Frequent Asked Questions
Home » Frequent Asked Questions
No, concrete and cement are not the same thing. While these are related closely, they should not be interchanged for each other. To explain simply, cement is a powder composed of different minerals that turns into paste like consistency upon mixing with water. Meanwhile, concrete is the blend of different aggregates both coarse and fine, together with stone, sand, and water. The main responsibility of cement is to bind all of these components together. As the concrete dries up, it hardens, and then eventually gains strength. So, the next time you encounter these, keep in mind the key factors that sets them apart.
Yes, concrete comes in different kinds. In fact, here at The Vacaville Concrete Company, we offer various kinds including glass reinforced concrete, lightweight concrete, reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, high density concrete, precast concrete, and ordinary concrete. You can choose among these choices by considering your preference in terms of workability, strength, size, and durability. We understand that the wide variety can be too overwhelming for our clients. If you need help in picking the right kind of concrete, you can seek for our assistance. For questions and other inquiries, you can call us at 707-385-5848. We will do our best to help you.
Yes, every concrete project should have a concrete contractor. No matter the size of your concrete, it would surely be convenient for you to have someone who can handle the operations for you. Aside from the fact that concrete installation takes up time, it would also require experience and knowledge to be able to manage the overall project well. More importantly, hiring a concrete contractor can ensure the success of your project. Getting on a project on your own without sufficient experience can be risky for the overall outcome of your concrete. So, to be sure, hire a concrete contractor.
Yes, concrete can set in the rain. However, you have to be prepared for the possibility of unwanted outcomes. Allowing concrete to set in the rain can affect the overall appearance of the concrete, especially that rain drops and waterflow can leave permanent marks on the concrete. Aside from the appearance, the rain can also lead to the weakening of concrete. If you look closely, you may be able to spot scaling and dusting, which are indications of problems in your concrete. If you do not want to compromise the quality of your concrete, make sure to avoid setting concrete in the rain.
Yes, you can paint concrete with any color that you prefer. Feel free to go for the color that you think will suit your property best. It is a common misbelief that concrete is always bare and gray. However, concrete really comes in a lot of colors and patterns. If you wish to have colored concrete, you can opt between concrete painting and concrete staining. Meanwhile, if you prefer textures and patterns, you can try stamped concrete instead. Should you go for concrete painting, make sure to use that is appropriate for your concrete type to ensure the best results.
Cracks can be a natural occurrence for concrete due to volume change. However, this is not the sole reason why cracks appear. There are various possible reasons for cracks on the concrete. For example, freeze and thaw temperatures can result to concrete cracks as well. Luckily for us in Vacaville, we do not experience these kinds of temperatures. As a concrete company in Vacaville, we can suggest putting concrete joints on your concrete. Through these, you can avoid the volume change from appearing as cracks. We normally recommend to ensure that concrete joints are at least ¼ of the concrete’s thickness.
The best curing time for the concrete driveway is seven days. By properly observing the recommended curing time, you get to preserve and ensure the quality and strength of the concrete. It is important to remember that cutting short the suggested curing time can compromise the quality of concrete. Just a reminder, in case you will be using the driveway for heavy equipment and trucks, we suggest waiting for at least 30 days instead. These types of vehicle weigh way more than ordinary vehicles. The concrete then, needs to gain more strength to be able to sustain the weight without breaking.
The concrete sealer provides a layer of protection for the concrete. It prevents moisture and salt from penetrating into the concrete. In effect, the concrete sealer allows the concrete to last even longer. Applying a concrete sealer also aids prevent the appearance of hairline cracks and eliminates peeling tendencies. For the best results, we suggest waiting for 30 days before applying the concrete sealer. Also, make sure to reapply the concrete sealer at least 2 to 3 years, depending on the type of concrete sealer that you are using. There are different types of concrete sealers and they last differently.
Yes, the weather can affect the concrete. For example, the wind can speed up the curing process by rapidly drying the moisture within the concrete. Because of that, it can possibly result in cracks on the concrete. Aside from that, rain can also affect the concrete like we have mentioned earlier. Because of this, we suggest that you either heat or cool your materials prior to concrete installation. For us here at Vacaville, we suggest cooling the materials before use to keep it from getting too hot than recommended temperature. For those living in colder states, do the opposite instead.
You should choose concrete over asphalt for your driveway as it is better deal for the long haul. When you compare asphalt with concrete in terms of performance, it is evident how fast asphalt deteriorates, even after a short period. Because of that, it will require frequent repairs and reapplications. As it happens recurrently, the expenses will accumulate up to the point where asphalt becomes more expensive. On the other hand, concrete being more expensive upfront, won’t require further repairs in the near future. If ever the concrete requires repair, it would typically take some time unless if there’s an unfortunate event.
The most recommended mix proportions are the rule of 6’s. This set of rules has been widely used by concrete companies in Vacaville. If you are interested, the rule of 6’s says to use at least six gallons of water per every bag of cement. The next rule says to maintain 6% of air content that undergoes freeze and thaw climates. The third rule is to use a minimum of six bags of cement per every cubic yard of concrete. And finally, it recommends waiting at least six days before using the concrete. The rule of 6’s makes the best concrete.
There are many reasons as to why the concrete cracks. Because concrete is frequently in the outdoors, weather has become one of the primary reasons for this. We have discussed earlier how rain and wind can adversely affect both the quality and the appearance of the concrete. The other very common reason for concrete cracks is the volume change. Even though it is only minimal at around 500 millionths, it can still manifest as cracks on the concrete. If you want to prevent the appearance of concrete cracks, make sure to have and ensure the proper size of concrete joints.
We suggest testing the concrete because it helps determine the total quality of concrete. By knowing the concrete’s air content, consistency, weight, and temperature, it helps identify the overall quality of the concrete. There are different tests that you can choose from to test your concrete. Most tests accommodate either hardened or mixed concrete. If you want to test your concrete, you can seek the assistance of your concrete company or you can call us at 707-385-5848. Just a fun fact, there are some concrete tests which are exclusive to specific organizations like the Federal Highway Administration and the department of transportation.
Concrete allows two ways to remove the stains and these are wet and dry method. Because the concrete is waterproof, you can easily wash it with water and soap. Meanwhile, if you need extra help in getting rid of the stains, you can also use chemicals like bleach to eliminate the stains. For the dry method, there are different techniques that you can choose from and it includes planning, flame cleaning, sandblasting, scouring, and scabbing. Additionally, you can also use steel brush if you need to. Just make sure that you clean up steel debris left behind to avoid rust stains.
Yes, concrete requires maintenance, but this will not take a lot of effort. For example, seeing some signs of structural damage should not be a great concern for you since you can always consult professionals if you want to get them assessed and repaired. The things that you can by yourself to maintain the concrete may also involve applying sealers every so often. Cleaning is also one way. For grossly dirty surfaces, you can wash them off using a garden hose. If there are stains on the surface, you can use simple detergent or some sodium triphosphate to remove them.
Concrete is gray because of one of its main components, which is cement. Meanwhile, cement obtains its gray color from the mixing of the ingredients, but particularly because of iron ore. Even though iron ore is originally black, it tends to turn gray as it combines with other cement materials. If the color gray does not suit your theme or style, you can opt for other colors for the cement. You can choose between concrete painting or concrete staining. Both of these services can give the concrete an all new color to make it more fit for your property theme.
The concrete gradually gains its strength as the moisture dries up. This process is called hydration. To explain simply, hydration is a chemical process that happens and results in the formation of new compounds. These compounds then provide the concrete with the strength it needs to have. The process of hydration will continue to happen for 30 days or until there is moisture in the concrete. But make sure to avoid too quick concrete drying as it may compromise the quality of concrete. At the same time, upon reaching the desired hardness, you can stop the hydration process through organic solvent.