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Questions You May Have About Your Next Concrete Job

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 17:18:57 GMT

If you don't have any experience with concrete, you may wonder how the process works and have some questions about hiring a contractor for your next concrete job.

Here are some of the questions you may have about your next concrete job, along with the answers.

Can New Concrete Go over a Concrete Surface?

Yes. If you already have a concrete walkway, for example, your contractor can pour more concrete over the top to create a new, slightly higher concrete surface.

This process is slightly different than pouring without a previous concrete surface. The contractor will look over the concrete to make sure it's in good condition before cleaning it and pouring over the top of it.

Can You Pour Concrete in Cold Weather?

The conditions your contractor has to work in can affect the concrete pouring job in several ways. The effects can be especially significant if the worksite is outside rather than in a sheltered place (such as a garage or basement). For example:

Cold temperatures can keep the concrete from curing as quickly
Cold temperatures can result in frozen ground that's unsuitable for concrete pours
Extra water in the concrete (such as from rain) can freeze inside the concrete and cause problems

Some workarounds to enable concrete pouring in winter include concrete curing blankets, snow melting mats to remove snow before a pour, and using a slightly drier concrete mix that has additional cement for strength.

Should You Repair or Replace Your Concrete?

Concrete that's past the stage of reasonable repairs will need replacement. But you may wonder how to tell whether something needs to be repaired or replaced. Some signs that you should repair your concrete include:

Chipped corners on your steps
Localized rather than widespread damage
A well-maintained concrete surface that's not too old
Just a couple of small cracks in the surface

If your concrete really needs to be replaced, on the other hand, you may observe some of these signs:

Old concrete with large areas of damage
Actual potholes in the surface
Cracks that are spider-webbing everywhere
Ultimately, if you're still unsure, you'll want to have a professional come out to assess your current concrete before you make the final decision to repair or replace.

What Should You Do with Old Concrete?

If your existing concrete surface needs to be replaced, you don't need to have it hauled off to the landfill. In fact, concrete is a very recyclable material. Recycling your concrete means it won't need to take up space in a landfill. Your recycled concrete can be used in construction in the future.

As with all recycling, concrete recycling is actually great for the planet because it helps reduce the need to create new concrete, thereby saving energy, reducing greenhouse gases, and more.

Do You Really Need a Professional Contractor?

Concrete pouring typically isn't a quick and easy job. The weather doesn't always cooperate, and you need professional expertise and experience to determine things like how much extra cement to add when pouring in wet weather or whether a current concrete surface is structurally sound enough to pour over.

These are just a few reasons why it's important to hire a professional as you consider your upcoming concrete project.

These questions and answers can help you get a handle on your expectations for your next concrete job and perhaps what the extent of that job should be. If you need more information to help you make repair versus replacement decisions or understand the concrete pouring process, get in touch with us at Central Carolina Concrete, L.L.C. today. We're here to assist you!

Biggest Risks to Your Concrete Patio

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 15:22:46 GMT

Patios make great additions to backyards because they create a perfect space for cooking, talking or just spending time with your friends and family. However, as with any part of your home, patios need regular maintenance and monitoring to prevent serious damage. If you want to better protect your patio investment, check out these four big risks to concrete patios.

1. Excessive Weight

Concrete is a strong material, and the thicker your patio, the stronger it should be. At the same time, if you make your patio too thick, you are only wasting materials, time and money. On average, a patio should be at least four inches thick. This is also the recommended amount for driveways, so it should be enough to withstand the weight of an average vehicle.

In most cases, these four inches is plenty for supporting your outdoor cooking equipment, sitting area, etc. However, some people overload their patio by parking unused vehicles (rarely used trucks, boats, and RVs) on the patio. Another item that can easily overload your patio is an above ground pool. When the patio gets overloaded, it can develop major cracks or even separate chunks of the patio.

2. Tree Roots

Trees can turn a hot, ugly backyard into a secluded haven, but those trees have unseen roots that may spread to your patio. If the roots are big enough or close enough to the surface of the soil, they may push up on the concrete, causing it to crack. At the very least, the roots can make the patio uneven, which further increase the risk of cracking, especially when exposed to weight.

One way to prevent tree roots from harming your patio is to make sure you install your patio far from trees. If you can't, or the patio is already installed and a tree is causing complications, it may be best to remove the tree. You can remove just the roots that are causing the problem, but this may fully kill the tree if you don't hire a professional.

3. Standing Water

Standing water may happen if your home has a poor drainage system. For example, if the gutters are constantly full or ineffective, water from the roof may spill onto the patio. The longer this water remains, the higher the risk of deterioration. If water gets under the patio, it can also damage the underlying soil, which makes the patio less stable and more likely to crack.

Standing water also promotes the growth of moss and mildew. Not only do these further irritate your patio by holding water, but they may also pose a slip and fall risk, which could lead to a lawsuit.

If you haven't installed your patio yet, and you are worried about water, consider adding a drain and drainage system to the middle of the patio. If the patio is finished, consider a system of surface area drains to redirect the water. Naturally, you can also help by making sure your gutter system is in tip top shape.

4. Clay Soil

If your property has clay soil, the soil itself may be causing problems for your patio. The reason clay soil causes complications is because of how it interact with water. When exposed to moisture, clay tends to expand, but when it gets dried out again, it contracts.

While the changes are minimal, they can eventually cause irritation to the patio, leading to cracks, chips and unevenness. To prevent issues with clay soil, it's best to have the soil stabilized before you install the patio. Alternatively, you could request a thicker patio.

Concrete is strong, but it is not impervious to wear and tear, especially cracking and chipping. If you don't care for your patio, it can lead to an ugly, expensive mess. To learn more about concrete patios, or to get a quote for your dream concrete patio, contact us at Central Carolina Concrete, L.L.C.

3 Landscape Phenomenon That Ruin A Driveway

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 16:03:44 GMT

A concrete driveway is an important feature of your home because it provides stable access to your property. You can expect a concrete driveway to endure up to 30 years or more with the right maintenance. However, some circumstances may cut short the life of your driveway. Take a look at these three landscape phenomenon that can ruin a driveway, and how you can limit that damage.

1. Steep Slopes

Driveways must feature a slight slope to allow water to drain off and away from the concrete. If your property contains a steep slope, however, your driveway may experience problems associated with a grade that is higher than normal. Soil beneath a steep driveway can become unstable and erode or shift. When this occurs, the concrete can sink or experience cracks.

Sometimes the soil of a slope beneath the concrete, or subgrade, can make concrete sink and crack due to poor compaction during construction. Other times a contractor uses the wrong materials. For example, crushed stone or other granular materials work best to stabilize soft areas of subgrade while the addition of a stabilizing material like lime reduces permeability and the tendency of expansive soil to swell.

Before you add a concrete driveway to a very steep slope, ask your contractor about their methods to eliminate the likelihood of soil shift.

2. Water Runoff

Our area of North Carolina experiences many rainy days per year, with periodic heavy rain from hurricanes in late summer and fall. Runoff from precipitation, sprinklers, and other sources of water can hurt a concrete driveway over time. Often portions of a driveway will sink or crack when water cannot drain away from the concrete, or when it percolates through to the foundation.

Water may remain beneath concrete when there is a lack of subbase on top of the subgrade. Subbase consists of a layer of crushed stone or compacted gravel directly beneath the concrete, the thickness of which depends on soil type and climate. This layer provides the necessary drainage from water runoff.

Water that remains trapped beneath concrete eventually erodes the foundation and causes portions to sink. Additionally, runoff water that puddles on the surface of concrete acts similarly. Poor grading and pits or potholes encourage standing water to deteriorate a foundation as well.

Ask your concrete contractor about their warranty policy in regards to damage from water runoff, especially under circumstances where they fail to grade properly or install sufficient subbase.

3. Tree Roots

Part of a lush landscape includes shrubs, plants, grass, and trees. When tree roots encroach upon your driveway, however, the proximity of strong roots can cause damage. Thick roots force concrete upward and cause buckling, heaving, and large cracks.

Existing trees that hurt a driveway will continue to grow and spread damage. Often the best solution to prevent more damage is to grind down the visible roots or remove the tree entirely. Both remedies can be costly and time-consuming but necessary if you want a pristine driveway.

You can prevent tree root damage too when you plan future tree sites with care. Plant new trees far away from your driveway, especially large shade tree species. If you must have trees near your concrete driveway, keep them at least six feet away, where tree roots tend to be smaller and weaker. Then, choose tree species that won't get as tall when mature.

When steep slopes, water runoff, and tree roots are challenges on your property, you can still have a reliable concrete driveway. If you want a new driveway for your home, contact the professionals at Central Carolina Concrete. We have the materials and expertise to provide superior concrete work for your property.

What You Need to Know About Concrete Backyard Kitchens

Fri, 01 May 2020 16:13:26 GMT

Are you ready to renovate your home's exterior area? Create a backyard oasis that's party-ready with an outdoor kitchen. If this upgrade is on your home improvement agenda, take a look at how you can use concrete in your backyard kitchen design and what you need to know about this elegant option.

How Can You Use Concrete in Your Backyard Kitchen?

Concrete use in kitchens has grown in popularity recently. If concrete is a material you want to use in your outdoor cooking and dining area, consider:

Concrete countertops. Use concrete as a food prep surface or to serve your summer-time meals from.
Concrete bar top . Food isn't the only thing you can serve from a concrete top. A concrete bar top adds a special style to your outdoor entertaining area.
Concrete sink. Create a seamless style with a concrete sink in your concrete counter or bar top.
Concrete floor. Even though concrete is a well-known outdoor flooring option, you don't have to use it in a typical or expected way. Instead, try a stamped concrete or hire a contractor to pour a custom shape.

You can also use concrete as a designer accent. Create a custom concrete backsplash, use the material in the kitchen's island, add a water feature, or coordinate the countertops with concrete-accented benches.

Why Should You Use Concrete in Your Backyard Kitchen?

Tile, wood, granite, and other types of stone are all common backyard-kitchen building materials. Even though these options are popular picks, they aren't the only alternatives available. Concrete is a great option if you want a backyard kitchen that:

Has style. Everyone expects a stone or tile countertop. But concrete is an unexpected option that has a classic, contemporary look. Whether you use concrete for the countertop, floor, or in another outdoor area, your kitchen will have serious style.
Is custom designed. Do you have a hard-to-fit backyard space? Unlike indoor kitchens, the outdoor version may not have desirable dimensions or an even area. A concrete contractor can poor the countertops or create a floor space to fit your yard.
Is durable. Tile can scratch easily, and wood may warp. Concrete is a durable material that is difficult to damage, which is essential in an outdoor area that's exposed to the elements.
Is easy to clean. Cleanliness is crucial in an outdoor environment that is easy for pests to access.

Not only is concrete a stylish custom choice that will last for years to come, but this building material also fits almost every outdoor design scheme. Whether your backyard kitchen is bold and colorful, classic and clean, or sleek and modern, concrete is a neutral option that meshes with a variety of styles.

Why Should a Professional Install Your Outdoor Concrete Kitchen?

Concrete may look easy to work with, but if you don't have expert-level experience with this material, your concrete countertops may look mangled and messy. Instead of a do-it-yourself approach, hire a professional contractor for this type of home renovation project. An expert contractor can:

Create a quality kitchen. The contractor has the experience, expertise, and equipment needed to pour the concrete the right way the first time.
Save you time. Let the concrete contractor do the work as you relax, spend time with your family, or get extra time to work.
Save you money. A DIY approach won't always save you money. The contractor knows where to get the best materials and has the equipment necessary for the job. A do-it-yourself renovation will require you to buy these things yourself - adding extra costs to the project.

To hire the best contractor for your job, ask for references and photos of past projects. These can give you a better idea of the work the professional does and how it matches up to your outdoor kitchen goals.

Do you need to hire a concrete contractor? Contact Central Carolina Concrete, L.L.C. , for more information.

Reasons to Hire a Professional for Your Next Concrete Project

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 16:21:31 GMT

Why should you hire a professional contractor for your next concrete project? While a do-it-yourself job may seem like a cost-saving idea, take a look at the reasons to go with a pro.

The Equipment

Do you have the right equipment necessary to pour and shape concrete? If the DIY YouTube videos and online tutorials make it seem like all you need is a bag of concrete mix, a mixing stick, and a trowel, think again - especially if your home improvement includes a larger area, such as a driveway, patio, or walkway.

Concrete contractors use a variety of tools to provide a precise, clean finish. Without the right equipment, your do-it-yourself job is likely to look unprofessional. Along with concrete itself, the contractor may use wheelbarrows, a portable mixer, shovels, floats (a tool used to smooth and level the concrete surface), groove cutters and edgers, saws, a plate compactor, power drills, and more.

While you could buy the equipment a professional uses, this will significantly add to your overall costs and make your would-be DIY job unnecessarily expensive. Not only will professional-level equipment add to your overall expenses, you may not know how to use the tools correctly. Read on for more information on why expert knowledge is another reason to choose a concrete contractor.

The Expertise

What is your concrete expertise level? If you're a novice DIY-er, leave pouring a concrete driveway, patio, walkway, or other project to the professionals. The contractor has in-depth knowledge of dry times, structural support issues, and how concrete reacts in different situations.

Unlike paint or carpet, concrete is a home improvement material that doesn't always come ready for use. This means you'll need to mix the concrete prior to pouring it. Even though a product's manufacturer might provide mixing instructions, it takes a professional level of expertise to get the just-right consistency. Failure to achieve that consistency could ruin your concrete project or lead to premature failure.

Along with expertise in mixing, the contractor also has the knowledge to properly pour, shape, and level your home's next concrete project. Without years of experience and training, it's not likely your DIY project will have the precision necessary to look professional or resist cracking and other types of damage.

The Experience

Again, most novice DIY-ers don't have the extensive experience a concrete contractor has. Not only can this affect the look and feel of the concrete itself, but it can also impact other parts of the job.

Do you know what building permits you need or how to get them? If you don't, you're not alone. Most homeowners don't have this type of knowledge for one major reason - they aren't professional contractors. There's no reason for you to know whether you need a permit to pour a new driveway or not. This is something the contractor should know and take care of for you.

Beyond mixing, pouring, and pulling permits, the concrete contractor should also have the experience to anticipate and handle problems. Ideally your concrete project will go exactly as planned. But unexpected issues could arise at any point. If this happens, you need a contractor with the experience to make changes, think out of the box, and solve the problem without adding excessive costs to the project.

The Expense

Does it seem like a DIY job will save you money? While you won't have to pay the cost of labor, you'll still have to buy equipment and materials. Beyond these added costs, the time it takes you to learn about concrete and complete the job is time taken away from your job and family. This can result in lost wages or added childcare costs.

Do you have a concrete project on your home improvement agenda? Contact Central Carolina Concrete for more information.

5 Ways to Refresh Old Concrete Other Than Replacement

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 16:49:34 GMT

If your concrete patio or driveway looks dingy and a little the worse for wear, you may wonder just what steps you can take to spruce it up, other than actually replacing the concrete. Fortunately, concrete contractors can perform several renovations and upgrades to help restore your concrete to its original good looks.

Discover a few ways you can refresh old concrete surfaces without a complete concrete replacement.

1. Professional Pressure Washing

If the dinginess on your concrete comes from ground-in grime, which is too often the case, simply getting a nice deep cleaning may be enough to help your driveway sparkle again (metaphorically). However, you should opt to hire a concrete professional for the pressure washing itself.

Not only can a professional get the job done efficiently, but they'll be able to avoid damaging the surface of your concrete while they're at it. Because power washers are so strong, an inexperienced user could accidentally cause visible damage to the surface of the concrete. Letting a professional handle the washer can avoid this outcome.

2. Periodic Resealing

Concrete is a porous material, and it needs periodic sealing in order to stay intact and repel the destructive forces of the elements. Your concrete likely has sealant already, but this protective material can wear away over the months. Ideally, the sealant should be replaced every couple of years so it doesn't have time to wear away completely.

Resealing can help your concrete surface look new and shiny. So if you're not sure if your concrete has been resealed recently, talk to your contractor about resealing services. Your contractor may be able to give your concrete patio or driveway a deep cleaning and then add sealant right away before grime can work its way back into the concrete's texture.

3. Crack Repair

A hairline crack, one too small to slip a nickel into, may be easy to patch and repair as an isolated spot. Patching the crack helps keep it from worsening due to weather conditions. If you have several cracks, you may need a larger repair job such as a resurfacing. Your concrete contractor can help you decide if you're unsure which is right for your situation.

However, not every crack can or should be repaired. Some cracks could indicate a fault deeper in the concrete or in the foundation, or simply extensive damage and wear that means the entire thing needs replacing. This is especially the case if many cracks occur together or if they occur in conjunction with potholes or an aging concrete surface.

4. Resurfacing

Resurfacing is typical if the damage is more generalized than just one crack yet not significant enough to require complete replacement. For instance, if the foundation of the concrete is at fault, your contractor will recommend a complete replacement.

On the other hand, if moderate surface wear is the issue, resurfacing may be the ideal solution. Resurfacing is a process that involves adding another layer of concrete material so that your driveway has a strong, new surface. Resurfacing doesn't involve removal and replacement of your current driveway or the addition of a new foundation, so you may save on labor costs.

5. Decorative Elements

If you resurface the concrete resurfaced, now is an ideal time to add an attractive stamped design or other decorative element. The new concrete surface can be stamped before it dries, or your contractor can add concrete stains or dyes to give your driveway or patio a whole new look.

As you can see, replacing your concrete isn't the only option when it starts to look the worse for wear. But whether you decide on a deep cleaning, a refresh, or even a total replacement, Central Carolina Concrete, L.L.C. , can help out. We offer concrete services for both homeowners and commercial clients. Call us today.

Why You Should Consider a Concrete Basement

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 17:38:56 GMT

Do you want to add a basement to your home? Or, maybe you want to make some changes to your current basement. Whatever the case may be, consider using concrete in your construction.

Concrete is common for basement walls and for basement flooring as well. Whether you use it in one or both places, you will find that concrete is a great choice for a basement material.

Strong

To start with, a major advantage of concrete is how incredibly strong and durable it is.

Concrete can enable your basement to withstand all kinds of wear and tear, including severe weather. Concrete can even survive a fire, unlike most other materials used in home construction.

What is even better is that concrete, if properly installed, does not weaken or deteriorate with age. It can stand strong for many years, which means your basement will too.

Safe

Because concrete is so very strong, a concrete basement is essentially the best place to take shelter in the event of a hurricane, tornado, or other dangerous weather condition.

If you would like to use your basement as a built-in safety shelter for your family or even as a place to securely store important documents, concrete is the material you will likely want to use.

Affordable

Even though concrete is exceptionally durable, it does not cost a fortune.

You can actually find concrete construction for a reasonable price. Whether you choose concrete block construction or poured concrete, either option is a good choice.

With different construction options that all use simple materials, you can enjoy a concrete basement without going over your budget.

Water-Resistant

If you choose to go with a poured concrete basement, you will enjoy a basement that is less likely to suffer from leaks or water damage, which are very common problems with basements.

Poured concrete is less porous, which helps to guard against water problems. Add this to the fact that poured concrete does not have as many seams or openings to let water in, and you ultimately have a basement material that is more equipped to protect against water and the damage it can cause.

Lucrative

A concrete basement is a wonderful addition to your home, both for your own enjoyment and for the resale potential.

Basements are a much-desired commodity among many homebuyers, so your home is likely to fetch more just by having a basement. If that basement is made of durable concrete, this can increase the value even further.

Thus, adding a concrete basement could ultimately be an investment that brings you great returns if you decide to later sell your home.

Easy

When you choose a concrete basement, you will be glad to find that no major maintenance is involved.

You may want to keep the concrete clean, but other than that and regular inspections, concrete is a very self-sufficient material that really does not require any work on your part.

Versatile

One final thing to appreciate about concrete is that you can basically do anything you want to it.

You could put tiles, wall panels, carpet, or anything in between over the concrete areas of your basement. With so much versatility, concrete allows you to create a basement that is uniquely yours and that offers everything you want.

For all of these reasons and many others, concrete is an ideal construction material for basements. To learn more about this option and how to utilize it in your home, be sure to contact the experts at Central Carolina Concrete, L.L.C. We look forward to serving your concrete basement needs and answering all your questions and concerns.

Benefits of Stamped Concrete

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 17:53:54 GMT

If you are getting ready to create a new patio, pool decking, or sidewalks, you may be amazed by the number of products available on the market to meet your needs. But if you are looking for something attractive, durable, and affordable, you definitely want to consider stamped concrete. Because it is fully customizable, your list of options is nearly endless. Here is some additional information about stamped concrete and a few benefits this product offers.

What Is Stamped Concrete?

Stamped concrete is when concrete been poured, dyed, and stamped to resemble a wide range of other building materials such as brick, stone, slate, or even wood. The process offers you the look of these premium materials but usually at a lesser price point.

What sets this process apart from regular concrete is the color and texture that is added during the pouring and finishing of the project. This most often takes place in a three-step process. A base color is initially added to mimic the natural color of the material you are replicating.

Once the base color is mixed in or cast on, a second color or accent color is added to your project. This accent color is used to produce additional texture or designs in the concrete itself. An example of how the second color enhances your project would be the use of a secondary color to create the appearance of sand lines such as those found between pavers.

The third step includes the actual stamping or imprinting of the wet concrete. This allows the concrete to take on the shape or texture of the material you want to imitate. The concrete is then allowed to cure and harden.

What Are the Benefits of Stamped Concrete?

Stamped concrete has a variety of benefits, including increased home value, durability, and a wide range of customization options.

1. Additional Curb Appeal

One of the most important components in the value of your home is the appearance, or curb appeal, that it presents. Because of its unique appearance, stamped concrete can add tremendous curb appeal to your home.

When you combine stamped concrete with attractive landscaping, you may even see an increase in your home's value. Attractive curb appeal may not only help your house look good but also may bring more buyers through your doors. A higher appraisal and better traffic can come in really handy if you are planning to place your home on the market in the near future.

2. Increased Longevity

While bricks, pavers, and stones settle over time and can create an uneven surface, stamped concrete does not. Because stamped concrete is essentially a concrete slab, you do not have to worry about it settling or shifting. The solid nature of stamped concrete will not only ensure that you do not have a tripping hazard on your property but also help your project last longer than other materials you may use it to imitate.

3. Wide Array of Colors and Designs

Stamped concrete is fully customizable in a wide array of colors and designs. You can choose the colors of your concrete to match your home, your pool liner, or other components of your landscape design. You can then combine your choice of colors with many different stamping designs that can be customized even further.

This customization will allow you to create a one-of-a-kind project that is unique to you and your home. You will not have to worry about seeing your design or project anywhere else.

If you are interested in knowing more about stamped concrete or any other type of concrete, give us a call at Central Carolina Concrete, L.L.C . We would love to answer your questions and help you design and create a concrete project that will exceed your expectations.

What You Need to Know About the Concrete for Your Project

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 18:06:10 GMT

Concrete has a lot of uses, but it is not a generic substance or one-size-fits-all solution. You need to understand a few things to ensure that you get concrete that will hold up to your needs and will last over the years.

The Strength of the Concrete

The concrete mix is the most critical part to consider when you buy concrete. Cement, gravel, sand, and water make up the mix, which is customized to fit the use. The concrete company can adjust the aggregates to create a mix that works well for your situation. They will custom mix the concrete at the plant for you before delivery.

If you are not sure how to determine the right concrete mix, talk with the concrete company about your project for help.

The Right Reinforcement

When you pour concrete in a slab or in a large area, the concrete may need some extra help to avoid damage over time. To keep the concrete together, place steel rebar in the forms so that the concrete covers them. The rebar is cut in small sections and built into a grid the runs through the concrete. Once the concrete cures, the rebar becomes a part of the concrete slab or wall.

You can also reinforce concrete with fiberglass cloth that is embedded in the concrete. The cloth helps to hold the concrete together and make the entire structure stronger. Steel mesh is also sometimes placed in the concrete as a way to tie the entire block together.

The Proper Form

The forms that hold the concrete in place until it cures need to be built carefully so that they stand up to the weight of the wet concrete. The material is heavy when you first put it in the form, and if you don't construct the form properly, the concrete coming out of the truck chute can place a lot of pressure on the walls of the form.

The form must be the exact shape that you want the finished concrete to be. While you can grind the cured concrete into the shape you desire, this step adds a lot of time and cost to the project.

To get the shape right the first time, use plenty of stakes around the outside of the forms to keep them from moving when the pour takes place. Also, be sure to pack soil around the outside of the form so the concrete cannot run out under the form.

The Amount of Concrete You Need

Figuring out how much concrete you need is a little harder, but some great calculators are available online. You only have to enter the dimensions, and the calculator will tell you how much concrete you need. Some of these calculators give you the amount in cubic yards of concrete, and some tell you how many bags or ready-mix concrete you are going to need.

If you want to figure out how much concrete you need, multiply the length by the width by the depth of the form. Multiply this number by 27, and you will get the cubic yards of concrete required for the job. If you are not sure that your figures are right, talk with the concrete company about your project, and they can help determine the amount of concrete you need.

At Central Carolina Concrete , we offer concrete mixes and delivery to customers in the central North Carolina area. Call to set up an appointment for the delivery of your concrete or just to ask some questions about our services and pricing. We look forward to delivering your concrete when you are ready.

3 Things to Know About Steel Fiber Concrete

Thu, 04 Apr 2019 18:17:03 GMT

To those outside the concrete industry, all concrete seems like more or less the same thing. Yet the more you learn about the world of concrete, the more you recognize the incredible diversity it contains. Manufacturers and contractors constantly experiment with new and exciting ways to improve concrete performance.

One technique that has continued to gain traction goes by the name of steel fiber concrete. Unfortunately, many customers still don't understand the advantages posed by this particular type of concrete mix. If you would like to develop a more thorough knowledge of today's concrete options, keep reading. This article outlines three key things to know about steel fiber concrete.

1. Five Types of Steel Fibers Exist

You've probably already guessed that steel fiber concrete gets its name from the addition of thin strands of steel. Generally speaking, these short pieces of wire boost the overall strength and stability of the concrete. That said, the performance of the concrete depends a lot on the attributes of the particular steel fiber used.

The steel fibers used to reinforce concrete come in five different types and differ in terms of their production. For instance, Type I fibers consist of cold-drawn wires, while Type III Fibers consist of melt-extracted steel. Each type of fiber boasts a slightly different tensile strength. Likewise, different types have slightly different shapes, which contractors often refer to as aspect ratios.

A contractor must closely consider such properties when selecting the best type of fiber for a given project. Another key factor involves the average length of the fibers. While longer fibers tend to result in stronger concrete, they present more difficulties for mixing. Contractors can more easily and evenly distribute shorter fibers in a concrete mix.

2. Steel Fibers Increase Strength in Numerous Ways

As noted above, the chief advantage of steel fiber concrete lies in its greater strength as compared to conventional concrete. The steel fibers boost strength in a number of key ways. First of all, they improve the hardened concrete's flexural strength. In other words, steel fibers allow the concrete to resist bending forces up to 3 times better than conventional concrete.

This property makes steel fiber concrete a great choice for applications such as building floors and bridge decks. Steel fibers also boost the concrete's fatigue resistance by almost 1.5 times. Fatigue involves the tendency to rupture beneath repeated loadings. Compression, torsion, and bending forces all contribute to concrete fatigue.

Finally, cured steel fiber concrete exhibits greater strength when it comes to resisting impact and abrasive forces. Impact forces happen when heavy objects strike the surface of the concrete. Abrasion includes surface-level friction and wear, as well as processes like spalling, which can leave the top layer of concrete pitted and rough.

3. Steel Fibers Reduce Shrinkage Cracks

Steel fibers also directly benefit concrete before it has reached a hardened state. Specifically, those metal fibers decrease the likelihood of plastic shrinkage cracks. Plastic shrinkage cracks occur when water evaporates out of the curing concrete at a greater rate than it rises up to the surface.

This accelerated evaporation causes a volume decrease at the top of the concrete. This volume change creates shrinkage forces that often result in small cracks on the surface. While steel fibers cannot eliminate this volume change, they give the concrete the extra boost of strength necessary to hold together under such forces.

To best resist plastic shrinkage cracks, a contractor must add a certain percentage of steel fibers. Shape, or aspect ratio, also plays an important role in reducing the total cracked area.

Steel fibers boost the performance characteristics of concrete. For more information about whether steel fiber concrete would make a good choice for your next building project, please contact the industry veterans at Central Carolina Concrete .

Benefits Of Concrete Countertops

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 18:30:34 GMT

When you think about concrete, your mind most likely goes straight to patios, house foundations, or even walls. But concrete is also a very attractive option for countertops. Concrete offers many benefits when retrofitted in countertops. The following are some of the most notable benefits of choosing concrete for countertops.

Endless Decorative Options

One of the most attractive benefits of using concrete as a countertop surface is the amount of options you have. You can choose from a variety of dyes to color the concrete to match the rest of the room. If you have wooden kitchen cabinets, for instance, you can choose a tone to complement the shade of the wood stain.

Concrete countertops are also versatile in that you can style them to any decorative theme. They look just as lovely in either a French countryside home or a farmhouse.

You can also customize the edge forms on concrete, such as rounded, straight, beveled, and so on. If you would like a special inlay, such as seashells for a patio countertop or gemstones, you can add these to your concrete countertops as well.

Customizable Shape and Size

Concrete has to fully cure before you can use the counter to its full potential. But after the curing process is over, a concrete countertop can last for years with little maintenance. Concrete is a strong material on its own, and the contractor adds sealing technology to the concrete once it is set to further increase the durability and resistance.

The sealing process helps protect the counters from heat, stains, scratches, dents, and other damage. If the concrete countertops will go in a kitchen, the contractors can also seal the concrete with a food-safe sealer. If the counter is outdoors, concrete is one of the best options, as it can withstand extreme weather conditions on its own.

Increased Durability

Unique Features

One of the most interesting benefits of concrete countertops is how unique they are. The concrete countertop contractors are artisans in that they create these countertops specifically for your home. No two are ever alike. Although the counters will have similar shading and texture, there is also a subtle difference is each one since they are done by hand.

Another interesting feature is how you can also opt to have the color change over time. Much like copper, you can choose a sealer that will patina the concrete over the years, slowly adding an aged effect, which is attractive in a variety of aesthetics.

Keep in mind, however, that as a home settles, you may notice some hairline cracks in concrete countertops. This is not a structural problem, and often lends to the charm of the counters.

Before you finalize your choice, you must consider a couple things. First, you need to choose a quality craftsman to form the counters for you. You also should add some lead time for a concrete countertop project, as they take some time to complete. You have to factor in time for the construction of the forms, the concrete curing, and the sealing process.

If you have any questions about concrete projects for your home, please contact us at Central Carolina Concrete . We are happy to help you. We have a solid reputation and years of service to our customers, and we would be glad to build something that will work best for your home.

Why Your Restaurant Needs an Outdoor Patio

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 18:32:55 GMT

If your restaurant doesn't have an outdoor concrete patio, now's the time to add one. Learn some of the reasons why a patio can improve your restaurant.

Patio dining is a popular choice, and if you don't have a concrete patio outside of your restaurant, now's the time to add one. Learn some of the reasons why adding a patio is a great way to improve your restaurant.

Expand Your Dining Space for Less

If things are getting a little crowded inside your restaurant, you could be trying to decide what your next move should be. After all, you want to have enough seating that you aren't turning customers away, and you don't want your customers to have to wait too long for a seat when they're hungry, either.

Of course, moving to another location is an option, but it has its challenges. You have to worry about whether you'll experience a loss of business after moving to a new location, and you might face a huge expense when you have to buy or lease another building and move your business to another location.

You could expand your current restaurant, but the cost of doing this can be astronomical. Plus, the project might take a long time and can be quite disruptive in the meantime due to the construction mess and noise.

The perfect solution is an outdoor patio. With a patio, you can expand your restaurant and provide more seating without spending a ton of money. Work with a concrete pouring company that offers commercial services to get a concrete patio installed in no time, and the project might cost less than you think. Then, you'll have plenty of room to add more seating.

Attract More Customers

If people who walk or drive by your restaurant see others sitting outside and enjoying themselves on the patio, then they might take notice of your restaurant, even if they have never paid it any attention before.

Some people purposely seek out outdoor dining options for a variety of reasons. They may want to enjoy the weather or the view, or they might want to bring their dog along. With outdoor seating, you can attract customers that might have never thought about paying your restaurant a visit in the past.

Create a Different Vibe

Atmosphere is everything in a restaurant, and you can create a totally different vibe with your outdoor seating area. You can put up twinkle lights and create a bit of a party vibe, or you can add plenty of beautiful plants and give a more garden-style appearance. You're sure to be able to create an atmosphere that you just can't create indoors.

Make Cleanup Easy

If many of your guests dine outside, cleanup becomes much easier. Just like you can keep the mess down when throwing a party at home by hosting it outside, the same is pretty much true with an outdoor dining patio at your restaurant, too.

Your employees don't have to worry about breaking out the vacuum cleaner. Instead, they can just sweep the patio area to keep it neat and tidy. To get rid of spills or grime, you can use a water hose or pressure washer to clean the entire area. Even the patio furniture can be cleaned with a water hose or pressure washer.

With this reduction in cleaning time, you and your employees can focus on getting other things done around the restaurant, but you'll know that your patio area is nice and clean.

Install a concrete patio outside of your restaurant and set it up for dining to enhance your restaurant. Whether you have a casual eatery or a more high-end restaurant, or if your establishment falls somewhere inbetween, this is a great project to look into. Come to Central Carolina Concrete, L.L.C., for all of your concrete needs.

3 Methods to Protect Concrete Against Carbonation

Tue, 07 Aug 2018 19:48:00 GMT

Those outside the concrete industry often fail to realize what a chemically active concrete is. Concrete possesses a very high pH value, making it a highly basic substance. As a result, concrete readily reacts in the presence of even acids such as de-icing salts and even the carbon dioxide that naturally found in air.

As concrete continues to react with such substances in the process known as carbonation, its pH value steadily drops. The lower the concrete's pH gets, the more vulnerable it is to various forms of damage. Fortunately, a number of methods exist for protecting concrete against unwanted carbonation. This article will discuss three of the most common.

1. Surface Coatings

The process of carbonation always begins at the surface of the concrete. The reason for this is simple: that's where the acidic substances come into contact with the slab. As the pH on the outside drops, the acidic substances will gradually be able to push deeper into the concrete. Contractors often refer to the affected portions of concrete as the carbonation front.

One of the most effective ways to keep carbonation at bay involves applying a protective surface coating soon after the concrete has reached its fully hardened state. A wide variety of protective coatings will suit this purpose. Acrylic and polyurethane sealers both work by forming a tough, durable shell on the outside of the concrete.

On an aesthetic level, acrylic sealers tend to have a more matte appearance, whereas polyurethane sealers will be glossier. Both, however, will provide excellent protection against unwanted carbonation. The same goes for penetrating sealers, which soak deeper into the concrete, providing protection against unwanted chemical reactions.

2. Polymer-Modified Concrete

The best time to start strategizing about how to prevent carbonation is before you have actually installed your concrete. By altering the proportions and additives used in your concrete mix, you may be able to promote a greater degree of resistance to carbonation. One of the most effective ways involves adding polymer modifiers to the concrete mix.

A recent study tested different mixes of concrete for their degradation resistance when exposed to hydrochloric acid. The study found that polymer-modified concrete demonstrated the greatest degree of resistance in terms of flexural strength, compressive strength, and change of mass.

The polymers utilized in polymer-modified concrete provide a greater degree of chemical tolerance. They acted to keep the concrete's pH within an acceptable threshold. As a result, the concrete showed less of a tendency to break, crack, crumble, or suffer other forms of structural damage.

3. Corrosion Protection

Concrete derives its strength from a reaction that takes place between water and cement. Known as hydration, this reaction results in the formation of super-strong bonds that hold together the disparate chunks of aggregate. Carbonation weakens these bonds, making the concrete more likely to break apart.

Yet carbonation presents its most serious threat to concrete that has been reinforced with internal rebar or other elements of structural steel. These elements depend on the alkalinity of concrete to protect them from corrosion. As carbonation causes the concrete's pH to become ever more acidic, steel reinforcements begin to develop patches of rust.

Such corrosion greatly magnifies the amount of internal pressure exerted on the concrete, making it far more vulnerable to cracking or breaking. Fortunately, steel reinforcements can be protected by coating them with special corrosion-preventing sealers prior to installation. These coatings fall into two categories: metallic and organic.

Each of these types possesses its own set of strengths in keeping carbonation-related corrosion at bay. To learn more about which type would be best suited for protecting your next concrete slab from unwanted corrosion, please contact the concrete experts at Central Carolina Concrete.

3 Key Advantages of Concrete Cure and Seal Compounds

Sun, 10 Jun 2018 20:05:31 GMT

The Benefits of Commercial Concrete Floors

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 20:19:27 GMT

Commercial concrete floors aren't just for warehouses. Regardless of your industry and business, concrete floors can be a great solution. Not only are they easy to maintain, but they're also attractive and easily customized. Here are some of the advantages.

Concrete Can Be Stained and Painted

Concrete can take on nearly any appearance. It can be stained, painted, and tiled in a way that creates any pattern or design. This makes concrete a great choice for lobbies, entryways, and other locations that should be aesthetically pleasing.

There are even epoxies available that can be used to alter the appearance of concrete dramatically. Epoxy can have a 3D effect, which creates a multi-layered appearance. You can also stain concrete in a way that it mimics natural stone, such as marble or granite.

Concrete is Durable and Easy to Maintain

What happens when concrete chips or cracks? It can usually be fairly easily filled, buffed, polished, and otherwise restored. Concrete is extremely durable, with excellent compression rates and resilience to chipping and other damage.

Concrete will last longer in high traffic areas and outdoor areas, especially compared to more fragile options such as ceramic tiles and stone. Cleaning and maintenance of concrete is much easier than many other types of flooring, especially when compared to higher maintenance options such as carpet.

Concrete is Safe

Commercial warehouses often use concrete because it is safe. It's easy to clean, can be cleared of obstructions, and creates a smooth surface that employees and customers aren't likely to trip on.

Concrete can be textured, which prevents slipping and improves traction. In areas such as outdoor patios, textured or matte concrete can create a surface that is safe as well as attractive. When polished and sealed, concrete is additionally resistant to bacteria, mold, and mildew, all of which can also cause health issues.

Concrete Lasts a Long Time

Do you want a floor option that is going to last a long time? Concrete can last decades. It can be refinished, polished, stained, painted, and restored over time. This means that you have a single, one-time installation expense and some minor maintenance and repair expenses. Comparatively, other flooring options may need to be replaced more frequently.

Concrete Floors Are Environmentally-Friendly

Many businesses are now trying to be sustainable. Concrete floors are environmentally-friendly. Most buildings already have a concrete sub-floor, which can be modified, polished, or stained by a professional concrete company. Businesses that already have a floor installed can usually pull it up to reveal the concrete sub-floor.

Concrete floors also have an additional environmentally friendly bonus: they can reduce the amount of electricity you use. Concrete floors naturally preserve both hot and cold, storing up thermal energy and slowly releasing it throughout the day. This balances out the room's temperature.

Concrete Floors Improve Air Quality

Carpet and other floor options can collect dust and dirt. These can produce allergens and can be difficult to clean. Concrete floors improve air quality because they are easy to clean and will not store dirt.

Unlike some synthetic materials, concrete does not emit VOCs (volatile organic carbons), which are chemicals that can be dangerous to people. Concrete is also not naturally susceptible to mold and mildew, which could be otherwise caused by moisture and warmth.

Concrete is also beneficial because it can be easily covered up. If your business later decides that it wants to use tile, carpet, linoleum, or other flooring options, it can often be installed directly over the existing concrete floor. To view some of your commercial concrete options, contact our experts at Central Carolina Concrete .

Deciding What Type Of Release Agent To Use On Your Stamped Concrete Pavement

Sun, 11 Feb 2018 20:25:41 GMT

Stamped concrete offers a wonderful way to combine the attractive qualities of natural stone paving with the economical advantages only concrete can offer. There are many different factors to decide on when choosing a stamped concrete surface, from the color to the texture, to the type of natural stone you most want to mimic.

One other key choice has to do with the so-called release agent used during installation. True to its name, a release agent is designed to facilitate the removal of the plastic mats used to impart the look and texture of stone paving to the concrete. Without release agent, the mats would be much more likely to stick, leading to an unsightly and obviously unnatural appearance.

There are two main types of release agent: powdered and liquid. Don't worry if you are not familiar with the distinction between them- after all, not that many people outside the concrete profession are. This article will outline three things to know when choosing between powdered and liquid release agent.

Powdered Release Agent Enhances Texture

The principal ingredient of most powdered release agents is paraffin. This substance is capable of resisting the forces of adhesion on many different types of materials- concrete and plastic being the operative two in this case. Powdered release agents also excel at imparting naturalistic variations in texture to the concrete.

Such textures occur as a result of the powder's physicality. In other words, when the plastic mats are laid down on top of the concrete, they will press the powder down into it, especially around the joints, edges, and pattern lines. This gives the resulting surface a much greater degree of shading, allowing it to mimic the unpredictable variations of natural stone more closely.

Of course, not every stamped concrete surface can benefit from an increase in its textural qualities. Depending on the particular application, as well as the unique aesthetic vision at play, a smoother, more uniform result may be desired. In that case, a liquid release agent is generally preferable, as it allows for easy removal of the mats without the mottled textures associated with powder.

Powdered Release Agents Can Boost Coloration

Texture isn't the only area where powdered release agents can bring an added measure of complexity. They are equally good at enhancing the coloration of a stamped concrete surface. That's because a wide range of pigments can be added to powdered release agent, thus enabling it to enhance the concrete's integral coloration.

You can also add color to liquid release agents, but the results won't be quite so breathtaking. The spray-on application method used with liquid release agent is simply too effective at dispersing it evenly. That's a good thing if what you are looking for is a uniform appearance, but not quite as effective if you are hoping to replicate the sorts of color variations found in natural stone.

In that case, a powdered release agent is the way to go. Because it is broadcasted across the surface by hand, powdered release agent will yield more variations in the intensity of color in certain areas. This will lead to a more natural appearance, with some portions of the pavement being slightly more mottled than others.

Liquid Release Agents Are Easier To Work With

Powdered release agents can be difficult to work with, especially when used in outdoor applications. The fine, dry, lightweight nature of powdered release agents means the particles can easily become airborne. This is especially problematic when working with a tinted release agent, as it may end up blowing onto nearby walls, plants, and other structural features, which then become stained in that particular color.

Powdered release agent also requires that more safety measures be taken by those doing the installation, to prevent accidental inhalation. A liquid release agent, on the other hand, is applied by means of a sprayer wand. When performed by an experienced professional, this process is much cleaner and much more predictable.

Get The Best Results By Hiring A Professional

Both powdered and liquid release agents are capable of delivering high-quality results. Of course, the key is to ensure that the installation process is carried out by a true pro. For more information about what it means to install stamped concrete correctly, feel free to contact the experts at Central Carolina Concrete .

Protecting a Concrete Surface With Polyaspartic Coating

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 20:28:50 GMT

The world of concrete is full of topical products meant to extend the lifespan of a concrete surface. One of the newest and most exciting such products is a class of floor coating known as polyaspartic coatings. If you would like to expand your knowledge of the ways you can prolong the lifespan of your concrete floor, read on. This article will introduce you to the world of polyaspartic coatings.

Polyaspartic

Polyaspartic coating - often simply referred to as polyaspartic - belongs to the category of elastomer known as polyurea. Polyureas are two-part chemical systems, in which a hard durable coating is formed through the mixture of a resin and a catalyst.

The trouble with most polyureas is that they have a very short pot life - in other words, they begin to harden within seconds of being mixed. This makes it difficult for non-professionals to utilize traditional polyureas as a coating for floors, since installation can hardly be accomplished in such a short window of time.

Polyaspartic represents a key advance in this regard, with a pot life of anywhere between five minutes and two hours. This is due to the inherent chemical properties of the substances used to compose a polyaspartic coating.

Fortunately, unless you happen to be a chemical engineer, you don't need to worry much about this. Instead, the important thing to appreciate is that the nature of polyaspartic gives floor technicians more than enough time to ensure that it is thoroughly and evenly applied to your concrete floor.

Benefits of Polyaspartic

Polyaspartic presents a number of key benefits that make it especially exciting compared to older methods of coating a concrete floor. For one thing, polyaspartic is a UV-stable substance. That means that the hard coating will not yellow with age. In addition, it will act to protect any underlying coatings from UV rays, ensuring that their appearance is also not altered.

Polyaspartic is also safe against discolorations caused by contact with water that percolates up through the concrete. Such moisture migration can cause many traditional floor coatings to develop whitish discolorations.

Polyaspartic is also highly resistant to most forms of top stains, especially those caused by oils and fats. This makes polyaspartic a great option for coating concrete kitchen floors.

Polyaspartic is also easier - and safer - to work with than many other floor coatings. That's because it has very low levels of volatile organic compounds. Known as VOCs, these potentially harmful compounds are responsible for the strong chemical smell of many floor coatings.

Additives for Traction

Polyaspartic is generally applied in at least two coats. The first coat acts something like a primer, thus promoting the strongest possible adhesion for the top coat. Here it is important to acknowledge that, depending on your particular application, polyaspartic coatings do present one potential drawback where traction is concerned.

You see, polyaspartic floor coatings tend to become quite slippery in the presence of water. For this reason, when installing polyaspartic coatings in such places as kitchens, patios and even garages, it is common to sprinkle certain additives into the top coat. The idea is that these will provide a somewhat coarser texture, thus negating the poor traction of the polyaspartic itself.

There are two main types of additive used for this purpose: vinyl color flakes and slip resistant aggregate. In most cases, slip resistant aggregate simply boils down to some type of sand or finely crushed gravel. Broadcast across the surface of the still wet topcoat, it yields a coarser texture.

Vinyl color flakes, in essence, are simply paint chips. They come in a wide variety of sizes, although 1/4" flakes are generally considered to be a good size. Even in situations where traction is not an issue, vinyl color flakes are often added to a polyaspartic coating in order to yield more interesting aesthetic results.

Bottom Line

Concrete is an excellent flooring material, being both durable and relatively inexpensive. Yet that doesn't mean that a concrete floor isn't still susceptible to damage if not protected adequately. If you would like to learn more about what polyaspartic coating can do to extend the lifespan of your concrete floor, don't hesitate to contact Central Carolina Concrete for more information.

Improve Your Business's Curb Appeal With Concrete Upgrades

Thu, 12 Oct 2017 20:32:55 GMT

There are many ways to implement concrete into your business to boost its curb appeal and make it more appealing to customers and employees.

If you own a business, you know the importance of maintaining and improving your property. Your overall curb appeal depends on many things - a newly paved parking lot, exterior planters and designated parking, for example - so it is beneficial to consistently take care of your property's curb appeal to protect your overall investment.

There are many ways to implement versatile concrete into your surroundings that are both practical and ornamental and that will contribute to the aesthetics of your business or storefront. Here are a few ideas.

Decorative Concrete

Decorative concrete can contribute to the aesthetics of your business or storefront, and it gives customers a favorable impression of your company. Use it decoratively or for more practical purposes, knowing that concrete buildings can last over 50 years. This is a durable and attractive surfacing material with a wide-range of uses:

Concrete statues for your company door or property
Signage made from concrete
Architectural elements and moldings made from concrete
A concrete structure for your company mailbox

These are just a few options, so talk to your concrete supplier if you have other suggestions.

Paved Driveway

Consider using concrete, perhaps instead of asphalt, for your business's driveways or paths. Unlike asphalt, concrete doesn't become soft or malleable during hot and humid conditions. The smooth surface that it creates will be a convenience for anyone visiting your business, and it will be a lot easier on the vehicles that traverse your property regularly; furthermore, the smooth finish gives your entire property an appealing, polished look.

Concrete Flooring

There is something chic and modern about polished concrete floors; they provide a durable and slip-proof surface for your patrons, clients and colleagues. This equates to an added safety measure and reduced risk of falls or injuries when people are in your building.

While concrete floors may not seem to contribute to the exterior curb appeal of your property, if you have large picture windows or a showroom, polished and pristine floors don't hurt!

Outdoor Spaces

Happy employees are conducive to productivity, so create a lovely outdoor space for your staff with a concrete patio. This space can be used for a staff area where your team can take breaks, eat meals or enjoy the fresh air during work hours.

This could also be an opportunity to ramp up your building's curb appeal by creating something special for prospective patrons and customers:

Set up a seating arrangement for visitors to enjoy when patronizing your establishment.
Use the space to put potted plants or flowers that bring a pop of color to your façade.
Decorate the outdoor space for holidays to show the community your festive spirit!
Transform your patio into an outdoor gallery, studio or storefront during mild weather to draw foot traffic.

You could also create an alluring and soothing environment by placing a fountain or water feature on a concrete pad. The options are practically endless.

Parking Lots

If parking is a problem at your business, use concrete to form borders and meridians that will make parking easier for your patrons. Talk with your contractor about a tentative design and estimated costs of turning your parking lot into a more efficient and accessible space with concrete.

This may subsequently improve the overall valuation and potential of your property while also impacting the overall curb appeal of the property with a newly paved parking lot.

Maintain your company's curb appeal by keeping your business updated and maintained with concrete. Use these suggestions to find clever ways to make the most of concrete and implement it in your business's appearance.

Central Carolina Concrete will demonstrate the many ways that concrete can improve the appearance and utility of your property while keeping your clients' convenience in mind.

4 Types of Concrete and Their Uses

Sun, 27 Aug 2017 20:37:48 GMT

If you're working on a project that requires concrete, but you're unsure about which kind to use, this blog explains the purposes of different concretes.

An amazing thing about concrete is how long it has been around. Ancient civilizations used to build great cities out of it. In many ways, the concrete that we use today is the same as what the Romans used to build their great structures.

The exact ingredients vary depending on where the concrete is mixed, but concrete always consists of Portland cement, water and an aggregate (sand, rock or gravel). Depending on what type of concrete you want, these ingredients and the process by which they are mixed may slightly change.

Normal Concrete

You can find bags of this type of concrete in any home improvement store. Mixing and using this concrete is simple. Each bag you'll find will have instructions on how to best mix and use that specific concrete. Before you mix your concrete, it is important to wash your aggregate, which will remove all dirt, leaves and other organic material and ensure the highest quality and strength possible.

After you lay normal concrete, it will take between 30 and 90 minutes to set. The more humidity in the air will cause the setting time to be longer. After that, it will take the concrete about 7 days to reach a point where it can withstand pressure. Normal Concrete has about 95% of it max strength after curing for 90 days.

High Strength Concrete

By lowering the water to cement ratio you can make some high strength concrete yourself. Because of the lower water to cement ratio, high strength cement is often harder to work with. This can be a problem when you are working with rebar inside of the cement. Getting the cement to fill in everywhere can be difficult.

As the name would suggest, high strength concrete is very strong, which makes it ideal for projects where you will be putting a lot of weight and pressure on the concrete. After the concrete has fully cured it can withstand extreme pressures.

High-Performance Concrete

You will find high-performance concrete (HPC) used in places like major freeways. This is because of its high strength and ease of use, these two characteristics make this concrete ideal for industrial projects. With construction projects where you will be putting the concrete under a lot of stress, it is best to use something that can stand the test of time.

Not all high-performance concrete is high strength concrete. The main differences between these two types of concrete are the workability and early life strength. High-performance concrete is easy to work with without segregation. It also solidifies quickly, which gives it great strength in a short amount of time.

Lightweight Concrete

There are times when you need to use concrete but don't need all of the strength of normal or high-performance concrete. At times the concrete is there just for decoration, for example, in a court yard wall or the curbing around a yard. In these cases, the extra weight of normal or high-performance concrete may even be a problem. That is why there is a type of concrete that sacrifices some strength to be lighter.

Lightweight concrete is made from lightweight aggregates, which are usually porous stones. Sometimes when mixing lightweight concrete, air will be pumped in to give it some more strength as well as some resistance to freezing and thawing.

Regardless of whether you need lightweight concrete, high strength concrete or concrete in general, this building material has become the backbone of our society. It shapes and supports our world. If you need more help choosing or would like to know more, contact the professionals at Central Carolina Concrete today.

Essential Tips for Pouring Concrete in Hot Weather

Tue, 20 Jun 2017 20:44:14 GMT

North Carolina boasts a pleasantly moderate temperature for most of the year, but when summer rolls around the weather can get downright hot. Read about tips for pouring concrete in hot weather.

North Carolina boasts a pleasantly moderate temperature for most of the year, but when summer rolls around the weather can get downright hot. That presents certain difficulties when it comes to working with concrete, which may not behave as desired when temperatures soar. This often causes less experienced concrete contractors to run into trouble when it comes to installing concrete in summer.

Fortunately, the experts at Central Carolina Concrete are well-versed in the art of pouring concrete in hot conditions. If you would like to learn more about how a true professional goes about this potentially disastrous task, read on. This article will outline three key tips for working with concrete in the heat of summer.

Beware of Slump Loss

Working all day beneath the blazing sun can quickly lead to dehydration. This is true not only for a concrete contractor and his or her workers, but also for the concrete they are pouring. What is important to realize here is that the most important thing about concrete is that the water/cement ratio needs to remain just right, otherwise the concrete will not perform correctly.

If there is too much water in the mixture, the concrete will turn out weak and prone to chipping and crumbling. If, on the other hand, there is too little water, the concrete will be excessively stiff. As a result, it will not pour, spread, or cure the way it should. This is a phenomenon referred to as slump loss.

As you can imagine, slump loss is especially problematic when working in hot weather, since high temperatures will increase the rate at which water evaporates out of the concrete. To combat this problem, contractors often add special retarding substances to the mixture. These act to retain the moisture and prevent slump loss caused by evaporation.

Keep Work Materials Out of Direct Sunlight

Direct exposure to sun will cause problems for more than just wet concrete. It can be equally problematic where the crushed gravel aggregate that goes into the concrete is concerned. This aggregate is commonly added to the mixture just before it is poured. This becomes problematic when working in high heat, especially if the aggregate has been stored beneath the open sun.

When this is the case, the aggregate absorbs and retains an incredible amount of heat. As the aggregate is added to the cement-water slurry, this heat increases the temperature of the mix. Once again, the result is evaporation and slump loss. The heat of the aggregate will also increase the rate of evaporation once the concrete has been poured, thus increasing the likelihood of crack formation.

The solution here is to take precautions to store the aggregate in as cool a place as possible. At the very least, the aggregate should remain completely shaded from direct sunlight, so as to minimize the amount of heat it absorbs.

Cover the Curing Concrete to Prevent Evaporation

Nothing could be more important in promoting strong, long-lasting concrete than the curing phase. This is also one of the most vulnerable times for the structural integrity of the concrete. That's because, if too great an amount of water evaporates up from the surface, the concrete will develop all manner of shrinkage cracks.

To prevent unwanted evaporation during the curing phase, it is vital that the concrete be completely covered by some substance that will help it retain its moisture content. Historically, concrete contractors would use things like hay, sand, or even water for this purpose. These days, however, the simplest option is to cover the concrete with a water impermeable membrane.

Such membranes simply consist of a layer of plastic at least 0.01mm thick. This plastic is laid down flush against the surface of the wet concrete. There it acts to prevent moisture from evaporating away from the surface. This in turn gives the water and the cement the time they need in order to react properly and form the strongest possible concrete.

Conclusion

There is simply no substitute for a knowledgeable concrete contractor. Only those with years of professional experience can truly understand what it takes to ensure the best possible results. Never allow yourself to be swayed by lowball offers when it comes to installing a concrete surface.

Decorative Concrete Ideas to Consider For Your Patio

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 20:48:19 GMT

Whether you already have a concrete patio you want to upgrade or you are designing a new patio, choose decorative concrete for a beautiful look.

Concrete is a common choice for patio designs because it's long lasting, easy to care for and relatively inexpensive. The average cost to build a concrete patio is around $2,800, although your install can be more or less depending on the area being covered and the type of concrete you choose.

Whether you already have a concrete patio and are considering upgrading the area so it looks more modern and appealing or you are designing a new patio for your home, use this guide to help you decide what type of decorative concrete design will give your outdoor space the aesthetics that you would be proud to show off.

Stamped Concrete

Stamped concrete is a creative way to give your patio some pizazz. Concrete is poured and then "stamped" with a unique design or pattern. You can stamp concrete in a tile pattern, make it look like laid brick or even have it stamped to resemble flat river rock.

What makes stamped concrete so appealing is that its costs are much lower than laying a brick or natural stone patio with the same alluring effect. Talk to your concrete installation expert about the different styles of stamped concrete available so you choose the best design for your home.

Colored Concrete

Concrete comes in a variety of engaging hues, including green, blue, red, orange and even soft pastel hues. There are several ways to color concrete. A popular method is to add color directly into the concrete as it is being mixed, layering different hues for a stone-mimicking effect.

Another way to color concrete is using the stamped method. When concrete is stamped it is also layered with beautiful color mixed in to make the appropriate design more realistic. For example, stamped concrete resembling brick will be colored a red, white, gray or even pastel hue to mimic the style of brick you want to achieve.

Stained Concrete

If you already have concrete poured on your patio but you want to upgrade it, talk to your concrete installation expert about having your patio stained. Concrete in driveways, basements and other areas can be stained with beautiful hues. You can add a satin or matte finish to give the surface greater attraction.

Patio stain hues you may want to consider include black, navy, yellow, white or even red. Alternatively, you can have your concrete contractor mix colors during application in a way that can resemble a marble or granite floor. Finish your concrete stain with a high gloss for both protection and a gorgeous look.

Concrete Choices

Your budget and how large your patio space is will help you determine what style of decoration will work best for you. In many cases, stamped concrete is the most affordable option. For existing concrete, a simple colorful stain or top layer of colored concrete may be all the added aesthetics you need.

Your concrete installation specialist can mix custom hues for you. If you want a stamped concrete design or a color that is not currently in stock, keep in mind that it will take your concrete specialist time and likely more money to achieve your custom concrete style.

Your concrete patio can last for many years when it is professional installed. Decorative touches help make the space unique and enjoyable without compromising any of your patio's durability.

If you want a concrete patio but also wish to have an outdoor space that is more creative in design, your contractor can help with decorative concrete techniques. Call us today at Central Carolina Concrete to discuss your patio needs and the designs you will love.

The Benefits of Using Ready-Made Concrete

Sun, 12 Feb 2017 20:52:09 GMT

If you have a large-scale construction project coming up, then you need exceptional concrete that is going to last for years. There are several advantages associated with ready-made concrete, so ask your contractor about getting it for your next job.

REDUCED EXPENSES

There are several ways you save money by utilizing ready-made concrete. For starters, there are lower labor costs because it does not take as much work to put it into place. Additionally, there are less storage costs.

ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS

Using ready-made concrete is good for the environment. This is mostly due to the fact that the only supplies needed for it are water, cement and aggregate, which are plentiful. If there are any materials left over, then those substances can be easily recycled.

LESS MAINTENANCE

You will not have to worry about having excessive maintenance costs because ready-made concrete is simple to maintain. Part of this lies in the fact that this material is not susceptible to mold or rot developing. Concrete also cannot be affected by termites and other pests.

With concrete used in the construction of your property, you can be certain it will remain resilient for many years. Contact Central Carolina Concrete to find the products that are right for your needs.