Postcrete vs concrete – what’s the difference and which is best?

Postcrete and concrete are both cement-based products but they have distinct differences that make each suitable for different applications. So what are the differences between postcrete and concrete and which is best?

What is postcrete?

Postcrete is also known as post fixing mix. It is a ready mixed cement blended with ballast (sand and gravel), originally designed for setting fence posts made of wood, concrete or metal into the ground.

Once applied, postcrete sets within 10 minutes but it needs a couple of weeks to cure and gain strength, with peak strength achieved after 1-2 years.

Cost-wise postcrete is more expensive than concrete.

What is concrete?

Concrete consists of water and cement, and rock, sand or gravel. The ratio of ingredients used in mixing the concrete affects the strength, durability and workability of the final product. While small volumes of concrete for jobs such as post fixing can be mixed by hand in a bucket, to create enough concrete for large construction projects a concrete mixer is required.

It can take anything from 24 hours to 25 days for concrete to set properly and meet its optimum strength.

Which is best, postcrete or concrete?

The advantages of postcrete are the short time it takes to set, the convenience of being ready mixed, its compatibility with most post types (wooden, concrete and metal) and the speedy completion of projects.

However, its spectrum of applications is limited. As previously mentioned, postcrete was specifically designed for post fixing. It has also been found useful for other small domestic jobs such as fixing decking posts, rotary washing lines and small to medium sized gateposts where the gate is less than one metre wide. Postcrete is not suitable for general concreting, screeds, mortar, grout or render.

Concrete, on the other hand, is far more versatile. It can be used for a wide range of domestic build projects such as driveways, gate posts, fence posts, extensions and patios. Often, the installation of fence or gate posts is part of a larger project, so the concrete can be used for post fixing as well as the rest of the work, thus removing the need for the additional purchase of postcrete.

Concrete is stronger than postcrete and is made with higher quality ingredients. It can cope with heavy loads and is more durable, withstanding exposure to adverse weather conditions, water, wind and extreme temperatures.

Ready mix concrete

In terms of convenience, concrete can be supplied, like postcrete, ready mixed.

1^st Choice Concrete and Skip Hire supply ready mix concrete to domestic and commercial customers across Merseyside, Wigan and Warrington. We produce orders for ready mix concrete to the exact volume that is required on a ‘pay by the barrow’ basis. This means that customers only pay for the amount of concrete they need rather than also paying for wastage.

Our ready mix concrete can be used for domestic jobs such as pathways, driveways, garages, extensions, foundations and footings, conservatory bases, patios, as well as for post fixing. It is therefore a more versatile, high performance product compared to postcrete.

In summary, postcrete has been designed for post fixing, and it does that job quickly and to the required standards. However, if your project stretches beyond just fixing fence or gate posts into the ground, it is wise to order a ready mix concrete that is hardwearing and able to meet the demands of other construction projects.

Contact 1^st Choice Concrete & Skip Hire to discuss your ready mix concrete requirements

Speak to the team at 1^st Choice to find out how we can help you complete your project.