Concrete and cement are different, and they should be differentiated for better communication especially when you have ongoing projects that involve these. To make it ore simple, remember that cement is a part concrete. Hence, concrete cannot be completed without cement since this is one of its major ingredients. Other than cement, concrete also contains aggregate which may include rocks and sand. The role of cement in all these is holding everything together, which happens after it has reacted with water. Knowing the difference between these can help in better communication especially with inventories and their specific amounts that are needed.

Yes, there exists varying kinds of concrete. Some changes can be made on the amount of the components of the concrete to change the characteristics subtly. There are usually recommended mix proportions but if the situation calls for it, some tweaking can be done to better suit its purpose. You can add more rock to give the concrete more compressive strength. It all depends on the precision and balance. It helps if you know what you are doing since it will not be right to just randomly mix everything together. Other concrete types also include the eco-friendlier variations there are.

Yes, everyone needs a concrete contractor. Probably the only time when a concrete contractor will not be needed is if the structure to be built is for and by the contractor themselves. Otherwise, it is smart to hire a concrete contractor even for minor projects. This will make sure that you get as few mistakes as possible. Having less mistakes will save you from any costly repairs or any damages that may be irreversible. Not only that but you will also be spared form the hard work, so you will surely get the most of what you will pay for.

We do not allow concrete to set in the rain. This is simply against the basic principles of how it should be treated when it is being prepared for pouring. The rain will add more water to the concrete which can disrupt a lot of the things and reactions in the mix. This unmeasured water can eventually lead to compromised quality of the concrete, where it will be prone to cracking earlier than it is supposed to. To prevent these, we make sure that we check the weather before we schedule pouring. As an added layer of guarantee, we also bring waterproof tarps.

Yes, you can make any concrete structure more beautiful by having it painted. There are also other kinds of methods that can be used to color concrete which may include staining and dyeing. If painting is your preferred method, keep in mind that rollers should be used for these since the paint that is appropriate for concrete cannot be sued with sprayers due to the presence of additives. The paint of this sort is the elastomeric paint, sometimes also called masonry paint. This is readily available in many premade shades, but also in colors that you can request and customize.

The reason behind why concrete cracks can be attributed to many factors. For concrete that has aged and has been well-used, the cracking can simply be due to wear and mechanical damages that have accumulated. On the other hand, what can be alarming for us is when concrete cracks early, when it is just curing. This could mean that there was a grave mistake in how the concrete was prepared. Usually, what happened was too much water was placed. This will result in bigger volume of the wet concrete, which will mean more contraction and shrinkage with it eventually dries.

As a rule, we advise property owners to allow for a little more than a week before they drive on their driveways. The range that we recommend is at around 7 to 10 days. This will give the concrete ample time to settle and harden before you they are used. By this time, it is expected that the concrete has reached nearly the full strength that I can get. However, it will not be advisable to park on it yet. For best results, you may opt to wait for the first month after pouring to be completed before parking on the concrete driveway.

Application of concrete sealers is a simple maintenance tasks that you can do which will offer a lot of benefits in protecting the surface of the concrete. This can be done for any type of flat surface which may include driveways or concrete floors. The main components of concrete sealers can include acrylic, epoxy, or polyurethane. This may be applied on the surface using simple rollers or sprayers. Applying this at least once every 5 years offers surface protection against wear and chemical spills. The application of the sealer is simple enough to do on your own, even without the help of a professional.

Yes, it can be affected by the weather. Concrete can be very sensitive to the weather. Hence, we should put some measures to help mitigate these effects. For example, rain can be detrimental to the curing of concrete. In remedy to this, we make sure not to schedule large concrete pouring projects on days when it is expected to rain. On the other hand, temperature is also another thing that can have serious effects on concrete. When it is too cold especially when it is freezing, the wet concrete can also freeze since it contains water, preventing proper curing and drying.