Concrete looks simple, sitting there in a slab or a column, but underneath that grey surface is a mix of chemistry, physics and precision that decides whether a structure stands for fifty years or fails in five. That's exactly the kind of question our concrete testing laboratory exists to answer. Whether you're a contractor needing site cubes tested, an engineer chasing down a mix design that won't settle, or a developer who needs assurance an existing structure will meet spec, our lab brings the equipment, standards and expertise to give you a real answer, backed by real numbers.
Site Cube Sampling, Slump & Strength Testing
Quality control on a concrete pour starts on site, not back at the lab. Our technicians come to you to take slump readings that confirm a mix is workable enough to place and compact properly, and to cast concrete cubes from the same batch going into your slab, column or foundation. Those cubes are cured and crushed at set intervals, giving you a clear, traceable record that the concrete actually placed on your project met the strength it was designed for.
Compressive Strength Testing — Cubes, Bricks & Pavers
This is where the numbers get proven. In our lab, concrete cubes, bricks and pavers are crushed under controlled load to determine their compressive strength in megapascals (MPa) - the single most important figure in confirming whether a batch of concrete or a masonry unit is fit for purpose. Whether it's routine 7- and 28-day cube testing on an active site, or one-off strength verification on bricks and pavers for a specific project, we deliver results you can hand straight to an engineer or a client with confidence.
Concrete Mix Designs
Not every job calls for the same concrete. A mix built for a driveway isn't the mix you want under a swimming pool, and a mix being pumped forty storeys up needs a different personality to one poured into a footing. Our lab designs concrete mixes from first principles, balancing cement content, aggregate types and gradings, water-cement ratio and admixtures, to hit the strength, workability and durability your project actually needs for its exposure conditions and application.
Mix Design Verification & Optimisation
Already have a mix design, but not sure it's earning its keep? We put existing designs through their paces, testing whether they genuinely deliver the strength and durability they're supposed to, and looking for opportunities to optimise - whether that's reducing cement content without compromising strength, improving workability on site, or simply confirming a design is sound before it's used at scale. It's quality assurance and cost control in a single exercise.
Schmidt Hammer Testing
Sometimes the concrete you need to test is already part of a finished structure, and cutting cores out of it isn't an option. That's where the Schmidt hammer (rebound hammer) comes in: a non-destructive test that estimates the in-situ compressive strength of hardened concrete by measuring the rebound of a spring-loaded mass off its surface. It's a fast, practical way to assess existing slabs, columns and structures, flag inconsistent areas, and support decisions on repairs, upgrades or further investigation.
Aggregate Gradings, Relative Density & Water Absorption
Good concrete starts with good aggregate, and this is how we prove it. Sieve analysis (grading) shows us the particle size distribution of sand and stone, which directly affects how workable and strong the resulting concrete will be. Relative density and water absorption tests reveal how porous an aggregate is and how much water it will pull out of a mix - essential information for getting a mix design right and predicting how concrete will perform and hold up over time. It's foundational testing that underpins every mix design and quality decision that follows.
Who We Work With
From contractors needing routine site testing to keep a project compliant, to engineers and developers who need an independent, evidence-based answer on an existing structure, our concrete testing laboratory exists to take the guesswork out of concrete. Because when it comes to what's holding your building up, "it looks fine" isn't good enough - we help you know for sure.
Get in touch to arrange site sampling, lab testing, or a mix design consultation for your next project.