Steadfast Concrete, as the name implies, incorporates the best concrete mix one can buy in order to create a long-lasting product that resists cracking and scarring. The discounted price and pride of ownership are sure to invoke a satisfied smile.

Know Your Concrete:

 Click here  The History of Concrete

 Click here  Pitfalls to Avoid

 Click here  Options: Wire mesh, anchor bolts, sealers, extra grading, rebar, break up and removal of old or damaged slabs, etc.

The ancient Romans developed concrete similar to the kinds used today. Their cement, also called "concrete," had such great durability that some of their buildings, roads, and bridges still exist. To make cement, the Romans mixed slaked lime (lime to which water has been added) with a volcanic ash called pozzuolana. The ash produced a hydraulic cement that hardened under water. People lost the art of making cement after the fall of the Roman Empire in the A.D. 400’s. In 1756, John Smeaton, a British engineer, again found how to make cement.

Portland cement. Joseph Aspdin, a British bricklayer, invented portland cement in 1824 and gave the cement its name. Aspdin made a cement that was superior to natural cement by mixing, grinding, burning, and regrinding amounts of limestone and clay. David 0. Saylor probably established the first portland cement plant in the United States at Coplay, Pennsylvania, in 1871.

Modern concrete mixtures have vastly improved over the past few years. For example, one used to have to wait 2-4 weeks for the concrete to fully cure prior to building. The new commercial mixes hardened within 24 hours; hence, the building crew can begin work the next day. However, this does not normally occur. Note: When sealing a floor, the various companies recommend waiting 30 days prior to applying a sealer; the 30-day waiting period has to do with sealing, not the structural integrity of the concrete.

FIBERMESH concrete is mixed according to the desired application. A short description follows:

• 2500# mix contains more gravel and less concrete. The mix is the minimum requirement for a slab, patio or driveway. 
  
• 3000# regular mix contains more concrete and less gravel. The mix is recommended for residential and light commercial slabs, patios, walkways, and driveways, etc. 
  
• 3000# commercial mix contains even more concrete and less gravel. The mix is optimal for residential and light commercial slabs, patios, walkways, and driveways, etc.
  
• 3500# mix contains even more concrete and less gravel. Recommended for commercial driveways and slabs.
  
• 4000# mix has an even greater proportion of concrete verses gravel. A 4000-psi, .50 water to cement ratio is best for heavy commercial operations. The denser mix provides greater resistance to wear. Moreover, concrete is permeable; that is, it conveys moisture by capillary action from beneath the slab. Inherent to the "wicking" moisture, salts from the soil permeate to the top leaving an efflorescence (growth of salt crystals) which discolor the surface. The .50 water to cement mix reduces this "wicking" action.
  
• 5000# mix is straight mortar mix.

Concrete is premixed at the plant and delivered by truck, hence, the concrete mix is very seldom the cause of a problem. The problem lies with the finisher. Be cognizant that his work will be sealed in concrete for many years to come. Following are a few of the pitfalls that befall finishers who know just enough about concrete to get you into trouble.

• For example: If too much water is added to the mix either during the mixing or  the finishing stages, there will be excessive powder on top. Powder may also be caused by pouring in muddy conditions. There can be so much powder that the concrete cannot be sealed and is forever a dusty mess. In extreme cases, the slab can deteriorate to the point where the concrete will not hold an anchor.

• Another pitfall to avoid is a site that is not properly prepared. Whereas a slab should be a minimum of 4" thick, someone who knows a little about concrete may "belly it out" to 2" in the middle, leaving a weak spot.

• Yet another little pitfall can weaken the concrete without a trace as to the reason. In cold weather conditions a proportion of calcium chloride has to be added to the mix to cause the concrete to cure faster. If the weather is warmer than 70 degrees, a retardant has to be added to prevent the concrete from curing too fast. If it cures too fast, gravel may come to the top of the slab.

There are a number of other pitfalls, a few of which will be briefly discussed here: 

• Concrete may cure too fast for a slow and inexperienced workman, leaving an unsightly surface where only part has been finished.

• The concrete forms giving way, causing the concrete to bulge out. Wood and metal cannot bend, hence, it makes the building process much more difficult.

• The slab may not be completely square and level, causing every lumber cut to be a custom fit and, hence, slowing down the job.

• The finisher may try to cut corners and, thus, his cost by pouring a mix not suitable for your particular situation. Although a 2500 psi (pounds per square inch) concrete mix is often used for pouring driveways, it is not recommended. STEADFAST Concrete is featuring a Summer Sizzler Sale: upgrade from a regular driveway/slab 3000# mix to a commercial 3000# mix at no additional cost. For a limited time, upgrade from a 3500# mix to the 4000# for only $.49 cents per square foot -- ideal for a commercial slab.

• The crew pouring the slab may not be familiar with local codes; for instance, they may not know that the inspector will do a probe test to make sure the footer is resting on hard ground. Moreover, any fill has to be compacted to a certain rate. If the slab is poured before these inspections, an engineer will be required to take a soil probe; the cost is about $500.00. Moreover, the drainage around the slab has to be considered.

The list of pitfalls goes on.

Note: STEADFAST Concrete will break up and remove improperly poured, cracked, and damaged slabs and driveways. 

 
The prices per square foot will vary according to the options desired, if the site is plus or minus 6" off level, etc. Call a STEADFAST professional for an onsite quote.

A slab for a garage or home requires a footer, usually a 12"x20" perimeter layer of concrete to support the walls. The footer is poured below the "frost line" or grade level. The Southern Building Code which many counties and municipalities follow dictates that a minimum of 8" of concrete show above the frost line. This gives a total of 20" for the footer: 12" below the frost line and 8" above said frost line. Note: The non load-bearing area of the slab between the footers is poured to a depth of 4". The footer and main slab are poured together, forming a monolithic slab.

COMPLETION TIME:

STEADFAST strives to complete most jobs within two weeks of invoice date, weather permitting. Note: inclement weather is unpredictable and may delay the project.

ONSITE QUOTE:

Please call a STEADFAST pro for information and pricing. On-site appointments are scheduled upon request.

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CONTACT INFORMATION:
 

Telephone Your Personal Bradley Pro. 

 

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Last modified: June 12, 2009