Concrete Slabs and Concrete Pours

Many home builders and businesses choose to construct concrete slabs instead of poured concrete slabs. The following information will discuss the differences between each type, how to install them in your home or business, and how they can benefit you by providing a solid foundation for any structure.

Concrete slab construction is preferred for many types of buildings because it is less expensive than poured concrete, which requires more time, material, labor and expertise. One advantage of a poured concrete foundation is that once the concrete cools there are few opportunities for movement so the floors above remain stable. A slab-on ground building allows for some settling over time as other materials may move around inside the walls or settle outside on top of the slab. Concrete slabs can be manufactured at a concrete plant and then transported to the site, or they can be constructed onsite by pouring concrete into forms. If you are planning on doing your own work there are several things to consider before starting construction. The following article will cover basics like what is needed, how long it should take, and outline typical costs for installing a concrete slab.  The most important factor in finding out how much you need for a concrete pour is the size of the area that needs to be covered by poured concrete. You will have two options when choosing between poured concrete and a precast concrete foundation:

Poured Concrete: This option allows you to choose custom shapes and sizes that fit your project exactly. Poured concrete is ideal for projects that are not completely rectangular, or will require angled pours in certain parts of the foundation. This option also allows you to create oddly shaped slabs with varying thicknesses for columns or walls with an arched center and straight sides. Poured concrete foundations can be constructed over many types of sub-grade materials including compacted soil, crushed gravel, sand and dirt but they must be level and as close to being perfectly horizontal as possible without having any major dips or long slopes. The concrete forms must fit tightly together so you may want to consider using steel reinforcing bars between layers of concrete, like rebar along the bottom layer to keep larger stones from moving around during construction and smaller rocks from settling into the concrete. If you will be pouring around an existing structure you may need to install forms on the outside of the walls and floor before adding rebar so it holds tight against the sides of your building. Poured concrete foundations are not often used when working with hard-packed soil or very rocky ground because installing the form material can be difficult without having enough space between rocks for removing excess materials later. The biggest problem associated with using poured concrete in compacted soil is that it has a tendency to break up and settle if exposed for a long period of time, especially if there is any type of moisture present such as water below or humidity in the air above. You may consider placing duct work or piping under your concrete foundation before pouring so that any excess moisture can be sucked out later with an industrial vacuum.

Precast concrete: This option is usually the most economical because it has already been cured in a climate controlled plant for a certain period of time before being transported to your site. The concrete is cast into removable forms that are easy to install and remove once poured. They provide a smooth surface on all sides with no sharp corners or edges which eliminate the need for finishing work after installation. This means you don't have to spend money on additional labor to prepare the ground or clean up excess materials used in construction.

Precast concrete foundations can easily be installed over compacted soil, sand, gravel and even compacted clay. These kinds of soils are very stable and do not require any additional preparation or special treatment during construction like many other types of subgrade material such as rock or dirt with a high clay content. Precast concrete also has a very low coefficient of expansion due to the curing that takes place before forming and pouring, which is one reason it does not require much finishing work after installation like poured concrete foundations. Precast concrete foundations are delivered in sections and can usually be installed by two people over a period of less than one day. A team consisting of two men working together should have no problem installing 4-5 forms per hour on an average sized project for an 8-hour shift, so you can count on 1 or 2 days at most for construction if everything goes as planned. The only exception might be time spent removing existing structures or materials attached to the foundation before pouring begins. If there is any need to remove electrical or plumbing connections before construction begins you will undoubtedly add a day or two to the schedule.

Stamped and Patterned Concrete

Stamped concrete and patterned concrete are types of concrete with decorative finishes that can give a plain surface, an interesting texture, or even resemble the look of brick. Stamped concrete and patterned concrete are often used as flooring for driveways, walkways, patios, pool decks or basement floors.

Stamped concrete is concrete that has a decorative texture applied to it after it's been poured. Patterned concrete is concrete stamped with a design made from colored concrete. It can be any shape including letters or a basic picture. Stamped concrete and patterned concrete will last anywhere from 10 years to 100 years depending on the frequency of use and location of use. The patterns can range in color from natural gray concrete to lighter colors like pink or even darker tones such as black using more expensive pigments. The cost of stamped concrete depends on the area you are on and how much concrete you need to cover. It can also range from $1 to $2 per square foot depending on the amount, quality of concrete and the pattern. Our expert stamped concrete contractors in Allen, TX will install the concrete base and then apply a design with color concrete that is a mix between concrete and epoxy resin. Stamped concrete can be set with different methods such as using spray guns or rollers, but it should never be troweled; otherwise your pattern may come out wrong or fade faster than if it was rolled on with a roller. The only maintenance include keeping an eye on weeds in your driveways or patios because they grow fast through stamped concrete. If weed killer has been used then you will have to re-apply it after the concrete dries. The concrete can also get nicks or cracks from any bumps or heavy objects dropped on them, but they can be repaired by an expert concrete contractor.

Pros of stamped concrete and patterned concrete are that they can add texture to a garage floor or basement floor while making it look like actual concrete brick, stone, slate, wood or tile. It provides a beautiful finish for your home without the need to trowel concrete on the surface. Stamps concrete cheaper than poured concrete with its own decorative finishing touch. Also because stamped concrete is poured in panels it makes installing around obstacles very easy! Cons of stamped concrete and patterned concrete are that it is not as strong as poured concrete so if there is a lot of foot traffic it can crack easier than concrete poured into forms. Water can also cause stains or damage to the concrete over time because concrete will always have a porous layer. In summary stamped concrete and pattern concrete are an easy way to add a decorative finish to your concrete floor without the need of troweling concrete into place. Stamped concrete and pattern concrete can last up to 100 years if properly maintained!

Retaining Walls Allen TX

Retaining walls are structures built to hold back earth that would otherwise slide down a slope. They're usually made of concrete blocks, steel mesh or stone retaining walls constructed from cast in place concrete retaining wall. Retaining walls may be used for a number of functions including retaining soil, water or other types of fill material on a slope; retaining an earthen roadway embankment; retaining the foundation of a retaining structure against lateral pressure exerted by either underlying natural ground material or artificially filled low areas at the base of the structure; resisting earth pressure on buildings and other structures during excavation for basements; and for agricultural purposes such as controlling erosion while maintaining adequate drainage.

Retaining walls are also used in retaining structures for hydroelectric reservoirs. These retaining walls are constructed by placing concrete, wood or steel gabions (metal cages filled with rocks) along the inside of the retaining wall to contain soil and water.

When building retaining walls it's important that the height of the retaining earth on either side is equal, otherwise pressure will result one way or another eventually causing the retaining wall to fail. The retaining wall should be at least as wide as its foundation plus twice its thickness. When designing a retaining wall you must include factors such as the weight of the backfill material resting on it, weather conditions and erosion resistance in addition to retaining features such as drainage channels built into the retaining material [to channel rainwater away from the retaining wall].

A retaining wall should be built using concrete blocks that are strong enough to hold back the retaining material. The retaining wall's foundation or footing must be made of elements stronger than the retaining soil retained by it, such as concrete block or masonry. Retaining walls may also contain water drainage systems designed to prevent overloading of soil and water behind retaining walls by breaking up rain run off into small channels for drainage away from the retaining wall. Retaining walls may also be required to resist lateral pressure exerted by any ground material surrounding them on all sides and below them. This requires retaining walls to have a thicker base in order to support these forces through friction with their foundations. Otherwise retaining walls will collapse into their own footings and the retaining wall will fail. Retaining walls may be designed from a number of retaining wall designs. The most common retaining wall design is the gravity retaining wall. Gravity retaining walls rely on their weight and the friction in between separating units to hold back retaining material. Gravity retaining walls are usually constructed from concrete blocks, steel mesh or stone retaining walls that are stacked along with one another to form the retaining wall's face at an angle less than vertical so that they lean towards the earth in order to provide more resistance against holding back retaining material. Modern gravity retaining walls may also be constructed out of steel poles covered by concrete blocks or steel mesh for roofing support as well as additional structural support due to their increased strength compared to concrete blocks and other materials used for construction of older style retaining walls without steel retaining structures.

Stability retaining wall foundations are constructed out of reinforced concrete, precast concrete or cast in place concrete retaining wall Foundations. Stability retaining walls may be better able to resist lateral pressure exerted from material surrounding them on all sides and below them as they can be built wider than gravity retaining walls by using reinforced concrete for their base. Wide bases create greater friction with the retaining soil than narrow bases do, thereby increasing stability retaining wall's ability to hold back retaining materials. Retaining walls are used in residential homes for retaining backfill material in basements, retaining walls are also used for retaining water reservoirs behind dams or retaining ponds. Large retaining walls can be very large retaining structures that require a lot of materials to build and erect.

Concrete Contractors Allen TX

Concrete contractors are hired by homeowners and builders to complete various projects such as concrete driveways, patios, swimming pools, sidewalks and other structures made from cement and aggregate. Most people think of concrete in terms of its uses in homes but it can also be used in many ways at the office or place of business: pathways, tool sheds, etc.  There are many concrete contractors out there, but the best will have experience and proper licensing for your area or locale. This is important because they will need to know all of local and state laws concerning these sorts of projects. For example, some areas do not permit sidewalks in residential areas. Failure to meet these requirements can result in fines or worse yet an inability to sell the home.  In larger cities, concrete contractors are hired on a regular basis and use large machines that make it easy for them to finish their work quickly. Concrete spraying is also becoming more widely used but you may want to avoid this method since many of the chemicals do not stand up well over time and cause your driveway or patio to crack and fall apart. The best way to go is with concrete stamping or decorative concrete. This involves laying down a layer of gravel that will be stamped into the ready-mix concrete using various molds and then colored.  As long as you have a reputable contractor working for you, there are many advantages to this type of work. It is strong and very durable. If you want it to look rustic, then you can have your contractor stain the concrete giving it a brown or red finish that will last for years.  In most cases, concrete contractors will do all of the work themselves, so there are no worries about getting someone else to help out with this job. If you are interested in any of these services, call your local contractors to discuss. They will be able to walk you through the process and help you decide if this is the right choice for your project.

Concrete contractors provide services for residential, commercial, and industrial concrete needs. They are responsible for preparing work site, coordinating any sub-contractors required for the job, ultimately completing the project with high quality standards. Concrete contractors can be hired directly by the homeowner when performing a small repair or addition to their home or they can also be hired by larger companies building new business complexes or housing developments. The options available vary greatly depending on what type of project is being undertaken. We'll look at both types of concrete contractor services and how you can get started finding one that's right for you.

Residential Concrete Contracting Services

Residential concrete contracting services are typically performed by small businesses owned by an individual or family who take on small concrete projects. Their residential concrete services include small repairs such as driveways, sidewalks, patios, and pool decks. It's not uncommon for residential contractors to offer handyman services in addition to their concrete contracting business. They are typically able to provide all of the home repair or improvement services needed by homeowners at a fraction of the cost if hired separately. The qualifications needed to operate a residential concrete contracting service vary based on where you live but there are some common factors that can be applied across the board. Because most of the work performed is likely going to be outside in all kinds of weather conditions it's essential that any individuals offering these services have a thorough understanding of concrete and how it reacts to different weather conditions. From a professional standpoint residential contractors must be dedicated, reliable business people with the ability to provide friendly service to all of their clients. They need to understand that excellent customer service is the key to success in this industry. The contractor should have working knowledge of current building codes and regulations in your area relating to residential improvements as well as know how work will need completed for permits when needed. Pricing also plays an important role in the success of any concrete contracting business; a competitive pricing structure can help achieve ongoing relationships with customers by keeping prices low while maintaining high quality standards. It's important that contractors keep current on all new methods and materials used in residential concrete installations so they don fall behind when completing projects. The residential concrete contractor should be prepared to have a basic knowledge of many different areas such as plumbing and electrical work in order to complete many home improvement projects efficiently. You can hire other sub-contractors if needed but these skills will definitely come in handy when working on your own home or the homes of friends and family. Location also plays an important role in how you'll want to operate your residential concrete contracting business; contractors located closer to large cities where much work is readily available will typically charge more for their services than those who live in less populated areas where there's significantly less competition. Residential concrete contracting services are best suited for individuals who are mechanically inclined, capable of doing some minor repairs around the house, and enjoy committing excellent acts of service for their clients. Commercial concrete contractors can offer a wider variety of services than residential concrete contractors can, but they don't have the same amount of freedom or customer interaction.

Commercial Concrete Contracting Services

Unlike residential projects commercial work is typically done by larger companies with staff to handle different aspects of the project in a timely fashion. While there are many smaller businesses that do commercial concrete contracting it's rare that you'll find small contractors working on large buildings or industrial complexes. The average commercial contractor has several crews available to them who perform various tasks related to commercial concrete projects such as pouring concrete floors and walls, enhancing office spaces with flooring material, and other periodic maintenance on existing structures. Commercial contractors can also be hired by home owners for home improvement projects on small scale like refurbishing a porch or adding a concrete patio to the back yard.

Commercial concrete contractors normally have an advantage over residential contractors when it comes to bidding on larger projects, especially if you're working for a large company with excellent track record and referrals they can provide. Larger companies are also better equipped to handle jobs that require cement trucks and heavy machinery. It's important that any commercial contracts you take on include clauses regarding payment schedule; anyone offering project financing should be avoided at all costs as their services typically come with very high interest rates which will greatly reduce your profits on those projects that need financing most. Commercial Deal Types Contractors generally operate in one of two different ways; either they'll create in-house teams who all work together towards completing a project or they'll subcontract out the services needed for each project. The second option is obviously more expensive; you're paying others to complete work that you could do yourself but it's generally not a good idea from a business perspective to attempt doing everything by yourself as this will result in everyone working slowly and inefficiently, which is usually worse than paying people to do individual tasks on your behalf. Contractors normally fall into one of two different categories: first time home builders or remodelers who have an interest in residential concrete contracting, and businesses who take on commercial projects located primarily in large cities where contracts are available. Businesses concentrating their efforts on residential concrete projects can be successful if they're willing to travel throughout a wider area to find work, but large city businesses can find plenty of work throughout their local area and have more freedom with the type of work they take on.