Frequent Asked Questions
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No, cement and concrete are not the same thing. A lot of people have the tendency to think that they are the same because they are closely related. However, they mean two different things. Basically, cement is the gray powder which is the result of burned clay and lime. Concrete, on the other hand, is composed of several materials like water, sand, stone, other aggregates, and cement, of course. All these ingredients end up sticking together with cement. The moment water and cement come in contact, it begins to form a paste like consistency, sticky enough to glue everything together.
Yes, there are different kinds of concrete. Some usual types of concrete include lightweight concrete, precast concrete, reinforced concrete, high density concrete, reinforced concrete, glass reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, and the ordinary concrete. These types would typically differ in size, durability, workability, and strength. Each one has its unique characteristics which can fit different needs. We strongly urge our clients to look for concrete with the best composition, since strength greatly relies on the mixture of the ingredients of concrete. As part of that, it must also contain enough paste to make sure that all components are sticking well together.
If you are looking into getting concrete for your property, we would definitely recommend getting a concrete contractor. Aside from the fact that they can do most of the work for you, it will also be a good guarantee of the quality of work. Hiring a credible San Jose concrete contractor gives the assurance of a properly finished work. Since they have the expertise and experience, you can leave the work to them. Concrete is a special material, which requires skill. A legitimate concrete contractor will ensure you of the best outcome for your property and in a timely manner.
Although concrete can set in the rain, we do not recommend it. Concrete and rain are not a good mix. It can lead to adverse outcomes, which may not meet your expectations. If you pour concrete in the rain, you may expect scaling, dusting, and a decrease in strength of concrete. If you are not amenable to get these consequences, make sure to avoid rain when pouring concrete. In case rain suddenly arrives during the pouring, you can use place a plastic sheeting over the concrete to protect it from the rain and remove it after the rain is over.
Yes, you can paint concrete for an improved appearance. If you want the best results, we advise to check the type of concrete that you have. Paint adheres better to some specific types of concrete than others, like outdoor concrete for example. There are also different paint types that you can use. We often recommend getting masonry paint for concrete because it has binders which expand and contract with concrete. It is the best option if you do not want the house paint to peel and crack. Before painting, make sure that the concrete is clean and free from debris.
There are several reasons why concrete crack and you can avoid them by knowing why it occurs. For one, concrete would typically crack due to temperatures, especially in colder regions. Although it does not snow here in San Jose, it would still help to discuss it for more information. Concrete cracks are usual for freeze and thaw climates, or in locations with extremely cold and hot weather. Another reason why concrete crack is the evaporation of water within the concrete. As the concrete shrinks in the process of hardening, it cracks. But you can avoid these with the help of concrete joints.
It is ideal to wait for seven days before driving on your driveway. This amount of time can ensure that the concrete driveway has sufficiently cured and is ready for the weight of the vehicle. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of giving the concrete enough time to cure to make sure that it has reached its best state. Never dare use your concrete driveway shorter than seven days as it may incur permanent and irreversible damages. Meanwhile, if you are going to use the concrete driveway for heavier equipment, make sure to wait at least 30 days before using it.
Concrete sealer gives protection on your concrete. It keeps the moisture from penetrating through the concrete. At the same time, concrete sealer also helps in preventing salt penetration, which can cause concrete deterioration. Most concrete companies in San Jose recommend applying concrete sealer after 30 days. Such amount of time ensures that the concrete is almost done drying up. Prior to the application, also ensure that the surface is dry as well. Since the concrete sealer will thin through time, you will need to reapply every so often. For best results, we recommend doing the reapplication between 2 to 3 years.
Yes, the weather does affect the concrete, especially extreme weather conditions. For one, the change in the rate of humidity affects the concrete’s compressive strength development. Rain, on the other hand, can affect the drying up of concrete. It can cause either decrease of strength or scaling on the concrete. Meanwhile wind can make the concrete crack. Temperature is another significant factor to look out for. For colder climate, you can heat the ingredients of concrete prior to use. You can also cover the concrete to keep it from freezing. For warmer temperature, you can cool the ingredients instead of heating.
We recommend getting concrete over asphalt as it is more cost efficient in the long run. A lot of property owners would lean towards asphalt as it cheaper upfront. However, the problem is asphalt lasts way shorter than concrete does. More often than not, asphalt deteriorates fast, while concrete last up to 50 years. Once asphalt incurs damage, it will need sealants for instant repairs. If you will compute the accumulated cost of sealants versus the cost for concrete, you may find out that concrete would have actually been the better choice after all. Aside from that, concrete would only require one-time construction.
Concrete is available in different mixes. As a rule of thumb, San Jose concrete companies would usually observe the basic rule of 6’s. In this rule, it says to use a maximum of six gallons of water for each cement bag. Aside from that, it also says to use at least six cement bags for each cubic yard of concrete. The next of rule of 6’s is to allow the concrete to rest for six days before use. The final rule of 6’s is to maintain at least 6% of air content in concrete, especially for those that undergoes freezing and thawing.
It is usual for concrete to crack after some time. These cracks would typically appear while the concrete dries up since it goes through minimal volume change during this time. The average rate of volume change is about 500 millionths. For a better visualization, such rate is about 0.4 cm per 3 meters. If we convert it, that is around 1/16 of an inch for every 10 feet. Although minimal and seems negligible, the change appears as cracks on the concrete. But you can completely avoid concrete cracks from happening by maximizing the use of concrete joints for an even crack.
We recommend testing concrete to check its strength, as it helps ensure the toughness, durability, and stability of the material. Other than measuring the strength, concrete testing also helps gauge its consistency, unit weight, air content, and temperature. Overall, it is a measure of quality. For the best results, make sure to use a legitimate concrete test for your material. Concrete tests can be performed on both hardened and freshly mixed concrete. There are different types of concrete tests available that you can use. Some types are limited to organizations such as the department of transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.
There are two ways on how you can remove stain from your concrete. You can either opt for dry method or wet method. To remove concrete stains with dry method, it will require the use of mechanical work. Some examples of dry method include scabbing, scouring, grinding, sand blasting, shotblasting and flame cleaning, and planning. If you will be using a steel brush, see to it that there no metal debris is left behind. Meanwhile, if you opt for wet method, it will require the use of both water and chemicals such as bleach to completely dissolve the concrete stain.
Concrete is the result of mixing cement with coarse aggregates, fine aggregates, cement and other additives. Once the concrete mixes with other water, it forms a paste like substance. There are different types of concrete available such as mineral colors, granulated blast-furnace slag, and combined cements. Concrete has always been a favorite material for property owners because of durability and its strength. It is also very adaptive and can easily match with all types of property. With all its promising characteristics, the only disadvantage about concrete is it requires seven days of curing time. It is only until then that you can use it.
Concrete has the color gray due to its primary ingredient, which is cement. Cement, on the other hand has the color gray, because of Iron Ore—one of its main component. Even though the Iron Ore is originally black, it becomes gray when it mixes with the other cement ingredients. Since gray can be plain and boring, property owners have the option to paint it the color that they prefer to better suit their properties. Our company offers a wide variety of colors options. Along with that, we also offer stamped concrete and concrete staining for a more elevated look.
Drying out has nothing to do with the concrete’s gain of strength. As we know, the concrete is the outcome of the combination water, cement, and aggregates. Opposed to the common belief, it is not drying that allows the concrete to gain strength but the process of hydration. Such chemical event happens once the cement comes in contact with water. During this period, new compounds form which results to the strengthening of concrete. As the same time, crystals also begin to lock together. The process of strengthening of concrete typically happens in first month or the first 30 days.