Concrete shows its age as well as any imperfections. Concrete displays its weaknesses as cracks, fissures, and fractures. What are the differences between cracks, fissures, and fractures? When there is a crack in the concrete does it mean something different than a fissure? There are differences, and the differences are usually in the severity of…
Did you know that fall is a prime month for concrete? It’s true. It’s mostly because the fall is a season of predictable forecasts and moderate but neutral temperatures. It’s important, however, to remember that concrete and shotcrete work can be performed in any season, if safeguards are in place; but, mild and moderate temperatures…
Concrete can be tricky to mix, especially for someone new to the process. But the initial stages are vitally important to the end result; the best concrete jobs begin with a well-balanced mix of concrete. Concrete that is mixed well will be easier to work with and remain durably intact throughout its lifespan. And there…
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 economical and durable building material.…
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 economical; the vapor barrier installed…
If you ever want to replace your concrete patio, you will have work taking out the old one. Tahere are two tools that work well: Jackhammer and sledgehammer. For those of you thinking a Jackhammer, because it’s mechanical, is an easier, more efficient tool to use, think again: jackhammers are heavy to lug around, and…
Concrete as a sustainable building material Often we’ve talked about just how environmentally friendly concrete is; but you might have asked why is it environmentally friendly? What makes it such a unique, sustainable building material? Concrete is unique in that it remains an environmentally sustainable building material throughout its entire lifespan. Here are some of…
It’s common for older homes to have an unfinished basement: concrete floor and sheetrock-less stud walls. But, what happens when a person wants to refinish that basement? Often the concrete floors are cracked from the foundation’s settling over years. The floors may have low spots, and, in general, just seem to be in dire need…
Slab heave and slab movement can be fixed—not easily, but if you’re armed with a certain amount of experience and you apply the forthcoming helpful tips (Or you can call the shotcrete experts at Shotcrete MT for help), it can be done. Here’s how. A home will move, unfortunately, and it will continue to move…
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 a demolition project with success.…