Concrete Houston, Houston Concrete Contractor

Concrete Houston, Houston Concrete Contractor
At Affordable Contractors our modified stamped concrete mix is
comprised of 564 lbs of pure portland cement per cubic yard, which
translates into the highest strength concrete mix for residential use in
Texas.The concrete (or specifically, the cement in it) needs moisture to
hydrate and cure (harden). When concrete dries, it actually stops getting
stronger. Concrete with too little water may be dry but is not fully reacted.
The properties of such a concrete would be less than that of a wet
concrete. The reaction of water with the cement in concrete is extremely
important to its properties and reactions may continue for many years.

How do you color the Concrete? Once we've perfected our custom
mix, we then pour the concrete, a powdered dye (color) is spread onto the
surface and/or an admixture mixed all the way through the wet concrete
and trowelled in. Then a second color (also known as releasing agent) is
cast on the surface. Before the concrete hardens a set of rubber molds
(stamps) are used to imprint textures into its hydrating surface. The result
will look like slate, cobblestone, brick, marble, or many other materials.

Why is the base so important? Concrete is a mirror image of what it
is poured over. Without an adequate base (usually 2-4 inches of
compacted rock, sand, gravel or road base) flatwork can settle, separate
and develop uneven surfaces.

Can stamped concrete (decorative concrete) be found in
commercial settings? Absolutely, stamped concrete can be found
throughout the world and at many distinguished hotels, casinos, resorts,
etc. A famous example would be Disneyland and Disney World.

Why is decorative concrete (stamped concrete) more expensive
than traditional concrete? Recently, I have received inquiries into the
cost of decorative cement work in comparison to traditional cement work.
Let me describe the two concepts... Traditional cement (also called
concrete) work is what you would find around older homes. Examples
would be a plain smooth or brushed finish driveway, curb or sidewalk.
Rarely were there any designs unless a creative contractor carved
shapes into the concrete while it was still wet. The process for installing
this type of concrete is a fairly simple one, perfected by many... Not so
perfected by many as well...

Under the best circumstances it involves little ground preparation, setting
forms and the pour. Finishing would require some tamping, floating,
troweling and usually brooming the surface. Although this can be tedious
work it is normally a simple process when completed by an experienced
concrete driveway contractor or concrete patio contractor.

Decorative concrete (Concrete Stamping) work is a relatively new
concept but really goes back many years. You may have seen a concrete
sidewalk leading into a business or mall that looked like a rustic stone
path with one or more colors. This design is becoming very popular
because it is so complimentary of landscapes and homes. Many people
are even having decorative concrete finishes installed in rooms of their
homes. Kitchens are among the most common requests.

Properly finished decorative concrete can look very elegant or rustic
depending on what look is desired. While decorative concrete is the
most desired these days it is also the most difficult finish to perfect and
requires much more preparation, finishing, and skill.

When the contractor actually gets to the point where the concrete
driveway, patio or walkway can be stamped (process to apply the
decorative appearance) time is crucial. There are very limited amounts of
time for the various applications and any mistakes can leave a finish that
the homeowner is not satisfied with. Stamping Concrete is an art and I
only know one other stamped concrete artisan (besides my crew and
myself) in a 200 mile radius from Houston that have perfected this ancient
art. ( We trained at the same institute)

Will decorative concrete or stamped concrete last as long as well
as regular concrete? Our product is 4-6" thick, (driveways are 6"-7"
thick and patios are 4" or more) 4,000-4,500 psi concrete. We match or
exceed the normal requirements for a strong finish that withstands years
of normal use. Over the years Our Founder has experimented with
different proportions of tri-calcium silicate and bi-calcium silicate in terms
of performance variables, one important property is the compressive
strength. In the fall of 2001, he developed a mathematical model relating
cement particle-size distribution to strength development. Assuming that
the depth of the hydrated layer is independent of particle diameter (which
also is assumed tacitly in our cement hydration model) and proportional to
the square root of time, he was able to quantitatively predict the effects of
particle-size distribution on strength evolution. More recently, The Founder
of AAA Affordable Concrete Contractors also showed that cement
fineness is an important factor influencing compressive strength, with
phase compositions becoming significant at later ages. In his study, he
also revolutionized a mathematical formula for the prediction of the
compressive strength development of standard ASTM C 10914 mortar in
relation to the compressive strength required for residential use in
Houston, Texas.

Simply put, When our concrete arrives on site we modify the mixture
depending on the humidity, temperature, soil conditions and application
type to minimize concrete cracking and potential sedimentary
displacement that may occur with an improperly mixed batch of concrete.
(these factors are never taken into consideration at the concrete plant)

After the concrete is poured and finished the job is not complete.
Clean up for this type of finish is more difficult because of the various
colors that are involved. After a day or so the contractor will have to return
to the job site to pressure wash the excess color/release for the perfect
finish and look, then resin-coat and chemically stain the concrete. Simply
put decorative concrete is a much more labor-intensive process but most
feel it is worth the cost because of the unique, prestigious and elegant
look.

How is decorative concrete colored? The Technicians at Concrete
Forever.com use two methods to color decorative concrete. Using the
first method, color is spread onto the surface then worked into the surface
using hand tools. After the color is applied and worked into the fresh
cement, a release/hardener is applied.
The release/hardener serves a duel purpose. It adds a tremendous
amount of strength and it highlights and acts as a second color, which
gives the stamped pattern and overall color a defining and distinguished
look. The second method used is when the color is mixed directly inside
the concrete at the concrete plant and mixed inside the truck. The
concrete is the colored throughout from the top to the bottom instead of
just ¼” into the surface.

Due to the wide array of patterns and colors available, and the cost
of stamped concrete in relation to the natural materials installation, the
choice of stamped concrete is becoming more popular and frequent.

Colors and patterns for stamped concrete are often chosen to blend
with other stone or tile elements at the residence. Complex designs
incorporating steps, courtyards, and fountains can be achieved. Stamped
concrete can also be blended with other decorative concrete elements
such as exposed aggregate finishes and acid-etch staining.
It wasn’t long ago when deciding on a driveway or patio material was
easy: asphalt or concrete. Today, the concrete choice has expanded to
include a multitude of decorative concrete options.

While plain gray concrete is still the most often installed, but We at
ConcreteForever.com believe that this ancient art compliments real
estate property and enhances the beauty...click on the link on the previous
page that says:" What is stamped concrete?" to read more about this
ancient art and painstaking step by step process please click on our :


Don’t feel left out if you already have a driveway or patio. The concrete
industry has rapidly developed many decorative products that can be
applied to existing plain gray driveways and transform them into stunning
show piece entry ways for your home. Please check out or exotic polished
concrtte floors and engraving link for an in depth comprehensive review of
your upcoming project


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