Any project you work on whether it is school, work, or a home improvement project with your concrete contractor, communication is the key to success. A lack of communication on a school project might get you and your classmates a pour grade, but a lack of communication on the construction site is going to cause […]

The hydration process, also known as curing, typically takes seven (7) days before the concrete reaches its designed compressive strength. In other words, the concrete takes one full week before it is strong enough to be driven on by a vehicle. Therefore, the general rule of thumb for residential concrete construction is to wait seven

The saying goes, “It’s not if your concrete is going to crack, it’s when your concrete is going to crack”. The Truth There is not much you can do to get around it, all concrete is more than likely going to crack over time. If your concrete contractor tells you otherwise, they are either ignorant

              Above is a basic concrete mix design from a concrete supplier. The five main materials in this mix are sand, course aggregate, cement, BASF (water reducing admixture), and water as shown in the “Material” column. The “Description” and “Source” give detail on the material and the supplier. “ASTM”

What is Wire Mesh? (Also Called: Welded Wire Fabric (WWF) & Welded Wire Mesh) Wire mesh is a steel fabric building material that can be used in concrete slabs. More specifically, this grid of steel consists of many orthogonal wires that are joined together at intersections. For applications such as residential driveways and patios that

Why are Hot Weather Concrete Practices and Precautions so Important? Weather plays a major role in concrete construction due to the chemical reaction known as hydration. When new concrete is placed on a hot day with low relative humidity, hydration is going to happen much faster due to evaporation of the water from the surface

Entrained Air – Chemical admixture that increases the air in the concrete. Entrapped Air – Natural air in concrete. What is Air Entrained Concrete? Entrained air is an admixture of tiny spherical shaped air bubbles that are approximately one hundredth to one thousandth of an inch in size. These air bubbles increase the workability of

What is the Base of a Concrete Slab? – The base in concrete construction is the layer between the sub-grade (existing soil) and the concrete slab. The base (usually a crushed stone material) acts as a support between the dirt and slab, and ultimately, reduces cracking of the slab. Why is a Concrete Slab Base

What are Control Joints in Concrete? Unfortunately, due to shrinkage that takes place when concrete cures, cracks in concrete can only be controlled and not prevented. Control joints are the lines that are cut or tooled into the concrete when the concrete is placed to aid in controlling this tendency to crack by creating weakened

Hiring a concrete contractor to install a stamped concrete patio for your Nashville area home is becoming more common, and for plenty of great reasons. Having an outdoor living space gives you a place to host social gatherings, enjoy the great outdoors, and make use of your home beyond your four interior walls. Using concrete means you’ll have a