Frequently Asked Questions
Should I do anything to the concrete once it’s laid?
Yes, to ensure your concrete's strength and durability it is important to cure the concrete by keeping it damp for up to seven days. Concrete hardens properly when it has access to water.
Are there any special ‘safety requirements' I need to consider?
Yes. Please review the SafetyDataSheet.pdf for more details.
How much does concrete weigh?
If a 10 tonne truck is carrying 5m³, the combined weight of the concrete and the truck is about 22 tonnes.
Do I need to remove top-soil prior to laying concrete?
Yes you do. Topsoil or any other organic matter must be removed before placing concrete. Organic materials are unstable, and unable, to provide uniform support for concrete slabs. A properly prepared sub-grade contains no organic material and is crucial to constructing a quality concrete pavement or slab on grade.
How do I prepare the ground or subgrade?
Remove all topsoil and soft soil or clay. Place a sub-grade that is a well-compacted base course – uniform in depth and drains well. Ensure that you dampen this base before placing and finishing concrete.
How thick should a concrete driveway be laid to?
A minimum of 100 mm is recommended. Thickness is a major factor in determining the driveway’s structural capacity. Increasing your driveway’s thickness from 100mm to 125 mm will add to your concrete cost, but the additional 25mm of concrete will add almost 50% to the load carrying capacity of your driveway. Recommended if you have a boat, caravan, or house-bus / truck.
How should I reinforce my slab?
A slab will be strengthened by the addition of steel reinforcements. Fibre reinforcement is another option. Talk about this to a member of our team. Talk to a member of our team by clicking here.
When can I walk on concrete?
It's recommended concrete is left to cure for a minimum of two days before walking on.
When can I drive a vehicle on the concrete?
Seven days. It's recommended you let your concrete cure for a minimum of a week before allowing pneumatic-tyre light vehicles onto the concrete, eg. cars.
How does hot weather affect concrete?
In hot temperatures concrete sets more quickly and becomes less workable. Adding water may affect the water / cement ratio and lower concrete strength. It is important that precautions are taken by the concrete finisher to ensure concrete stability in hot weather. The finisher may use any number of the following precautions:
- Wet the base thoroughly
- Avoid the hottest part of the day if pouring
- Use evaporation retardants
- Ensure sufficient people are on hand to place the concrete quickly
- Cure the concrete
How does cold weather affect concrete?
The setting time of concrete is increased when it is cold. In very cold temperatures, the finisher can protect the concrete from freezing with the following measures:
- Pour the concrete at a lower slump to speed up set time
- Use a set accelerator in the concrete
- Use insulation on the finished concrete
- Use concrete with a higher cement content
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