FAQ

Ahhh! The ultimate question that we wish we could answer directly. Concrete price varies based on the additives needed for the individual’s specific pour. Note, that we do not upcharge the concrete price. Whether you pay for it, or we do - it’ll be the same price regardless. 

The chemical reaction between cement and water that binds sand and gravel together (to make concrete) takes roughly 28 days to fully dry. We recommend waiting 24-48 hours before walking on the concrete, and at least 10 days before driving a standard-size vehicle on it. Heavy-duty trucks, machinery, RVs, etc should wait 28 days.  

Coming across concrete that has cracked, you may assume the job wasn’t done correctly. Although that could potentially be a huge factor, concrete does naturally crack. What matters most is if the crack is natural or a combination of natural and a lack of concrete knowledge from the person who poured it.  The most common/normal cracks are from shrinkage. Shrinkage is when the excess water evaporates as the concrete cures. This is natural and not a durability or structural problem. To keep shrinkage cracks to a minimum, we advise you to hire a well-educated concrete business. They can ensure proper ratios and utilize techniques to control the location of where the cracking may occur.

American Concrete Institute Manual, ACI 302. 1-40: “Even with the best floor designs and proper construction, it is unrealistic to expect crack-free and curl-free floors. Consequently, every owner should be advised by both the designer and contractor that it is normal to expect some amount of cracking and curling on every project and that such occurrences do not necessarily reflect adversely on either the adequacy of the floor’s design or the quality of its construction”

Maintaining concrete is like washing your car. Some folks care about exterior appearance, some don’t.

Suggestions:

1. Spray the concrete often with water to remove any debris.

2. Chemicals, oil, and fertilizer are the top three most commonly used liquids that will stain concrete. Remove any excess or spillage from your concrete right away with water and a cleaner specific for concrete.

3. Deicers are harmful to concrete and should be used sparingly. We recommend Calcium Chloride if deicing is necessary.

4. Sealants can be applied every two years to add an extra barrier of protection to high-traffic concrete.

There are a lot of people who "claim" a concrete business and should not be pouring concrete. It isn't a simple job that anyone can do. Sure, they might have pictures of previous work and it looks fine, however, did they use proper techniques and materials to support the life of the new structure? Many factors are considered when pouring concrete, and one small careless act can cost a job. Ask the contractor questions so you are comfortable with their replies before they start any work. Are they pouring a slab to the appropriate thickness for what you intend to use it for? Is rebar or fiber needed? Vapor barrier? Where do they plan to cut the stress areas to slow and/or avoid the process of cracking? If adding color do they intend to seal it and know how many days to wait? What are they prepping the subgrade with? Will they need to backfill or are they pouring a thickened edge? It does not hurt to ask these questions and then some.