Frequent Asked Questions
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The words concrete and cement are terms that refer to different things. They are commonly confused because wherever there is concrete, there will also be cement. This is because cement is one of the major components of concrete. Concrete cannot be formed without this component. Cement is a powdery material that is mixed with water in the process of making concrete. When they are combined, a pasty material is formed. This will be the one to hold the rocks and sand together, forming a strong composite material that is tough and firm when dried, but completely workable and moldable when wet.
There are various concrete variants that be used in different applications. Not all concrete is made the same. There can be some variations to better suit the purpose that it will serve. For example, you can add more sand and decrease the proportion of rock if you concrete that is less tough but can be molded more conveniently. This is ideal when shaping the concrete is done as a design option. In essence, adding more of one thing or less of another can make some concrete with a different quality. These are basically how concrete variations are produced and used.
There is a great chance that you do. Concrete work can be challenge to anyone who does not have enough experience or skills with it. Even the most basic things will require above average knowledge to be executed well. The fundamentals will help you understand what concrete and how it is made, but more advanced knowledge and training is needed to actually execute a project. Having a concrete contractor eliminates the hassle of looking for tools and equipment to use. If you will avail services from a reputable concrete company, these resources can be maximized and you will get the quality you are looking for.
Our company has a strong policy in making sure that no concrete will have to set in the rain. In actual practice, we make sure that we check and recheck the weather forecast when we are scheduling big concrete pouring projects. When unpredictable downpours happen, we also have some contingency plans. It is protocol for us to bring waterproof tarps that can at least wards off the water from the concrete. these extra water from the rain can be detrimental to the long-term quality of concrete. One of the critical problems that may arise include early cracking which will result from the added liquid.
Painting will be an appropriate method to add color to concrete in many settings. This is commonly done to make the concrete more attractive. However, in some cases, painting the concrete can also be done to mark it, mostly for safety reasons. A very important thing that you must remember when using paint for concrete is that not just any kind of paint can be used. Ideally, the paint to be used must have the right additives that will allow the pigment to stick properly on the concrete’s surface. This is the elastomeric paint which is widely available in various colors.
Why concrete cracks cannot just be attributed to one thing. In many situations, it is the combination or the synergism of many external and internal factors that result in the cracking of concrete. An obvious contributory factor will be the mechanical damage that any concrete can sustain. However, given how durable it is, the role of this factor is minor. One of the biggest culprits will be some mistakes and errors made in the preparation of the concrete. When too much or too little water is added, it can result in low concrete strength. Cracking is the most obvious sign of this.
It will be for the best if you allow your concrete to cure for some time before doing anything that may disturb it, such as driving on it. We limit the minimum of the initial curing to approximately 7 up to 10 days. We know how exciting it will be to use your new driveway. However, doing so prematurely can cause damage that may be irreversible. It will be best to allow it to sure first before anything else. The minimum curing time before you can park on it, on the other hand, will be longer: at least 30 days.
One of the practical ways that you can make your concrete last longer in good quality is by applying some concrete sealer on the surface. These can be purchased readily in hardware stores. Ask about a product that contain acrylic, polyurethane, epoxy, or any penetrating resin. You can apply this even without professional help just by using some rollers or even sprayers. Guaranteed, this can prevent surface damage on the concrete that can be cause by spills and wear and tear. The better brands can even extend the protection to five years, so you can apply this even every 2-5 years only.
Many components of the weather can affect the quality of the concrete. Concrete will be most sensitive at the stage where it is wet, when it is just being formed. Any significant weather disturbances during the pouring can have long term effects that may be unfavorable as far as quality is concerned. For example, if it rained after the concrete was poured, the concrete will need to be shielded from the rain. The added water can cause imbalances. On the other hand, temperature is also a factor. It is generally not accepted to pour concrete during very conditions since this can cause the liquid concrete to freeze.
Having a concrete driveway instead of an asphalt one just might be one of the best decisions that you will ever make. Even if you will be paying less for asphalt, concrete will still be more cost effective. This is because asphalt entails maintenance procedures that may accumulate in cost over time, especially when these procedures will be needed often. Even if concrete will have the higher price tag, you will not be spending any more time nor money in its maintenance the same way that you would for asphalt. By getting the initially more expensive option, you will have years’ benefits.
Concrete is a composite material, which entails that it has many different ingredients. Concrete is wet before it is set, allowing the reaction between the particles to take place. A lot of the resulting characteristics of concrete will depend on the interplay of its composition. The proportions and amount of each, when altered changes the concrete overall. But for the most common ideal mix proportion that will be safe to use in almost any scenario, we recommend that 4/2/1 mixture which has four portions of rock, two of sand, and one part of cement. This is suitable in most situations.
Yes. This is probably one of the greatest innovations for concrete in our time. This will lessen the cost of mining and will make concrete more readily available. With that, this is a good move in both economic concerns and environmental advocacy. Our team plays a role in making sure that this recycling happens. When we have demolition projects, part of the protocol of the job will be to collect the scrap concrete. Any amount of concrete gathered will be brought to a place where they can be recycled. We have also used recycled concrete in our own recent projects.
Testing concrete is going to be so simple yet so valuable. This is because simple tests can give a lot of information about the concrete that we have poured. This information can be used for its betterment. In the event that major problems are detected, the proper solutions can be started before it is too late since the detection was done early on. Among the usual findings when testing concrete include easy cracking and low strength. Having performed the simple tests can make sure that we are doing the correct measures to set it right, ensuring the best possible quality.
You no longer need to hide your stained concrete under a rug or whatever you use to keep it from sight. Eliminate the stains for good by using an effective cleanser. You will not need to hire professionals to do this stain removal. All you have to do is make sure that you buy a solution that has sodium triphosphate as its main ingredient. If you have exhausted all your options for look for this, liquid detergent will be a suitable alternative. The main procedures are as follows:
- Soak the stain in solution for 30 mins.
- Scrub the stain off.
Yes, very minimal maintenance but yes. There will be no big expenditure involved in maintaining your concrete. All that you will have to do is keep it clean. How? Just by hosing it down with a garden hose can be enough. If you have a powerwasher, that will be great. Another maintenance that you can do is the inspection for damages. This will allow early repair, which can prevent the worsening or the further spread of the cracks. Also, you may want to consider using a concrete sealer. This is very simple to apply and very effective for surface protection.
Since concrete is a mixture of many things, the origin of the gray color of concrete can also come from many factors. If we consider the things that make up concrete, the gray can be traced back to the sand, the rock, and the cement. As naturally occurring organic substances, rock and sand can have different pigments depending on their origin. There can be lighter or darker colored ones. Cement on the other hand is produced with a known formula and defined proportions. This comes from black iron which turns to a grayish hue when mixed with all other materials.
There is an intricate process involved in how concrete gains its strength. You can think of the mixture of concrete and water as glue. This will be the substance that will bind everything together. All the rock and sand will be entrapped in the sticky mixture of water and cement. Water hydrates cement, and their interaction causes these particles to be interlocked. As the interlocking happens, the concrete can gain more strength. This continues while there is water remaining in the mixture. Therefore, the concrete will be strongest when the water has dried out. Drying is associated but not causal to this.