February 7, 2022
Material
Recycled concrete is a durable construction material made from concrete which has become too worn down to stay in use, so it’s a sustainable and easy-to-use option for construction projects. Recycled or crushed concrete, does not take the place of poured concrete, instead this product can be used as a substitute for more expensive construction aggregates. By taking old concrete and crushing into reusable pieces, you can save money, time, and effort on your next job site.
If you’re looking to learn more about the uses and benefits of recycled concrete for your next commercial project, or if you’re looking for recycled concrete hauling services, you’ve come to the right place.
Using new concrete for every construction project can get pricey, but if you switch to using recycled concrete, it will save you large expenses that you would have otherwise incurred. Plus, it will save you from going through the process of looking up proper concrete disposal laws and finding a disposal facility in your area.
Any recycled aggregate is a better financial choice because it saves you money and effort that would have been needed for securing, processing, and transporting any new construction material. And, if you’re extremely financially conscious, you’ll want to use the recycled concrete to build or repair within the same location as where it was demolished. This saves more money, especially regarding transportation, because all the materials can remain in the place where they were originally used.
Not only does using recycled concrete make sense for financial reasons, it is a more sustainable choice and is a great way to be more environmentally conscious with each construction job. If every major construction project used recycled materials, imagine how much the positive environmental impact could be increased and the carbon footprint reduced. Because of both the environmental and financial benefits, recycled concrete is a superior choice for your next job site.
To give you a better idea of how you can take advantage of recycled concrete, here is a list of 5 popular job sites that can use recycled concrete. You may be surprised to learn how versatile it can be!
Using recycled concrete can help save a lot of time, money, and effort in the creation and expansion of highways (or any roadways that have a pre-existing layer of concrete). Since a concrete layer is already present, there is plenty of concrete available to recycle and use to repair, build, or expand existing highways.
Like with roads, parking lots can be made from recycled concrete—especially since it can be used to make aggregates which are strong enough to handle large numbers of heavy cars and other vehicles. Just because it’s recycled doesn’t mean it’s any less durable than new concrete!
This one may seem obvious after listing highways and parking lots, but since driveways are one of the most common job sites which use concrete, we think it’s important to mention it here as well. Similar to roads and parking lots, recycled concrete can be used for residential projects like driveways.
Recycled concrete isn’t just for roads, though—it’s an extremely versatile material that can also be used for landscaping and decoration. More specifically, it can be used to build retaining walls, raised flower or garden beds, or yard drainage systems.
Sidewalks and other community paths can also benefit from using recycled concrete—which can even be turned into decorative concrete if you’re looking to add some flair to a hiking path, sidewalk, or patio.
Our best recommendation for hauling recycled concrete is using a steel end dump trailer, which is a great option for large or overweight hauls. The way end dumps work is by delivering the material through a back gate that is raised from the front and then dumps out the material.
Something important to remember when hauling recycled concrete with an end dump trailer is that the trailer must be placed on level ground. Otherwise, the trailer may not remain stable and could result in a poor job.
Other popular hauling options include aluminum end dump trailers and dump tracks, but we prefer to use steel end dump trailers over aluminum end dump trailers or dump trucks because they are a more durable choice and can handle rougher and heavier materials.
For all your hauling material needs, we’re your go-to provider. We offer recycled concrete services in the Waco, Bryan, and Austin areas of Texas, so if you’re looking to make an environmentally- and pocket-friendly move for your next construction project, contact us for recycled concrete today.
An end dumps carry weight depends heavily on the specific road regulations, the power unit weight, and the composition of the trailer. A steel trailer, typically referred to as a Round Bottom, will be heavier and will have a payload of approximately 21 to 23 tons. By contrast, an aluminum end dump is much lighter and can carry anywhere from 23-28 tons, with some set-ups being able to approach 30-ton payloads.
End dumps are typically loaded by heavy machinery, such as a front-end loader or excavator, or by a series of conveyor belts. End dumps are top load trailers. An owner-operator with an end dump trailer will uncover the trailer via an electric tarp switch in the cab. With the trailer uncovered, the heavy machinery is free to load from the top of the trailer, being careful to evenly distribute the material. Once loaded, the owner-operator flips the tarp switch, covers the load, and continues their run.
There are several different types of hydraulic lifts that are usually part of dump trailers. These include telescopic, dual-piston, and scissor lifts, among others. Most dump trailers use hydraulics to automatically lift the dump box and unload the materials in a quick, seamless action.
An end dump is an excellent investment for owner operators or construction companies that transport bulk aggregate on a frequent basis. Depending on your needs, a steel or aluminum end dump will ensure that you are able to reliable keep your customers jobsites and stockpiles full.
Depending on market timing, a typical aluminum end dump will range between $15,000 to $70,000+, with steel round bottoms priced around $10,000-$50,000+. These trailers are also offered for rent or lease, with trailers available for around $850-$2,000 per month. When renting or leasing, it is typical for all repairs to be the responsibility of the renting owner operator.
Flex base can be an excellent choice for a driveway but is not often used as a primary input in TXDOT construction. Flex base is best suited for farm roads, driveways, RV pads, and for other foundations that will not receive heavy traffic. Flex base is cheaper than most alternative options, such as asphalt or base that meets TXDOT specifications. Additionally, once set and compacted, a flex base road or driveway is cheaper and easier to maintain.
Yes, road base and flex base are the same material family. That said, the differentiating factor is typically the testing results of each material. When shopping for material, it is important to identify exactly what type of material you are buying. Retailers will categorize Base as a broad category and can leave identification to consumers, which is challenging and confusing. In general, if a retailer is selling a Road Base it can be assumed that the material is of higher construction quality than flex base, meaning it will have a wider range of approved uses. However, some vendors will sell Flex Base as a Road Base; this makes it important to understand if the material you are purchasing is a true Flex Base, is ‘Spec 247’, or is TXDOT approved. With each increase in quality comes an increase in cost, so it is important to identify which material will best suit the needs of your project.
Flex Base is a mixture of loose aggregate and coarse aggregate, can be a wide range of color based on source location, and is composed of materials ranging from dirt to rock that are 1”-3” in size. Most Flex Base, particularly around Central Texas, will range from tan to brown, will consist of a dirt material and rocks that range from 1” to 2” in diameter. There are specialty materials that will include rocks up to 3” in size, but these are typically reserved for heavy construction projects.
Any driveway’s depth should be at least 5” to ensure structural integrity and better load capacity. For road base in particular, experts recommend a thickness of 6-8”.
Twisted Nail is here to help. If you need something hauled in central Texas, we can get your job done, safely, timely, and reliably.
