Frequently Asked Questions
A. GENERAL
What are your hours of operation?
We are open Monday thru Friday 7:00-4:30 and Saturdays 7:00-12:00.
What are your accepted methods of payment?
We accept cash, personal check, debit cards and credit cards.
Do you deliver?
Yes, we offer delivery on all our products. The rate is based on the amount of materials and the distance to travel. Contact us for more information and delivery rates.
How do you sell your sand and gravel product to customers at your yard?
We sell all our sand and gravel products in bulk based on weight (one ton = 2,000 pounds). We have scales in our yard and we have customers weigh-in empty when they enter the yard. Customers weigh-in once again after they have been loaded with the material they wish to purchase. Front-end wheel loaders load the bulk material onto customer trucks and trailers.
How much material do I need?
Use our Materials Calculator to determine the quantity of material you need. As a general rule of thumb, a ton of rock will cover 225 square feet at a depth of 1 inch.
How much does one (1) ton of material cover?
As a general rule of thumb, a ton of rock will cover 225 square feet at a depth of 1 inch.
How many tons are in a yard?
In general, 1.5 tons equals a yard of material.
How much is a cubic yard?
One cubic yard measures 27 cubic feet, or 3 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 feet deep.
How much volume can my pickup truck hold?
A full size pickup holds, on average, between 1 and 2 tons.
If I give you the measurements, can you tell me how much material I will need?
Yes, just tell the dispatcher the length, width and depth you need and they will give you an accurate estimate. Or use our Materials Calculator to determine how much material you will need.
How much is a truck load of sand or gravel?
It depends on the type of sand or gravel you want, how much you want, and where you need it delivered. Give this information to our dispatcher and they will give you a price.
What size of gravel do you carry?
We carry 3/8", 1/2", 3/4", 1", and 1 1/2" crushed or round gravel.
What size of river rock do you carry?
We carry 2"-24", 4"-8", 6"-12" grey river rock.
B. CONCRETE
What is ready-mixed concrete?
Ready mixed concrete is delivered in trucks that mix the concrete on the way to the job site. It is unhardened and in a flowable state ready to be poured. The trucks you see on streets with revolving drum mixers are carrying ready-mixed concrete.
Are cement and concrete the same thing?
People often confuse the use of the words cement and concrete. Cement is actually the binding agent in concrete. When mixed with water, cement forms a paste, when the paste is mixed with sand and gravel, it becomes concrete. Concrete is what you use to build a driveway, sidewalk, or wall.
How long does it take for concrete to set?
Many variables, such as the kind of mix used and the temperature, make a difference in how long it takes for concrete to set. In general, an initial set is reached between two and four hours after the pour. A final set can be achieved in 24 hours. But it could take more than one month for concrete to reach its ultimate strength.
How much concrete do I need?
As a general rule of thumb, one cubic yard of concrete will cover 80 square feet 4 inches thick.
Why does concrete crack?
There are many things that lead to cracking. Some of them include subgrade settlement, shrinkage during the curing process, contraction due to temperature, and the load the concrete bears. Thankfully, many of these effects can be negated by using joints, the proper mix and admixtures. By studying the use, location, time of year, and other factors, Bestway creates mixes that diminish the effects that lead to cracking.
What are concrete joints?
Joints allow for the expansion and shrinkage of concrete due to temperature and moisture variations. There are three kinds of joints: construction joints, contraction joints, and expansion joints. Consider them engineered cracks.
Asphalt costs less than concrete, so why use concrete for driveways?
The simple answer is that asphalt breaks down more quickly. Concrete driveways can last more than 30 years without much maintenance. With asphalt, you need periodic applications of surface and crack sealer. Even then, asphalt will have a shorter life-span. A concrete driveway is also more appealing when you resell a home.
Will colored concrete lose its brilliance over time?
No. If color is added to the cement and then mixed with the concrete’s other ingredients, the color will blend throughout the mix. Even if a crack appears in the future or the cement is chipped, the color will appear in the newly exposed concrete.
What should I know about having concrete delivered to a jobsite or my residence?
Keep in mind that concrete trucks are very large and heavy when fully loaded. Talk to a Espanola Transit Mix manager about the construction of driveways and approaches to the work site. There are many kinds of equipment that can be used to get concrete into hard to reach areas, such as pumps and conveyer belt-like transport devices.
What is finishing?
After concrete is poured, it is textured to give it a finished look. You can achieve many different finishes depending on the tools used.