Frequent Asked Questions
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It is common for us to encounter situations where the words ‘concrete’ and ‘cement’ are widely used interchangeably. However, even if this is a common scenario, these two are still very different. One cannot be incomplete without the other. Actually, one of them only functions mainly as a component of the other. By this logic, concrete cannot be complete without cement, while cement is mainly produced as a component of concrete. Concrete is the overall product produced when cement is mixed with sand and rock. On the other hand, cement is the gray powder mixed with water to form concrete.
Yes, concrete can easily be modified so there are many kinds of concrete. Adding more of a component and less of another could mean an entirely different kind of concrete in terms of qualities like composition and consistency. This may be necessary depending on the situation. For example, if the concrete will be used for a situation where great compressive strength is needed, more rock should be incorporated in the proportions. On the other hand, less rock and more sand is nice for a workable concrete that is commonly used in structures that require intricate designs, such as concrete fountains.
Yes, you will need a concrete contractor. Working with concrete is more complicated than the mixing and pouring that we are more familiar with. There are detailed and careful planning that needs to be considered. Moreover, there are preparations of the site that needs to be done. This will include excavation and subgrade preparation in some sites. These are things that are hard to accomplish without the right skills, tools, and equipment. Hence, most people will need a concrete contractor. If you work with a professional for your concrete work, you have some assurance that things will go without a hitch.
No, it is not great if concrete will be allowed to set in the rain. The rain is one of the most detrimental things to wet concrete. When preparing the concrete mix, there is only a definite amount of water that comes into that mixture. Any additional amount of water can result in unfavorable outcomes for the concrete. One of the main problems will be low strength. Also, you may observe that the concrete will crack early on. Other issues will include scaling and dusting. Hence, we try as much as we can to divert the schedules when heavy rains are predicted.
Yes. Today, many innovative ways have been developed to add color to concrete. However, painting the concrete remains a classic and stable method. This is also very reliable, and the results are predictable. Just be careful that if you will be buying the paint yourself, you should remember to choose the kind of concrete specially designed for concrete. You will see these labeled as ‘masonry paint’ or ‘elastomeric paint.’ This have certain ingredients that aid in the paint sticking to the concrete. You will not have to worry about any available shades since in most cases, you can request for your own mix.
Usually, there is more than one thing to blame when concrete cracks. The factors that may be involved can range from misses in the preparation phase or some issues that happened while the concrete is already in use. Of these, those that can be attributed to the preparation phase are of much graver significance. Some of which will include improper amount of water and inadequate mixing. If there is water beyond what is required, an increase in volume of the wet concrete may happen. This will translate into a greater degree of contraction or shrinkage by the time it completely dries.
The average number of days that must pass before it is acceptable to drive on the concrete is seven full days. Any less can be detrimental to the overall quality of the concrete. Just to be sure, we advise the property owners that we work with to add three days to this minimum. This will make sure that the concrete has truly reached the 90% of strength that it is expected to have by this time. However, ten days is not enough of curing to allow parking on it. It will take at least 30 days to make sure all is set.
Concrete sealers are special chemical substances that may be composed of a wide range of compounds. These are applied on the superficial surface of the concrete to provide protection against minor damages like mechanical factors and liquid spills. If applied properly and if you used a good brand, it could offer protection for at least two years, but to a maximum of five years. This is very simple to apply and easy to use that anyone can do it. It is placed on the concrete just using a sprayer or roller similar to those that are used in paint jobs.
Like a lot of other environmental factors, the weather can have effects on concrete. There are many aspects of the weather that can be involved in this. One of which is rain. This may have dire effects due to the imbalances that can be caused by the added water. To cite more examples, the temperature can also affect the weather. What is more significant will be extreme cold rather than hot conditions. The solidification of concrete involves complex reactions that simply cannot happen when the wet concrete has frozen already. Hence, we are careful in scheduling pouring during the winter.
When you are choosing between concrete and asphalt as materials for your driveway, you should be wary about all other details, not just the costs. We agree that cost will be an important factor. But even if asphalt seems to be the more economical option at first, you will find out later that it is the less convenient one as well. The frequent maintenance will require time from your schedule. Moreover, these will not be for free. The time and effort that you need to spend for asphalt may be commensurate to just choosing a concrete driveway in the first place.
There is really no strict rule that must be followed be every concrete company as the “best” concrete mix. However, for us, we have the standard four/two/one mixture that is usually great in many situations, all things considered. We use this unless there is a special need for the situation for an exceptionally harder or an exceptionally flexible concrete. The composition of this mix can be broken down into four for rock, two for sand, and one for cement. As mentioned, this is not strict and depending on the need, this can be adjusted accordingly with proper considerations as needed.
Yes, it is very much so. If environmental factors are important for you in planning a construction project, we are gladly informing you that concrete is an ideal material in the aspect. Every bit of concrete can be recycled, all from the large scraps to the smallest bits of dust and even the ash that is produced during the manufacturing. Our role in this as a concrete company is we gather everything that we get from demolition projects so that they can be taken to the recycling areas. The processed concrete is great to use for new concrete projects too.
We make sure that we take the opportunity to test concrete so that the best outcomes can be given to you. Even if we took care in all the planning, preparation, and execution, untoward happenings may still occur that will mess up with the quality of the concrete. By using methods of testing the concrete, we have a way of knowing what may have been the problem if there is any. Should there be anything abnormal seen, we can directly address them so that the best quality can be given to you. Some of the simple tests that we do are the slump test and the measurement of air content.
Many of us put off removing stains from concrete because it seems like it is an impossible task. However, the steps necessary and the materials needed are very simple. All you need is a cleansing substance ideally a sodium triphosphate solution. But if this is not available to you, it is okay to use the simple laundry detergent you have at home. You should also have something you can scrub the surface with such as a brush. Allow the stained area to soak in the liquid solution for a while. Then, you can use the brush or a scrub pad to rub it off.
Yes, there is some maintenance that you may need to do to make sure that your concrete is at its best possible condition. Starting from the most basic, you can keep it clean. This is easily achieved by just simply hosing it down with water. As a preventive measure for spills and minor damages, you can benefit a lot from adding a concrete sealer on the concrete at every few years. Another simple thing that you can do is inspecting the concrete for signs of damage. This can be helpful in detecting early signs of damage and in immediate institution of solutions.
Most concrete has an indistinguishable gray color. This can be in lighter or darker shades, but all will still be gray. Of the components of concrete, it is the cement part that can most consistently confer this color. Sand and rock may only contribute a little. To explore further on this, we go back to the roots of cement. Primarily, the raw materials for cement are derived from iron ore. Pure form of iron ore is black. By logic, we know that a darker material, when mixed with lighter ones will turn into a lighter shade, and this happens with cement.
Not exactly. This is not the main mechanism that makes concrete harder and stronger. Rather, it is the presence of water that can perpetuate the process of allowing the concrete to set. When water is added to cement, it reacts and forms a paste. Microscopically, a lot of reactions take place here. This will be the binding material that will hold the aggregates of rock and sand together. While water is still present in the mix or when the concrete is still wet, the process continues and the concrete keeps gaining strength. This stops when the concrete has completely dried already.