Guide to Ensuring Durability of Concrete

One of the best construction materials is concrete. Aside from getting better aesthetic opportunities, it is also the most durable out of all the alternatives. Compared to other construction materials, concrete can last decades longer. Eventually, over time, it gets stronger. It does not burn, rot, or rust.

Why Should You Choose Concrete?

Choosing concrete means you are choosing for something with less environmental impact since concrete has incomparable energy efficiency, complete recyclability, fantastic durability, and outstanding versatility. It only means that you are opting for a lower carbon footprint.

First, its incomparable energy efficiency allows moderate interior temperature conditions. Thus, it has a greater chance of lowering the demands for heating and cooling. Its ability to store energy can surely save you a lot of money. In addition, concrete pavement proves to reduce fuel consumption and related energy emissions. Concrete also has a greater chance of being reused than other concrete materials since it is fire resistant, contributing to the environment’s good while being cost-effective. The recycling process will involve crushing or pulverizing the concrete.

Also, adding points to the lower carbon footprint is that they are usually produced locally. It means less transportation and outsourcing is happening. It also gives way for you to support the local economy. You can never go wrong with concrete. If you are planning to have concrete work done, you are making the right decision. But you should also know that after getting fresh concrete, you need to make sure that you know how to take care of it. Here are some of the ways on how you can do it:

Wait for a Month Before Painting

It would be best if you considered painting or staining your concrete after a month of pouring. If so, it can go through the harmful effects of residual moisture or changing chemical content in the concrete. If you really want to do it as soon as possible, getting help from a professional will help you with this. It can be crucial to pick the right team to work on your concrete needs. Guy Blank Concrete, also known as Concrete Design Pro is the only team you need. The company is a concrete design and repair in Southwest Florida that works hard to provide the best services to their customers. They offer various services, such as concrete coloring and concrete stains & dyes. When it comes to concrete services, you already know where and who to run to.

Spray It With Water

Doing this will help the moisture in the concrete to evaporate slowly. Hosing down the fresh concrete five to ten times daily for the first week can help this. It would be best to consider this because moist-cured concrete makes it stronger, not to mention 50 percent stronger. However, if you’ve applied your concrete in the cold weather or on rainy days, sparing is not recommended, which leads to the next point:

Look Out for the Weather Before Pouring

When the temperature is expected to remain above 50 degrees, that should be the best time to apply new concrete. However, if that is not possible, then there are ways to make it happen. It would help to keep it warm compared to spraying it down with water, like the previous point mentioned. This is to keep the chemical hardening process smooth and uninterrupted. You need to keep the new concrete warm for the first three days to one week. That should be enough to keep it from damage.

Keep It Away From Excessive Weight

Although concrete is known to harden soon after pouring, you still need to keep it from excessive weight. You need to wait for at least 24 hours to allow heavy materials to go over the fresh concrete. For instance, concrete places or poured in high traffic, such as sidewalks or slabs, usually have the potential of being exposed to heavyweights. Thus, for at least ten days, you need to keep it safe and steady, especially from the heavy trucks. It can be a hassle; however, at the end of the day, you are guaranteed to have strong concrete for decades after decades. You will no longer worry about cracks and replacing the material.

Protecting fresh concrete sure requires a lot of work. But in the long run, you are going to benefit from it.

Enter your keyword