Monday 23 January 2017

FAQs About Concreting Answered

There are a few homeowners that are engaging in renovation and beautification of their properties so that they can have an increase appraisal of their property, yet what is least looked into is the fact that choosing the right concrete can certainly help in the aesthetics and functionality of the part of the house that is being renovated. It is important that you will consider on different factors about the use of concrete so that you will be fully guided on the different aspects of what you need to do when it comes to the renovation of your floors or even your patio outside of your house.

Choosing the right kind of concreting material will warrant some research, as proper research will lead to careful planning and will eventually make you have an informed decision of what it is that you have to first tackle. There are actually a lot of options that you can avail of and that you need to fully settle what you think is the most important matters at hand.

Master Q&A Vol. 8: Holding Up Hillsides

What are some of your favorite solutions for functionally controlling erosion that results in a beautiful product?

TR: When we talk about erosion usually we’re talking about the soil that is around a particular hillside.
A wall will help with erosion, but there is also bio-structural erosion control. It is essentially the use of vegetation and it is ecologically friendly.

My favorite choice is to use plants and vegetation because you can really see the beauty in the plants. It can be both the most functional and beautiful choice, especially using native or indigenous plants.

Do you have any stories of exceptionally difficult hillsides or slopes to troubleshoot?

TR: I’ve had entire hillsides cave into our form work and into our footings. One was at the Coast Guard Building in the Santa Cruz harbor. The other was the Boys and Girls club up in Pescadero. Both collapeses were caused by rainstorms that came through before we had the walls backfilled, so they were very vulnerable.

We had to dig out our forms and reconfigure the rebar all at our own expense.

How does lighting play a part in a finished decorative concrete hillside walkway or wall?

TR: Lighting can sometimes be downplayed or overlooked, that is a huge mistake. Lighting makes any hardscape on a hillside look exceptionally dramatic and beautiful. Hardscaped walls, stairs, patios, and even trees can exponentially enhance the hard and softscapes. Click this link for more details…

Take for instance the scenario where you have already placed all the columns in your newly renovated house or patio, then the easier way for you to get that concrete flooring is to pour concrete on it. That is virtually impossible feat years back, yet with the advancement in technology being infused to concrete these days, such a practice is never impossible and in fact achievable nowadays.

Concrete Slab Pour

Plumbing Inspection Approved

Before starting the concrete slab pour, it’s important to make certain the underslab plumbing has been inspected and approved.  It can get extremely expensive if the concrete is placed without an approval.  Most building departments will ask you to remove the concrete to inspect if the drains were not checked prior to covering them.

Ground Preparation

The area below the concrete slab pour should be free of all vegetation, top soil, and foreign material.  All of these items can deteriorate over time causing the slab to settle.  Uneven settlement will cause excess cracking and possible displacement in the floor.  This displacement/settlement can create problems for finished flooring and plumbing below.

Vapor Retarder

In order to isolate the slab from the moist ground, a vapor retarder should be used.  A 6-mill plastic sheathing (polyethylene or equivalent approved material) should be placed directly under the concrete with joints overlapped a minimum of six inches.  The seams should be taped securely to keep a tight seal.  Be sure to check that your concrete contractor has carefully cut the vapor retarder tight to all columns, plumbing drains, sump crock…etc.  This retarder will also serve as a barrier to radon below the slab so it’s important to create a tight seal.

Reinforcement for Concrete Slab Pour

Any reinforcement to the concrete slab should be supported to remain in place in the center to upper third of the concrete thickness.  Check with your local building department for any structural reinforcement requirements like rebar or wire mesh. Read more from this site: http://ift.tt/2jhCYWe.

These things are the new updates that most homeowner should understand on the use of concrete, especially when renovation of the house is to be expected. It is an important matter to always look at how these things can totally benefit you with the convenience, affordability, and efficiency on how everything is taken altogether.

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Concreting Tips Every Homeowner Must Know

There will be times where you will need to perform some concreting projects, that is why, it is always best that you will choose the concreting project that is cost effective, efficient, as well as hassle free. To further elucidate such fact, you can always look at using volumetric mixed concrete, as these are well innovated concrete that will give you more benefits than one. It is essential to see to it that you understand how these concrete give you so much advantage that you can ever believe.

A lot of homeowners are one in saying that these volumetric mixed concrete offers them convenience, easy application and that it is less wasteful as well. You can immediately initiate and finish your concreting projects with this innovative material.

Volumetric Concrete: How Can You Benefit?

Less wasteful

One of the key benefits of volumetric mixing is the reduction of waste concrete. Volumetric mixing is an efficient form of concrete delivery; only what is needed is mixed, so there’s no danger of over ordering. This also means that there will be no leftover waste materials either, making it much healthier for the environment.

More convenient

Volumetric mixed concrete has helped change the concrete industry, making the entire process incredibly efficient and more convenient for customers. A volumetric concrete mixer combines the functions of a mobile mixing truck and a batching plant, which speeds up the concrete delivery process while making it much more customisable to each specific project.

Concrete is mixed on-site, and multiple different mixes can be created easily without having to return to the production facility, due to the fact that the individual ingredients that make up the concrete mix are stored separately on the mixer. This makes it simple to tailor a mix for different on-site requirements. This alone cuts out a lot of time spent waiting for delivery, meaning more time can be spent on actually finishing the project.

Due to the speed and efficiency of the process, multiple deliveries can be completed in a single day; when one is complete, there’s no need to return to any production facility, it’s simply on to the next job!

Simple to operate

Volumetric mixers can be operated by a single person, so labour requirements are vastly reduced. Operators can easily create different mixes by adjusting the ingredient ratios as needed, meaning it’s easy to cater for projects of all sizes, from driveway laying to bridge construction. Check this original source…

On the other hand, it is noteworthy to understand the difference between what concrete cutting and concrete grinding is, so that you will have a good understanding of the kind of job that you are doing. You need not confuse one from the other, as the two have very distinct purpose as well as difference.

Concrete Grinding vs. Concrete Cutting: What is the Difference?

What is Concrete Grinding?
Concrete grinding in Toronto involves removing surface irregularities that have been caused by construction, ongoing use or settlement. Grinding offers an immediate improvement in the smoothness, surface texture, safety and even noise reduction. Some benefits of concrete grinding include:

  • Cost-effective, instant results that strip, clean and improve the concrete surface.
  • Work can often be completed in just one day, depending on the size and scope of the project.
  • Eliminates the need for re-tapering the concrete surface.
  • Helps restore roadways, sidewalks, parking lots, and other concrete surfaces to meet all required standards.
  • Can be used to prepare a surface for polishing and also used on other hard surfaces, such as marble or granite.

What is Concrete Cutting?
Concrete cutting uses specialized tools that cut through concrete, brick, tile, asphalt and other solid stone surfaces. Cuts are done on a precision basis for roadway improvements, plumbing, water and sewage lines, etc. Concrete cutting in Cambridge can also be used in conjunction with excavation services. Using low-noise technology, it can be done safely in schools, indoor settings and even inside medical facilities. This site contains more details: http://ift.tt/2jouYjM.

Concreting is something that most homeowner should understand and look closely into so that they will get the full idea about what it really is all about. You can make an informed decision of whatever concreting projects that you are going to do when you know of ways and certain difference about concreting that you need to tackle. You will certainly go along way when you know more about what concreting is really like.

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Sunday 22 January 2017

How to Effectively Deal With Concrete

Sometimes, you will realize that the concrete in your house or patio is not good enough as it was before. You can always think about getting it off, so that a new concrete can be poured over, yet the thought of it is actually a very daunting task. It is essential to understand how you can effectively manage all these dilapidated concrete so that you can fully get it off your way. Fact is, there are certain tricks that you can easily follow through so you can effectively engage in such a project.

Keep in mind that as you are starting on such a project of removing the old and dilapidated concrete, you need to see to it that you are equipped with the right materials, and that you are using the necessary safety precaution so that you can successfully do your job.

How to Break and Remove a Concrete Slab

Step 1: Wear Safety Gear

This project will require power tools and you will be working with rough materials, so it’s vital that you wear earplugs, a hard hat, safety goggles and a face mask to protect your mouth and to avoid inhaling substances. You should wear sturdy boots and tough clothing with long sleeves and legs to protect yourself from loose debris. When hiring equipment through hss.com the recommended safety gear will be shown in your basket.

Step 2: Prepare the Area

Make sure there aren’t any water, gas, power or telephone lines nearby or underneath the slab you are breaking up. The area should be completely clear of sticks, leaves, debris, tools, rocks and anything else that may get in your way.

Step 3: Prepare Your Tools

If you are breaking up a slab, you will need an electric heavy-duty breaker to break the concrete. Make sure you have a power outlet or transformer that is able to handle a heavy-duty breaker. This will be offered to you when booking online or recommended in branch when placing your order. You can check the instructions and labels that come with the machine to see what kind of voltage it requires before you purchase or hire it. Directions from manufacturers may also include specific safety precautions you should take as you use the tool.

Step 4: Get your footing

The best way to remove large concrete slabs is to break it up into several smaller pieces. This makes it easier to remove and discard. It is best to start at the side that is farthest away from you so that as you break the concrete, you can stand on the solid, flat concrete that hasn’t been broken yet. It is extremely important that you have a solid place to stand and that you have good footing while you are using the breaker.  Check more details here…

There will be certain instances where the force of nature will come your way as you are preparing on pouring your new set of concrete on your driveway. These severe weather conditions is something that is not alarming, as there are certain tips and tricks that you can do, so that you can easily tackle pouring concrete even on cold weather.

Best Practices for Pouring Concrete in Cold Weather

How the cold affects concrete

The main danger of pouring concrete in the cold is the chance of the concrete freezing before it sets. If this were to happen, the concrete would lose strength, likely becoming unfit for its purpose. Once the concrete has set to a certain strength, it will be able to resist the effects of freezing, no longer being malleable enough to be influenced by the expansion of freezing water.

Before the pour

For concrete, the ambient temperature should be over 5ºC. At this temperature the concrete will be able to set without freezing, though it will take longer to reach its proper strength. If you’re expecting the temperature to be 5ºC or lower at the time of delivery and the pour itself, you will need to take measures to keep it warm.

It’s wise to prepare the pour site well in advance of delivery, and this is especially true in the winter. Take the time to insulate your formwork. Frost blankets will help prevent the subgrade from freezing, so your concrete won’t end up cracking once the subgrade has thawed. You can also use frost blankets once the pour is complete, to help keep the heat in the concrete as it sets.

After the pour

Once the concrete is in place, the period directly after the pour becomes critical. As we’ve said, at around 5ºC, the concrete will take longer to set to a suitable strength. This makes it more important to keep the ambient temperature warm, and not let it drop close to freezing. There will be more chance for the mix to freeze the longer it takes to set, so preventing this is paramount.

For the following two days after the pour, closely monitor the ambient temperature and keep the concrete covered with a frost blanket. The concrete will develop its strength during this time, so keeping it warm gives it the best opportunity to do so unimpeded. Fresh concrete which has frozen during this time will lose significant strength, rendering the pour a failure, so keep exposed surfaces covered and insulated where necessary.

Curing

The curing process is the final step in the concrete’s strength development. You should try to maintain a warm temperature without the concrete drying too rapidly. It’s wise to leave insulated forms in place for as long as possible, and make use of insulated sheets which help keep the concrete at an optimal temperature so as to prevent freezing. Check this out from the main article source at http://www.ekaconcrete.com/news/best-practices-pouring-concrete-cold-weather/.

Find out tips from this video below.

Concreting is a project that you can do successfully when you are going to plan it well, and when you prepare the necessary equipment that you will use. It would be an important consideration that you check on certain articles that will augment your knowledge on how you can effectively deal with weather disturbances as you wait for your concrete to finally settle.

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