It all depends on the thickness of the concrete, the outside temperature, and the type of cement used in the mix. On average, it takes 2–3 hours to set and 7–14 days to completely cure. It’ll also continue to get stronger for another 28 days.
Much smaller, simpler projects can be done without the expertise of an engineer. Big and complicated projects such as slabs supporting a higher load (home slabs or large warehouse/shed slabs) and retaining walls that support a huge amount of land behind them need an engineer’s assistance. Engineering assistance is needed for suspended slab projects. It’s for the safety of the people on them and the things underneath them.
Concrete doesn’t always have to be boring and grey. Concrete can be colourful by adding mineral colours to it. There are four different ways to add colour to concrete: stains, integral pigments, colour hardeners, and dyes. Each of these ways creates a different look and has its own pros and cons. This means that concrete can be almost any colour, including red, brown, green, and many more.
Even though concrete is pretty strong on its own, there are things you can do to keep it in good shape. Don’t try to get rid of stains by using harsh acids. Clean your concrete often and seal it to keep it from getting damaged by the weather.
Concrete is likely to break when sudden change of temperature always happen because it is not flexible. This is normal, and small cracks won’t affect the strength of the concrete. You can fix these cracks by putting “joints” in the area or adding a product made of fibres.
People often use the words “cement” and “concrete” interchangeably, but cement is actually one of the components of concrete. Concrete is mostly a mix of small rocks and paste. Sand, gravel, or crushed stone make up the aggregates, and water and Portland cement make up the paste. Portland cement is not a brand name; it is the name of the type of cement that is used in almost all concrete. Cement makes up between 10 and 15% of the volume of the concrete mix. Through a process called “hydration,” the cement and some of the water react and harden, forming a rock-like mass.
Many things don’t affect concrete in any way. But some things, like most acids, are too harsh for concrete and can cause it to deteriorate. The best way to protect against chemical damage is to use high quality concrete that is resistant to chemicals. After that, protective treatments can be used to keep concrete from absorbing corrosive substances.
There are many ways to improve concrete’s resistance to harmful chemicals: using a low water cement ratio, choosing the right type of cement (sulfate resistant cement), using the right aggregates, water, and air entrainment.
A concrete driveway must be built on solid, stable soil. If it isn’t, it will fail over time and won’t last long. If the sub grade is unstable, you can stabilize it by digging and adding base material or another type of structural base. This will make the soil more stable, which will make the concrete driveway last longer. But the question of whether the base should be installed or not is hard to answer. It really depends on the type of soil where you live and the location where the concrete driveway is going to be installed.