Ballast

All in Ballast is a mixture of Sharp Sand and 20-25mm Gravel; most commonly used to make concrete. The ballast provides the aggregate that gives concrete its bulk and strength, while the cement binds everything together, perfect to create a quality mix.

Your mix ration will depend on your intended application. For a general purpose cement mix, a ratio of 1 part cement : 5 parts all-in ballast is sufficient.

If you are looking for a stronger mix, ideal for heavier application. You will want to create a mix with a ration of 1 part cement : 4 part all-in ballast.

For a general purpose mix using a 1 part cement : 5 parts all-in ballast ratio, roughly 8 bags of 25kg cement will be required to create a quality mix. 

An all-in ballast bulk bag from Mick George will make roughly 0.5 – 0.6 m³ of finished concrete when mixed with the appropriate amount of cement and water.

MOT Type1 hardcore is designed to create a stable foundation, which is typically used in combination with concrete which will provide the finishing structure. MOT Type 1 hardcore is graded to lock in place and produces a solid sub base, whereas all-in ballast is formed from a mixture of gravel and sand.

Yes you can, however ballast would be better used for making concrete that will become the shed base or base for fence posts.

Due to the difference in applications, the mix for a shed base will be slightly different than it will be for fence post installation. For a shed base, create layers using compacted MOT Type 1, concrete from ballast plus cement. For fence posts, look to add your concrete from ballast and cement around the posts, there would be no need to add MOT Type 1.

Yes you can, although it should never be used without cement for structural projects. Ballast on its own will behave as a normal aggregate, and will not offer any structural advantages. Ballast can be used on its own for temporary fills or general landscaping.

There are multiple benefits to choosing all-in ballast opposed to buying individual aggregates to self mix. When you purchase all-in ballast it is ready to use, already graded and will often work out cheaper than buying materials individually.