensive and Inconsistent

Hand-mixing concrete on-site might seem cost-effective for small DIY projects, but it comes with serious drawbacks.

Problems with Hand-Mixing:

  • Inconsistent mix quality – small batches are hard to control, especially without experience.
  • Time-consuming and labour-intensive – you’ll spend more time mixing than building.
  • Hard to scale – anything beyond a small patch job becomes inefficient and exhausting.

When is it useful?

Only for very small-scale jobs, like fence posts or minor repairs. For anything else, you’re better off with a professional supply.

Concrete Drum Mixers – The Traditional Option

Drum mixers are commonly seen on roads, transporting ready-mixed concrete from batching plants to site.

Benefits:

  • Good for large, single-grade pours.
  • Reliable for jobs with no on-site mix changes.
  • Easy to order from most suppliers.

Limitations:

  • Once loaded, the mix starts to set – delays can mean wasted concrete.
  • You can’t change the mix on-site – need different slumps or strengths? You’ll need another truck.
  • You pay for the full load, even if you use less – leading to waste and added costs.

Volumetric Mixers – Why 365 Concrete Chooses This Method

At 365 Concrete, we exclusively use volumetric concrete mixers because they allow us to deliver the most flexible, cost-effective, and efficient service possible.

Why We Prefer Volumetric Mixing:

  • Concrete mixed on-site to your exact requirements.
  • No waste – only pay for what you use.
  • Change mix specs on the fly – strength, slump, and volume.
  • Perfect for phased pours, remote sites, or complex jobs.
  • Environmentally smarter – less waste and fewer return trips.

Even if volumetric loads are smaller per trip, our ability to batch on-site means no pressure, no rush, and no waste. You get exactly what you need, every time.

Why Choose 365 Concrete?

With nearly five decades in the business, we’ve seen every concrete scenario imaginable. Whether you’re laying a foundation, building an extension, or installing kerbs and footings – we have the right mix, delivered the right way. We’ve also made the Drum vs Volumetric Mixers debate easy for you, and crafted a fleet of advanced concrete mixers to make every pour more efficient and cleaner for our customers.

  • Trust in Experience – family-run with a rock-solid reputation
  • Mixed by the Best – trained drivers, precise batching
  • Zero waste, zero hassle – only pay for what you use
  • Fast, reliable service across Surrey & beyond

Get Started with 365 Concrete

Skip the guesswork of hand-mixing and the waste of traditional drums. Choose volumetric concrete from 365 Concrete and take control of your project.

📞 Call us today for expert advice and bookings
🧮 Use our online concrete calculator to find out how much you need
💻 Contact our team and book your delivery in minutes

365 Concrete – Trust in Experience and have your concrete Mixed by the Best.

WHY CHOOSE 365 CONCRETE?

With over 40 years of concrete experience, there's plenty of reason that make us the leading concrete delivery service in Surrey, Berkshire, Middlesex and Greater London. We pride ourselves on only using high grade materials sourced from eco-friendly companies. If you're looking for concrete delivery in your area, choose 365 Concrete.

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Quick Delivery

Same / Next day delivery available with a 2 hour assigned slot.

Only Pay For What You Use

We only mix onsite! This means you will only ever pay for what you use.

Competitive Prices

We keep our prices competitive without compromising on our quality service.

40 Years Concrete Experience

Decades of concrete experience means you get the best service available.