Question 1

What is concrete?

Accepted Answer

Concrete is one of the most widely used materials in the world. It's made from a combination of water, sand and other aggregates, usually gravel or crushed stone. People have been using concrete since 2500 BC to make structures like houses and temples that are still standing today. Today we use it for everything from sidewalks to driveways to skyscrapers because it's durable, strong, and inexpensive!

The history of concrete can be traced back to ancient Roman times when it was invented by a man named Lucius Vitruvius. He made it by combining lime, volcanic ash and water into an adhesive substance that could be used as mortar or plaster in buildings. Over the years, people have been using different types of aggregates and additives for concrete.

Question 2

How strong do you want your concrete?

Accepted Answer

When you are building a new home, it is important to make sure that the concrete is strong enough. In addition, we want to ensure that the strength of the concrete will be maintained in order for your home to last over time. This answer will go into detail about how to measure and test the strength of concrete so that you can make an informed decision when choosing a contractor or deciding on what materials to use for your next construction project.

Measurement of Strength - The appropriate way to determine the strength is by using a compression test. This type of tester provides an accurate measurement for concrete that sits in between the two extremes: too loose and too stiff. When you are looking at how strong your materials are, this should be taken into consideration.

Test Procedure – You want to use a compression tester that is set up for the specimen you want to test. For example, if your project needs concrete slabs with rebar reinforcement then the machine should be pre-set for this type of material and tested accordingly.

Test Results - The results for the compression test will be given in psi, with a maximum of 20,000 being considered satisfactory. Anything lower than this is not strong enough to hold weight or pressure and anything higher may crack under stress. You need to take into consideration what you are using your concrete for before deciding on a number because different applications require different levels of strength. For example, a parking lot might need to withstand up to 20,000 psi while foundation concrete would only need about 6000 psi.

Creating an Effective Foundation - The most important thing you can do is to make sure the slab rests on solid bedrock or some other type of stable sub-base so that it doesn't move when groundwater freezes and expands during winter months. Your contractor will use laser compaction technology (or another method) for this step in order to remove air pockets or any other material that might be lighter than your desired level as well as compacting soil into place where needed.*

A good rule of thumb is not just how much pressure you expect from above but also consider what kind. Will the soil be saturated with water or will it dry out over the course of a year?

A parking lot might need to withstand up to 20,000 psi while foundation concrete would only need about 6000 psi. How much pressure your slab needs is measured in pounds per square inch (psi).

In most cases a range between 5000-8000 psi will work well for residential foundations and sidewalks with less than 1000 feet on each side; this number can be higher or lower depending on the size of the project as well as other factors such as how flat the ground may be.* If you're planning an underground wall that'll have many loads bearing down against it over time then its best to go with a higher psi number to ensure it'll withstand the pressure.

Question 3

How fast does concrete cure?

Accepted Answer

When you are building a driveway or sidewalk, it is important to know how long concrete takes to cure. We will discuss the timeline for curing concrete and give you some tips that can help increase your yield.

Concrete cures through a chemical reaction between the cement and water. This process takes about 28 days, but really depends on temperature (warmer is faster) and humidity levels. There are some tricks that can be used to help speed up this process if you need your concrete sooner than later:

Use warm water when mixing it with the dry ingredients for your concrete mix, or add an activator in order to make sure there are enough sulfates available during curing. The sulfate ions react quickly with the calcium oxide from Portland cement which speeds up the conversion of calcium hydroxide into calcium oxide so that it hardens much more rapidly. Activators also work well when added after pouring wet-cast molds containing fresh concrete as they react with the hydroxides in concrete and speed up hardening.

Use metal forms to create molds for your new concrete work, as this speeds up curing time by limiting surface area of the fresh concrete that is exposed to water vapor from air which slows down reactions. This also helps because you can pour wet-cast or preformed slabs of concrete into these molds without having to wait for them to dry out enough on their own before being able to use them. These are great methods when working on a large project where time is an issue!

Every batch of concrete has a set time that it will take to cure and harden, so you must account for this when planning your work. When the curing process is complete, only about three percent of its original weight will be water content; which means that most of the moisture has disappeared! This percentage can vary greatly depending on atmospheric conditions such as humidity levels and temperature.

Using things like calcium oxide or activators help speed up the curing process but they are not always necessary if you have enough patience for waiting around until the concrete is finished solidifying without any outside interference from materials other than air.

Question 4

How much do concrete contractors in Knoxville charge for concrete flooring?

Accepted Answer

The cost varies depending on several factors like the scale and design of the project. But, to give you an idea, the current national average to install concrete is $5,500. The price range from $1,000 to $10,000, depending on the material. Concrete flooring is generally cheaper than other flooring materials in the market. Thus, making it an ideal choice if you are working within a budget.

Question 5

What makes a concrete contractor different from masonry?

Accepted Answer

Concrete contractors and masonry contractors are two different things. To begin with, they differ in composition. The former is a mixture of water, aggregate, and cement. It can also contain chemicals depending on the type of concrete. Meanwhile, the latter is consists of bricks, stones, blocks, and mortar. Mortar is like concrete because of its components. It includes water, sand, lime, and Portland cement. It is important to note that the proportion of these materials vary depending on the type of mortar mixture you need for your project.

The preparation process between the two is also different. The primary difference is that concrete is manufactured in a factory while masonry is mixed on-site. In terms of application, you need to place concrete into molds as soon as it arrives on the site. With masonry, you start with putting bricks or stones together. Then, you apply a layer of mortar on top of them. You repeat the process until you reach the requirement for your project. No matter the difference between the two, though, both are very durable construction materials.

Question 6

What is the best concrete sealer to use?

Accepted Answer

Unsealed concrete absorbs liquids readily, which causes ugly stains and freeze-and-thaw damage. For this reason, it's essential to seal concrete that will be exposed to spills or weather outside. There are many sealants available in the market. But, for high-traffic areas like garage floors, the best sealer is epoxy. It forms hard and durable surfaces on top of concrete. Apart from epoxy, acrylic and polishes are also very common good options.

Question 7

What does a concrete contractor do?

Accepted Answer

A concrete contractor can do many things depending on the expertise of its people. They can build concrete driveways, flooring, patios, foundations, and many more. They handle everything from framing the mold up to the actual pouring of concrete. They also mix and condition the concrete to ensure it cures perfectly. They also ensure that there are no air pockets to provide great quality work.

Question 8

What does a paving contractor do?

Accepted Answer

Paving contractors are experts in installing concrete or asphalt driveways. You can also hire them to repave your damaged concrete or asphalt driveway surfaces. A professional paving contractor should provide you cost estimates, and recommend materials and ensure to start and finish the job on time.

Knoxville Concrete Contractors Co

Concrete Contractors Knoxville TN

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01 Delivery of Concrete Materials Onsite

02 Preparation of the Area

03 Concrete Installation or Concrete Repair

04 Final Inspection & Cleanup

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Concrete Patio

Concrete Driveway

Stamped Concrete

Concrete Floors

Concrete Foundation Repair & Installation

Concrete Resurfacing

Concrete Stairs

Concrete Sidewalk

Decorative Concrete

Concrete Slab

Concrete Wall

Concrete Leveling & Mudjacking

Concrete Cutting

Concrete Demolition & Removal

Concrete Repair

Commercial Concrete

Concrete Parking Lots

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Knoxville Concrete Contractors Co
865-328-2070
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