One thing that people take for granted is the concrete under their feet. Concrete pouring and curing is a science and is done professionally all over the country. From concrete bulkhead construction port Neches TX, to driveways in front of homes, concrete is there to make a solid foundation for your building, home, or car to park on. If you have concrete or want to pour some new concrete, here are some tips and tricks to get the most from your concrete.
Thickness
Obviously the way you are using the concrete will determine it’s thickness. However, 4 inches is generally enough thickness for parking areas and driveways. If the concrete will be taking more load, thicker concrete is extremely important to provide the type of PSI needed in order to keep things stable.
Preparation
When pouring concrete, it’s important to make sure that you take the proper steps of preparation to give you the best chances of success. Compacting the earth below the concrete is important so that concrete can be poured evenly. This will also help the slab to be a consistent thickness so that it will not be weaker in certain areas.
Forming the concrete correctly is also important to create a slope of up to 1/4 inch per foot away from structures. This helps reduce water pooling, which can cause structural damage over time.
Strength
Giving your concrete time to cure is very important. For example, driving over concrete should happen 7 days after the initial pour and parking heavy objects should be done 28 days after the concrete pour. 28 days of curing will give concrete the compressive strength of 3500 psi to avoid breaking and cracking.
As you can see, concrete is a bit more complicated than you may have initially thought. Hiring a professional can also greatly increase your chances of proper preparation and concrete pouring to give you the best result.