As a building material, concrete is relatively simple. And at its simplest and most basic composition, concrete is made from water, aggregate, and cement all mixed together in precise proportion. Water and aggregate likely have been used as a building material since the dawn of mankind; it’s a simple and […]
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Have you ever seen a retaining wall? Maybe a short structure of concrete or concrete blocks that track a property boundary line and keep the hill of earth behind it at bay. Retaining walls come in all shapes and sizes, but they all serve a similar purpose: they are stabilizing […]
Did you know that proper drainage is incredibly important to the longevity and structural integrity of a retaining wall? It’s true. And when a retaining wall is built, modern day moisture protection systems are the best choice to naturally divert water. Native soils are different from location to location; the […]
In building construction water vapor should always be controlled. When a concrete floor is poured a vapor and gas barrier should be placed beneath. Here’s why… There are a few reasons why a concrete vapor barrier is absolutely a necessity when you pour a concrete floor. The first reason is […]
The very word foundation conjures images of strength and stability. And a quality foundation made of concrete should outlast the structure it supports. Concrete isn’t impervious to age and other environmental factor, but, when it’s created, it should be perfectly mixed then poured without pockets and other factors that create […]
Concrete does age, and when it comes time to be replaced, it can be a difficult job to remove the old slab. There are several tools that work efficiently to break down concrete, although the two that work best are probably the jackhammer and the sledgehammer—oftentimes both are used on […]
Usually, it’s the shoulder seasons—both Spring and Fall—that have the best temperatures for a concrete pour. The reason is that temperatures are usually neutral, and milder. Two things to be cautious of in these seasons are precipitation, and that temperatures don’t swing dramatically in either direction. Sometimes, especially in the […]
A quality concrete sealer is a vital component for a quality concrete job. The concrete sealer makes concrete resistant to weather, exposures to water—yes, concrete is durable and is meant to handle the elements, but long exposures can break down nearly any building material—abrasions, and deicing salt. A quality concrete […]
Concrete is relatively easy to mix, use, etc., but very few people can get it absolutely perfect; there’s an underlying experience level (Maybe even a level at which it becomes an art form?) to skillfully working with concrete. But there are a few tips and tricks to working with concrete […]
Yes, concrete floors. It’s a trend in modern building. There are numerous benefits to building a home with concrete floors. And while the benefits are many (we’ll discuss exactly what those benefits are in a few…) there are a few drawbacks, although the drawbacks are not nearly as numerous. The […]