Frequent Asked Questions
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No, concrete and cement are different things. However, it is sometimes hard to separate them from one another since they are frequently used together in many scenarios, especially in the construction setting. To help you understand the difference and the relationship between these two, know that one of them is a necessary part of the other. To be specific, cement is needed produce concrete, and there can be no cement without concrete. There are some other settings and contexts where cement is used that does not involve concrete. However, its role in concrete remains to be among its major ones.
Yes, a lot of variants of concrete are available. However, the modifications or variations may be so subtle that they cannot even be noticed by most people. But these changes can spell a lot of difference in the performance of the concrete when it is already being used as it should be. For example, in a setting where greater compressive strength is required, it will be the discretion of the concrete contractor to later the proportions so that more rock can be accommodated. This will tailor that particular concrete to its true purpose, making it more optimized for better use.
Yes, there is a high chance that you will need a concrete contractor for your next concrete project. Why? This is because concrete work is more complex and complicated than how it appears to be from the outside. There are a lot of necessary considerations that are done to make sure that everything is in its proper place. Hence, expertise is essential. On the other hand, it will also be best to work with concrete with the right tools. Otherwise, you further increase the room for error. So, if you want every aspect of your concrete work covered, entrust it to the professionals.
No, this will not be good for the concrete. When the concrete is wet and still has not set, it is quite sensitive and any alterations to it can cause deleterious damages that may not be reversible. Rain will increase this risk. The added water from the rain will later the proportions that are already there in the mix. A lot of changes can happen when this is allowed to proceed. Probably the most crucial one will be the early cracking. To prevent this from happening, we check weather updates when planning pouring jobs, and as a last resort, we also bring tarps.
Yes, you can definitely add colors and art on concrete simply by using paint. But just remember that it is important for you to not just use any kind of paint. The ideal paints to use are those that are specifically formulated to adhere well to the special surface features of concrete. In the market, these are sold as elastomeric or masonry paints. The caveat is you cannot use them like regular paints and load them into sprayers. This is because the additives that they have may be quite large such that they cannot simply pass through the nozzles of the sprayers.
The cracking of concrete can be attributed to more than just one thing. Often, it is the interplay of factors and external conditions that eventually result in the structural compromise that we see as cracking. Cracks that happen later on may be due to damage or due to the mechanical stress that the concrete has accumulated as it was being used. However, the early cracking can be attributed to mistakes that took place as the concrete was being prepared. A good example will be not following the correct proportions. Any excess or deficit results in an unideal form for concrete.
A certain amount of time should be intended to let concrete cure before it is used fully. This is to allow the chemical reactions to proceed, making concrete stronger. For the curing of driveways, this should be for no less than seven days. Before this, you should not drive on it yet. However, we do recommend that you allow the curing for 10 days just to be sure that the concrete really has reached its 90% strength. But even if you can drive on it by this time, be warned that you cannot park on it until about a month after.
Applying a concrete sealer is among the easier and economical ways that you can do to maintain your concrete. Essentially, a concrete sealer is a substance that used to “seal” or protect the surface of the concrete. The sealer itself can be composed of anything from penetrating resins to epoxy, or acyclic, anything that can stick on concrete to protect it. You can apply these on the surface of the concrete using a roller or a sprayer. Good brands can offer protection for the next five years, so it is okay to reapply even as seldom as every two to five years only.
Yes, it can be affected. The weather is one of the major external factors that has a great effect on the quality and integrity of concrete. To be specific, some of the elements of weather that can have effects like these are precipitation such as rain, and the temperature that is prevailing. It may not be general knowledge, but the reactions that happen in the mixing of concrete require some heat. So, the winter season poses a challenge for this. Also, because wet concrete contains water, it is at risk of freezing before in can cure in very low temperatures.
When you are faced with deciding between concrete and asphalt as materials for your driveway, you should look beyond their prices to help you make a better choice. While we agree that asphalt can be cheaper in the initial installation, what you may not know is that is will require frequent maintenance and sealing. This will not be for free. Hence, in a few months or years, you may just spend that same amount that you would by having concrete in the first place. This makes concrete more cost effective, but in general concrete is superior because it is more durable.
There is no single definition that sets the standard for ‘good’ concrete. However, in our experience, we know the specific mixes that work and those that do not. So, we already have our ‘default’ mix that can go with almost anything for any concrete project. This has the nickname of 4-2-1, and this is also used widely in settings where concrete is used. The composition is that of:
- 4 parts crush rock
- 2 parts sand
- 1 part cement
This makes up a total of seven parts. This is not a hard and fast rule and changes can still be made based on the need.
Yes, every bit of concrete is recyclable. This is why in the recent times, concrete is slowly being known as an environmentally sustainable material. These days, concrete companies like us also adhere to the protocol of concrete recycling. Here, our task is to bring all the scrap concrete that we have collected from the demolition sites to the facilities where they can be processed. All these used concretes serve great as aggregate materials. This is a great move for being eco-friendly, and at the same time, it can also help cut on costs since recycled concrete can be more economical.
Well, why not test concrete? This is routinely done to make sure with almost absolute certainty that the concrete installed for you is at its best possible quality. Otherwise, concrete testing can help detect some problems early on. When we know of this earlier, many things can still be done to correct them, and therefore save the quality of the concrete. The findings from the tests will provide clues on where in the process did things go wrong, and by knowing this, we will know exactly how to correct them. Hence, testing concrete is a good way of ensuring quality.
Making use of the right materials and techniques, removing stains from concrete can be quite quick, simple, and easy. A tip that may be helpful is that the cleaning substance to use will matter a lot. A solution with sodium triphosphate works well in removing stains on concrete so you may want to have this on hand. Otherwise, liquid laundry detergent can do a fair job to. The technique is that you should let the stain soak first. This will help loosen it. Allow it to stand for half an hour or so then after, you can brush it off.
Yes, as minimal as it may be, concrete can still benefit a lot from the simple maintenance procedures that you can do. One of the simplest ones is just keeping it clean. If there is visible dirt, hosing it down with pressured water is usually more than enough. Another thing that is quick and simple will be putting a concrete sealer on it every few years. Inspection for any structural compromise can also help in keep the concrete in its best form. Regular inspection means problems can be detected early, and therefore, they can also be easily addressed and fixed.
In almost any part of the world, the color of concrete will be gray. Mostly, the component of concrete that contributes to this is the cement. This is because cement on its own has that gray color from all the substances present to produce it. The gray color of cement can be traced back to the black color of iron ore, which is one of its main components. But to produce cement, other things should be added to this black substance. Hence, the addition of compounds with lighter color dilutes out the black, turning it into that familiar gray hue.
No, it not necessary the drying out of cement that gives it its strength. However, they may be closely related so many people will interpret that letting the concrete dry will also make it achieve the hardness level expected for it. The curing process of concrete involves hydration of cement by water. Hence, the presence of water, instead of its absence will make the concrete stronger. But by the time that water has left, i.e., the concrete has dried out, chances are, the water has already completed its role in the curing of cement, resulting in hard and firm concrete.