Home / How to Prepare for a Concrete Pump
Line pump + operator · Toronto & GTA
A concrete pump can make a difficult placement much easier, but only if the site is ready when the concrete arrives.
The pump, ready-mix trucks and placing crew all need to work on the same schedule.
Use this checklist before the pour.
Make sure the pump booking and ready-mix order use the correct:
If the concrete time changes, update the pump booking as early as possible.
Before concrete arrives:
The pump should not arrive before the job itself is ready for concrete.
The pump needs a practical place to set up and receive concrete from the ready-mix truck.
Keep the area clear of:
The ready-mix truck also needs room to approach and discharge.
Look at the path between the pump and the final placement area.
Check for:
If the route is complicated, send photos or video before the job.
Do not guess only by looking from the street.
Measure or reasonably estimate the route the hose will actually follow.
A route around a house can be much longer than the straight-line distance.
For longer jobs, include elevation and the number of major turns.
The ready-mix supplier should know the concrete will be pumped.
The concrete must meet the project specification and also be suitable for the pumping setup.
Concrete characteristics such as aggregate, consistency and mix design can affect pumpability.
Do not make unauthorized changes to the specified mix simply to make pumping easier.
Concrete starts moving once the pump and ready-mix truck are working.
The crew should already know:
A pump operator is not a substitute for the customer's placing and finishing crew.
For larger pours, multiple trucks may arrive.
The site should have a practical plan for:
Concrete equipment requires a suitable cleanup and washout plan.
The location should be discussed before pumping begins.
Do not assume washout can happen anywhere on the property.
For residential and hard-access projects, photos are one of the easiest ways to prevent setup surprises.
Useful photos include:
A short walkthrough video can be even better.
Before the pump arrives, confirm:
□ Pump booked
□ Ready-mix booked
□ Forms complete
□ Reinforcement complete
□ Crew ready
□ Pump setup area clear
□ Ready-mix access clear
□ Hose route clear
□ Distance confirmed
□ Difficult access disclosed
□ Concrete supplier knows the mix will be pumped
□ Washout plan ready
The bookings should be coordinated so the pump can be set up before pumping begins and the ready-mix delivery fits the planned schedule.
It depends on the equipment and site. Send photos of the proposed setup area if space is limited.
The exact crew responsibilities should be discussed for the job. Customers should have an appropriate placing crew ready.
Yes. The supplier should know the concrete will be pumped and provide a mix suitable for the project requirements.
Delays can affect the pump schedule, ready-mix timing and job cost. Site preparation should be complete before the booked time.
Send us your job details and access photos before the concrete arrives.
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