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Concrete Crack Hazard Removal

Do you have concrete on your property? Would you like to prevent it from cracking? One of the most common complaints business owners have is that their concrete is starting to crack. They may think that the initial contract or may not have done a very good job; however, concrete is like everything else on your property. You need to take care of it if you would like it to last. How can you prevent concrete from cracking? What should you do if you notice that your concrete is starting to crack? There are several important points to consider.

Why Does Concrete Crack?

There are several reasons why concrete might be cracking. Some of the most common reasons include:

  • There might be too much water in the concrete mixture. Concrete does not require a lot of water in order to achieve its maximum strength. Excess water can reduce the strength of the concrete, leading to shrinkage. As concrete begins to harden, it shrinks. This is because excess water is evaporating. Excess water leads to more shrinkage, literally pulling the slab apart.
  • The concrete might be drying too quickly. If concrete is drying too quickly, it might not be cured properly. It is important to reach out to a professional contractor to make sure the concrete is not drying too fast.
  • There might not be any control joints in the concrete. Control joints are put in place to help the concrete crack where it should. If there aren’t any control joints, the concrete might end up cracking.

These are just a few of the many reasons why concrete might crack.

How Can You Prevent Concrete from Cracking?

There are several ways to prevent concrete from cracking. Some of the top methods include:

  • Install control joints. This will prevent the concrete from cracking in vulnerable places.
  • Always cure the concrete properly. If the concrete does not cure properly, it may begin to crack.
  • Check the water to cement ratio again. The water to cement might need to be reduced to prevent excess shrinkage.

In order to properly address this issue, you may need to reach out to a trained contractor.

What Should You Do if You Notice Concrete Cracks?

If you noticed that your concrete is beginning to crack, the first thing you should do is mark the concrete hazards. That way, people do not enter the area unknowingly, which can prevent serious injuries and accidents from taking place. Concrete crack hazards are dangerous and should be treated as such.

If you can do so safely, take a close look at the crack. Try to remove any debris that might be present. You may need to use a wire brush in order to appropriately clean the crack. You may also want to use a pressure washer if you know how to use one safely.

If you are familiar with concrete, you may be tempted to fill the crack yourself. Even though you might be able to temporarily patch it, you should rely on a trained professional for a permanent repair job.

Reach Out to Trained Professionals for Help with Concrete Cracks

Do everything you can to prevent concrete from cracking. If you work with an experienced professional, you should be able to get as much life as possible out of your concrete. If you notice cracks in your concrete, reach out to a trained professional for assistance. That way, you know the repair job is completed appropriately the first time around.

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How to Make a Concrete Mold

Are you interested in creating a concrete mold by yourself? You need to make sure that you know how to do this safely. Furthermore, you also have to have the right materials. What are the steps that you need to follow if you want to successfully build a concrete mold? There are several steps to note.

Gather the Right Materials

First, you need to gather the right materials. You will need panels to create the mold, drywall screws, silicone caulk, bar clamps, ball bearing, a cordless drill, a circular saw, and a caulking gun. You will probably also want to wear latex gloves during this process.

Step 1: Cut the Panels

First, you have to cut the panel to the right size. A lot of people use a melamine board. If you would like to minimize chipping as you are going through the board, use a fine-tooth saw blade. Then, set the depth to just below the depth of the saw cut. Usually, this is about ⅞ of an inch.

Step 2: Clamp the Longer Side Walls to the Base of the Mold

Next, take the panels and lay them on a work surface. Place the longer walls on the edges. Hold them in place using the bar clamps.

Step 3: Drill the Pilot Holes

Once you are confident that the clamps are holding the board and place, drill several pilot holes spaced equal distances apart. Then, place the drywall screws through these holes. 1-inch drywall screws tend to work the best. Make sure that every screw is seated firmly. That way, the walls are drawn tight against the base. This will keep the mold in place when you use it.

Step 4: Add the Shorter Side Walls Next

After this, you should place the shorter sidewalls on their edges. Make sure they are next to the longer sides. Go through the same process with the shorter sides as you did with the longer side. Drill a few pilot holes. Then, add the screws. Make sure the screws are seated firmly to hold the concrete mold in place.

Step 5: Bevel the Corners

This is when you want to put on your gloves. Squirt a bead that is about half an inch in size of silicone caulk into every corner of the mold. After this, dip the ball bearing in some water. Draw the ball bearing down every caulked corner to make sure the curve is smooth.

Step 6: Clean Up Your Work by Removing Any Excess Caulk

Finally, wait for the silicone caulk to cure. Then, remove any excess silicone that may be in place. You may want to start by picking at the end of the strip with your fingernail. Then, pull any excess caulk away. Dispose of it safely.

Rely on a Professional Local Asphalt Company for Help Making a Concrete Mold

If this sounds like a complicated process, then you may want to reach out to a trained professional for assistance. With the help of an asphalt contractor, you can make sure that you do this job right the first time. If you do not have the right concrete mold, you may have a hard time finishing your project. Fortunately, there are professionals who have the training to make sure this process is performed correctly. You do not have to go through this alone. Do not hesitate to reach out to a professional for help.

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3 Things to Know About De-Icing

While snow can create the perfect scenery, icy winter asphalt opens the door for potential hazards in more ways than one. Not only can an icy driveway cause a safety risk for you and your family, but a slick walkway can open you up to liability. If someone else visiting your home were to slip and fall, you could find yourself on the undesirable end of a lawsuit.

Fortunately, you can protect your family and your guests by properly deicing your walkway and/or driveway. However, deicing involves much more than throwing salt or any ice melt all-around your driveway — this may not properly complete the task. Instead, there are several things you should know about deicing to do it properly. Continue reading to learn our top three things you should know about de-icing winter asphalt.

Get Rid of the Snow First Is the First Step to De-icing Asphalt

Even though this may seem painstakingly obvious, it’s critical you get rid of all the snow prior to starting the deicing process. Shovel as much ice and snow off of your driveway as you can. You can also try to break the ice up with a shovel to help make removal easier. If you find you can’t remove the ice through the shoveling method, lay down a deicer, which can be found at almost any hardware store. As you are choosing deicers, make sure you consider where you will be putting it. Some deicers are hazardous to pets, plants, water supplies, and masonry. This means that some deicers could require you to call an asphalt company for repairs over extended use. If you have any concerns, look for a more environmentally-friendly deicer.

Ice Evenly & Correctly When De-Icing Asphalt

If you are fortunate enough to have a handheld spreader or wheeled spreader, you can save a lot of time and effort by using it. This piece of equipment will evenly coat the ground with ice melt or salt and will take much less time than doing it by hand. However, if all you have are your hands, that will have to do — unless you have a cup, and everyone has one!

Even if you’re deicing with a cup, you should still wear gloves because most deicers are made up of chemicals. You can also use a bucket, so you don’t have to lug a big bag of ice melt or snow around. In either case, spread it evenly. If you place too much in one area, simply grab some water or a broom to spread it out. Besides, using more deicer in one area will not make the snow melt any quicker. And the more deicer you unnecessarily use, the more likely you are to cause damage to your landscape. Keep in mind that snow does not melt ice. It does, however, lower the boiling point of water. Because the majority of ice does have a thin layer of water, the salt mixture will cause a chain reaction that helps expedite melting ice— even in cold temperatures.

Sand and Gravel Can Help with Icy Winter Asphalt

Sand and gravel are also regularly used on driveways that are icy. It’s important to understand that sand and gravel will not actually melt the ice. It will provide a safer environment by increasing traction for drivers and walkers. Although this can be a very effective solution, the best way to protect your home and property is to remove the ice completely. Many people who are concerned about the environmental impact of deicers choose to combine the sand with the deicer to make a mixture. In doing so, you can reduce the impact of using deicing chemicals alone.

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[5 Essentials] Asphalt Paving Services for Homeowners Associations

The choice to buy a house is usually a well thought one out. Beauty, practicability, safety, lighting, and affordability are some of the factors to consider before choosing a house.

A member of a Home Owners Association (HOA) has expectations that are in line with what drove them to be a member of the group. One of these desires is a good looking pavement, parking lot, and driveway. In line with this, here are five essential asphalt paving services that members of HOA should expect from asphalt paving companies.

1. Plan Plentiful Parking Space

Well maintained streets and walkways are some of the things that prospective house buyers or renters look for. Ample parking space is also another important consideration. No one wants to park too far from their home.

Therefore, asphalt paving companies should plan for enough parking spaces. They should take into consideration spaces for the handicapped. The space should be large enough to cater to service providers, repair, and utility vehicles.

2. Keep Lines and Markings Bright; Night and Day

When it comes to parking lot markings, they should be well maintained, especially when one keeps on parking at the same spot every day.

Parking typically is easy for residents as opposed to guests; so the lines should be well visible to make it easy for guests to park as well.

As simple as these markings seem, they play a major role. They improve the general look of the parking lot and therefore the marketability of the real estate as a whole. The first impression of a would-be tenant is greatly boosted with clearly visible and distinct markings on the parking lot, whether day or night.

3. Concrete Maintenance and Repair: Sidewalks and More

Asphalt paving service providers are expected to provide a myriad of other services as well. This service should include maintenance of concrete planters, entryways, dumpster pads, and wheelchair ramps.

The difference between asphalt and concrete is that the latter is more permeable and thus prone to wear. Crumbling sidewalks are unattractive and can cause tripping accidents for residents. Its maintenance is crucial as it goes to avoid accidents or eye-sores.

Crack filling, sealing, waterproofing, and patching will go a long way in improving the overall beauty of a home.

4. Regularly-Scheduled Maintenance Prevents Expensive Repairs

Asphalt and concrete are durable, but nothing lasts forever. This does not mean that as soon as a crack or crumble is visible, that it’s time to redo the whole thing. There are means of maintenance that can be used to extend the lifespan of streets, pavements, and more, without redoing the whole thing.

Regularly scheduled crack-filling and seal-coating are some of the means. Apart from boosting the value of property in the neighborhood, the area will also look beautiful. Asphalt paving companies have to follow this through as their maintenance obligation.

Property owners and caretakers should ensure regular repairs as this keeps the costs remain by dealing with small patch-ups as opposed to big ones or complete makeovers.

5. Scheduling Helps Reduce Access Problems for Residents

You don’t want to wake up in the morning and realize you can’t get out of the driveway. Nothing is as irritating as finding an asphalt paving company working on a path thus has blocked the driveway.

To avoid this inconvenience it is prudent for the contractor to always schedule any form of work to be done not in a time that inconveniences users. It is recommended repairs be planned and carried out in stages.

Although repairing in stages might take longer to complete but it wouldn’t inconvenience users in the neighborhood as they carry out their daily activities.

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DOES CONCRETE CONDUCT ELECTRICITY? YES, HERE’S WHY

People generally don’t consider what conducts electricity, as long as they don’t suffer the results of the conductivity. People are aware that metals and even the ground move electricity. Concrete electricity, on the other hand, is outside the box for all but civil engineers, the military, and other such professionals. How does concrete move electrical currents?

 

What Is Concrete?

 

First, it’s important to understand how concrete is made. Many consider concrete and cement interchangeable. However, they are two completely different things. Cement is composed of crushed stone, shells, and other aggregate with chemical compositions of iron, calcium, and more. These things harden when combined with water to make cement.

 

Concrete is made when finely ground cement is added to things that have no chemical presence such as sand, gravel, and rocks. These act as a binder when mixed with water. It then hardens, forming concrete. How do these conduct electrical current?

 

How Does Concrete Conduct Electricity?

 

Completely dry concrete doesn’t conduct electricity; in fact, it insulates instead. When wet, concrete electricity has some verity, but not much. To conduct electricity, the ions in the elements of the cement have to be free to move.

 

That happens when the concrete is wet. The resistance of the concrete is conducive to the movement of these ions. Thus, on wet days, the ions move about with their electrical current in tow. The same is true of any wet material including wood.

 

How Can Concrete Become More Conducive?

 

To facilitate the movement of the ions more freely, something must be added to the concrete to make it more conducive. Since metal carries electrical current very well, adding steel and/or carbon fibers to the mix makes the concrete electrifying.

 

Would Concrete Electricity Be Attractive To Homeowners?

 

An overlay of conducive concrete is lighter than conventional concrete. Its electromagnetic properties protects smart homes’ connections as well as computers against hackers. Its warming properties use existing lines and is compatible with AC current in a 120 volt plug. It protects homes against lightning strikes.

 

Additionally, what homeowner doesn’t grumble when faced with shoveling the walkways and driveway in a snowy winter? Electrically charged concrete eliminates this chore. It removes the threat of deicing and salt products to the environment and wildlife. Walking across an electrically charged surface, though, won’t harm the walker.

 

There could be some benefit in conducive concrete due to its stability and bonding properties. In other words, storms won’t knock out the computers or other electronics. There will be no need for surge protection.

 

Final Thoughts

 

When people think of conducting electricity, they think of copper wires, aluminum buildings, and not swimming in a storm. Concrete never even crosses their consciousness.

 

However, it’s a great answer for homeowners seeking stable and conductive building materials. Its benefits to homeowners especially could save money and provide protection from Nature’s fury as well as from those with nefarious intent.