Concrete pumping blog
Concrete pumping blog
Straight answers from an operator with over 30 years in the trade: cubic metres, choosing the right pump, preparing the pour and avoiding surprises on site.
14 articles
Featured · Technical
How much concrete do I need? Work out your cubic metres step by step
A simple formula, worked examples for patios, driveways, slabs, footings and pools, and how much extra to order so your pour never stops halfway.
Read article
Planning and costConcrete pump hire cost: what decides the price of your pourWhat actually drives the cost of hiring a concrete pump on the Costa Blanca, how we build a fixed price and what to send us for an accurate quote.
The pumpHow does a concrete pump work? A plain guide from the operator’s sideHopper, pistons, valve and line: what happens inside a concrete pump, how far it can push, and what that means for your slab, pool or floor.
The pumpDo I need a concrete pump, or will the mixer lorry do?When the mixer chute is enough, when barrows make sense and when a concrete pump saves time, effort and quality. An honest check for your site.
TechnicalHow thick should a concrete slab be for a patio, driveway or house?Typical slab thicknesses for paths, patios, driveways, garages and ground floors, and why the sub-base, mesh and joints matter just as much.
Types of workBuilding a concrete swimming pool in Spain: the build, step by stepHow a concrete pool is built on the Costa Blanca, from permit and dig to floor, walls and curing, with example volumes and where the pump comes in.
Types of workLiquid screed drying time: when can you walk on it and lay the floor?Walkable after a day, but not ready for tiles or wood straight away. How thickness, screed type and the Costa Blanca climate decide when you can lay the floor.
The pumpConcrete pumping with narrow access: getting concrete where a lorry can’t goSteep lanes, tight gates and patios behind the house are normal here. How a compact pump and a long line get the concrete there, and how to check your access.
Planning and costConcrete pour checklist: how to prepare your site for pour dayA pour goes well when everything is ready before the first lorry turns up. Our checklist covers the weeks before, the day before, the day itself and curing afterwards.
Planning and costPouring concrete in hot weather: how to get it right in the Spanish summerHeat speeds up setting, dries the surface and invites cracks. How builders on the Costa Blanca plan a summer pour, from the first lorry at dawn to curing afterwards.
TechnicalConcrete curing time: when can you walk, drive and build on new concrete?Concrete hardens in hours but gains strength for weeks. The usual milestones for walking, driving and building on a new slab, and how to cure it well in the Spanish sun.
The pumpLine pump vs boom pump: which type of concrete pump suits your job?Boom pumps, line pumps, mini pumps and mixer pumps compared by an operator, including when a boom is the better choice for your site.
Types of workStamped concrete pros and cons: is it right for your driveway or patio?Stamped concrete is everywhere on the Costa Blanca, but it is not right for every job. An honest look at the advantages, the drawbacks and how it compares with paving.
Planning and costDo I need planning permission in Spain for a pool, patio or concrete slab?Obra menor, obra mayor, declaración responsable, licencia: what the Spanish terms mean for a pool, patio or slab, and why the town hall always has the final word.
What every pour teaches us, written down
This blog explains how concrete pumping works in practice on the Costa Blanca. No textbook theory: just what we see every week on sites across the Marina Baixa, the Marina Alta and Alicante, from a garden slab to a pool shell.
Need help with your own job? See our concrete pump hire with operator or the option for narrow access and old town streets. For bases, foundations and patios there is our page on concrete driveways, patios and slabs.
Before you ask for a quote
Three articles save you time: how much concrete you need, what affects the cost of a pump, and how to prepare the site for pour day. With those figures and a photo of the access, we send you a fixed price. You can send it through our concrete pump quote page.
We work from La Nucía right along the coast: Benidorm, Altea, Calpe, Jávea and Alicante, among others.