All about concrete
Concrete is a mixture of grey powder called “Portland Cement”, sand and gravel or crushed stone. The “Portland Cement” reacts chemically with water and hardens over time. Water-reducers to improve strength and air-entraining mixtures (concrete contains air bubbles) to make the concrete resistant to the freezing and thawing cycles are also added. Steel rods are set into the concrete to improve the overall strength and reduce the potential to crack.
The reason concrete cracks
There are few main causes of cracking; 1) Temperature changes. 2) Concentrated heavy loads. 3) Poor or un-compacted sub-grade conditions. 4) Rapid water loss prior to finishing the concrete when it is poured. 5) Control joints or saw cuts – either placed in the wrong location or not enough of them.
Going Green with your project
Few paving materials equal concrete when it comes to sustainability and environmental awareness. Unlike asphalt that is made with non renewable petroleum supplies, concrete is made from renewable resources that are in abundance and include water, natural rock, sand and cement. The main raw material for cement in concrete is limestone which is the most abundant mineral on earth.
Concrete is naturally brighter and more reflective than asphalt which can save energy by reducing the need for lighting at night. Up to 27% of light is reflected off of a concrete surface versus 5% from asphalt according to the American Concrete Pavement Association (2009). Lighter colored surfaces also do not attract as much radiant energy and can reduce the amount of heat-island effect in urban areas.
Concrete will last at least two or three times longer than asphalt and because it does not need to be replaced or resurfaced as often, fewer raw materials are consumed in the life of the project. If the need to replace the concrete arises, it can be crushed and recycled at the end of its service life and used as granular fill in the base of your new pavement.
Calculating your square footage
The most common method to estimate the cost of replacing your driveway, sidewalk, patio etc. is by the square foot or square yard. Measuring and calculating area takes two of the three dimensions into account: width and length.
Area of the driveway: Multiply the length by the width. For example, a driveway is 16 feet wide (average two car driveway) and 40 feet long, the calculated area would be 16’ X 40’ = 640 square feet.
Area in square yards: There is 9 square feet in a yard so to calculate the number of square yards for your driveway, divide the square footage by 9. For example 640 square feet / 9 = 71.11 square yards.
Many driveways are not perfect rectangles and may need additional measurements. In this situation, segment the driveway into various shapes (circle, triangle, square), calculate the area of each and then add up the total area. Moccia Concrete will come to your home or business and provide accurate measurements and calculations to ensure fair and competitive pricing.
Obtain an onsite inspection and written quotation
Always do your homework and do not be afraid to ask questions. You need to know what a company will do for you, and whether there are any areas you will have to deal with on your own. Moccia Concrete will come to your home or business and take you through the entire process from start to finish ensuring you know exactly what you are paying for. Should you desire quotations from other concrete companies, be sure you are comparing apples to apples.
Ask for references
Moccia Concrete will provide you with names of clients willing to welcome you to their home or business so you can see first-hand the styles and quality of work Moccia will provide for you.