Monday, July 17, 2017

Things To Know When Using Concrete Slabs Efficiently

By Frank Foster


Concrete slabs are structural elements common in modern building that are used often for constructing floors and ceilings reinforced by steel. Thinner ones can be used in paving the exterior on crawl space and under the slabs of main floor. They could either be supported with foundations or placed directly on subsoil for most domestic and industrial structures.

Most contractors choose this because of its inexpensiveness and gives a durable, attractive surface which is easy to maintain. You can be one of these companies that use concrete slabs Mandeville in your construction business. Here are some information which could help you build quality projects in Mandeville, LA and other cities.

First, remove all rocks, soft soils and vegetation so that the slabs are uniformly supported when put there. Place the concrete on firm, undisturbed ground if ever possible so that it could stay in place properly. Set forms so their surfaces would slope for at least two percent in providing adequate drainage to the area after.

Use a lumber with the same thickness as specified for the slab as scratch template having stakes on its top surface attached. A string line can be placed also across its top of the forms to ensure proper thickness. Get a concrete with an entrained air if the flatwork will be exposed to freezing, deicing chemicals and thawing.

A minimum cementitious material should be specified in relation with its maximum aggregate size in ensuring good durability and finish. High slump concretes must not be used and control at the truck the water additions. Because admixtures of high slump can become detrimental due to the paste content being greater in the upper portion than the lower one resulting in increased warping.

Wet concretes saturating clothing, contacting your skin, and entering boots must not be permitted while you place or finish them. Strike off the surface while keeping a small amount at the front of straightedge for filling low spots in. This will help in preventing the formation of birdbaths when the finished surface gets dry.

Darby and bullfloat are to be used before the concretes begin to bleed on the surface or excess moisture will appear in leveling the ridge and filling voids. And any finishing operation should not be done if bleed water is present still. Dust drying cement is inadvisable when you need to soak up the bleed water.

Use groover in making contraction joints while the concretes are still fresh and its dept should be a quarter of their thickness. Conventional or early cut saw can be used for sawing the joints which prevents cracking if done early. Air entrained concretes must not be hard troweled as doing so might cause the deterioration of the surface.

After completing the finishing operation then start curing the concrete immediately with different methods available depending on the season. Wet curing methods should be used when the area have thawing and freezing cycles and you placed them during fall. This allows them to dry before the arrival of first freeze and deicing agents are not advisable at the first winter.




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