Ballast
How to Store and Reuse Concrete Ballast Weights
Buy them once, use them for years. Here is how to store concrete weights between jobs and get the most out of them.
The short answer
Concrete ballast weights are built to be reused for years. Store them stacked on firm, level ground or a pallet. Outdoors is fine, since they are weatherproof, and they are ready for the next job with no maintenance. Where water weights and sandbags perish and get thrown away, a concrete block bought once keeps earning its place season after season.
Are concrete weights reusable?
Yes, and that is the whole point of them. Solid precast concrete does not degrade the way a water weight or a sandbag does, so the same blocks move from job to job for years. There is nothing to fill, empty, patch or replace between uses. Buy the right set once and it becomes a piece of kit rather than a running cost.
How to store them between jobs
- Stack on firm, level ground. A hard standing or a pallet keeps them off soft earth and easy to move.
- Outdoors is fine. They are weatherproof, so a yard or compound is all they need, no dry store required.
- Do not stack too high. Keep stacks stable and at a safe height for lifting, especially with the heavier blocks.
- Keep them accessible. Store them where a pallet truck or forklift can reach if you are moving the heavier sizes.
- Keep sets together. Storing a full set in one place means you can grab and go for the next job.
Moving and handling
The 40kg and 100kg blocks have a cast-in rebar handle so they can be carried and placed by hand, though the 100kg is a two-person or trolley lift for most people. The 500kg and 1000kg blocks are moved by forklift or pallet truck. Lift sensibly, keep backs straight and get help or a machine for the heavier sizes, and make sure loads are secured for transport in a van or on a trailer.
How long do they last?
Years. Solid concrete shrugs off outdoor storage and repeated use, so there is no real shelf life to worry about. Give a block a quick look over for any significant cracks or a damaged handle before a load-critical job, but in normal use they simply keep going.
The cost case
Because they last, concrete weights are usually the cheaper option over time. Water weights and sandbags get replaced as they split and perish, while a set of blocks is a one-off buy that serves for years. See the full range and prices, or read concrete vs water weights vs sandbags.
Common questions
Are concrete ballast weights reusable?
Yes. Solid precast concrete does not perish, so the same blocks are used job after job for years, with nothing to fill, patch or replace between uses.
Can you store concrete weights outside?
Yes. They are weatherproof, so a yard, compound or pallet outdoors is fine. Stack them on firm, level ground and keep the stacks stable and at a safe height.
How do you move heavy concrete weights?
The 40kg and 100kg blocks have a cast-in rebar handle for carrying by hand, though the 100kg is best as a two-person or trolley lift. The 500kg and 1000kg blocks are moved by forklift or pallet truck. Secure any load for transport.
How long do concrete weights last?
Years. There is no real shelf life. Just check for significant cracks or a damaged handle before a load-critical job, but in normal use they keep going indefinitely.
Buy once, use for years
UK-cast concrete weights in 40kg, 100kg, 500kg and 1000kg, in sets and full pallets, delivered UK-wide. See the range and prices.
Ballast Blocks
UK-cast concrete ballast weights and kentledge for events, construction, fencing, marine and industrial anchoring. A Gala group brand. Visit Gala Tent.