Thursday, August 1, 2013

A Virginia Concrete Company Does Excellent Work

By Cathy Mercer


A Virginia concrete company can produce many home improvements such as patios, driveways and basement floors. Depending on the project, the materials included in a mixture are cement, aggregates and reinforcing components. The proportions of each component may be different for each installation. Color can be added and fancy patterns can be imprinted while the surface is still semi-wet.

Different proportions of aggregate material, cement and water compose this popular building material. The aggregate may be limestone, granite, gravel or crushed rocks. Slag or fly ash are other possible choices of binders. Sand is sometimes used. The mixture will be a semi-liquid material. The workers pour it into wooden forms while it is still in this semi-liquid consistency. Hydration, which is a chemical process, occurs after the pour is finished.

When all other components are included, water is added to the mix. This turns it into material that is partially liquid. It must then be poured into forms while it is still in a liquid state. The forms are built ahead of time to be ready and waiting when it is time to do the pour. After the pour, hydration occurs. Hydration is a chemical process facilitated by the reaction of cement to water.

The wooden forms can be used to form any shape such as a round or square patio or a sidewalk or driveway. When the mixture has dried, the wooden forms will be removed. These forms are also used when building steps or a garden path. Any home is made more attractive by the addition of a walk and steps to the entrance.

For much larger applications a reinforcing component called rebar is added to the mix. There are metal mesh, bars or other additions that will make the mixture stronger when it needs to support the structure. It will then be capable of supporting significant weight such as traffic crossing over a bridge. An overpass on a highway system can support cars and larger vehicles when rebar is added.

Virginia is a state that enjoys relatively warm weather year round. This makes it possible to pour an installation in most months. Weather conditions are always a concern. Extreme humidity and wind can be a hazard to completing a project successfully. Scheduling it for early morning is advisable during especially hot weather.

Sometimes the composition of the mixture is changed due to weather conditions. When it is delivered to the work site, a sufficiently large crew of workers must be on hand. The finishing work must take place immediately after the pour. It is crucial to complete that part of the procedure before the surface can dry. Without a big enough crew, that might not be possible.

Changes in the temperature will cause concrete to crack. In Virginia it is not as extreme as in colder areas where freezing and thawing take place. The workers will make saw cuts in a slab after the drying is complete. This will minimize the effect of the cracking. Cracking is not a flaw, but occurs because the concrete expands and contracts in response to changes in weather conditions.

A Virginia concrete company can offer both utilitarian and decorative installations. For example, one homeowner may want a plain gray driveway leading to his garage. Another may request a pale green driveway stamped to look like bricks with a border in brown. Each client has many choices in color and finishes.




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