Trusted Retaining Wall Contractors in Ann Arbor, MI

Concrete sealer or sealant is a substance composed of any penetrating resin, polyurethane, or epoxy. There are many types of sealants available on the market. Because it is very inexpensive, acrylic sealants are the most popular choice among property owners. If you want to prevent deterioration and degradation of your concrete floor, it will be a wise choice to seal your floor. It is advisable to do this once every 2-5 years. Periodic sealing will help protect your concrete floors from water damage, wear and tear, and chemical spills. Sealing is not labor intensive, nor is it costly, but the benefits are immense.

Yes, the weather can affect the concrete. Most of the time, it is the temperature that has the most intense effects on concrete. At high temperatures, the rate of heating and the type and stability of aggregate can affect the behavior of the concrete. There are also several challenges that can be faced by concrete in cold weather. At freezing temperature points, loss of heat in the time between heating and pouring can be detrimental to the structure. If the concrete freezes before it has properly hardened, it can lose much of its expected strength. This damage will be irreversible.

Asphalt may be cheaper when installed but investing on concrete may save you more money and even stress in the long run. Compared to concrete, asphalt would need more maintenance. It needs to be sealed a few months after it was installed, then every few years thereafter. While asphalt may be simpler and easier to repair, it typically needs more frequent repair than concrete. This is because asphalt can degrade faster due to its softer consistency. For long-term considerations, concrete driveways can last about 10 times as long as asphalt driveways. Concrete ones can endure 30-40 years compared to 20-30 years for asphalt.

The composition and proportions of the ingredients in the concrete mix can make the biggest difference on how long your concrete structure will last. In general, the most recommended mix is the four-two-one mix. This is a proportion of four parts crushed rock, two parts sand, and one part for cement, for a total of seven parts. While this four-two-one mix is highly recommended, it will not be the best for all situations. To enhance compressive strength, we can add more rock to make a five-two-one-and-a-half mix. If you need more flexibility, more sand and less rock is better, such as a two-four-one mix.

No, the drying process is not the main mechanism that strengthens the concrete. The role of water in concrete is mainly in facilitating the chemical reaction that takes place when cement mixes with it. This process is called hydration. Hydration is the mechanism responsible for the formation of compounds and crystal structures within the mixture, trapping and interlocking the rock, gravel, and sand together. Concrete structures gain their top strength during the first month from placement because this is the amount of time where majority of the strengthening reaction happens. When water has completely dried out years later, the concrete stops gaining strength.