Kingston Concrete
613-704-5615
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One of the most overlooked aspects of any construction project is the foundation. You need to remember that the entire job will be sitting on the foundation. If the foundation work is poorly performed, then the rest of the project will be a disaster. One of the most important things to do when preparing the sub-grade and sub-base is to ensure it is properly compacted. The experts at Kingston Concrete will ensure that this is properly performed.
Install the Form Work and Reinforcement Next is installing the form work. This consists of the “box” where the driveway will be poured. Because concrete is a liquid, it needs to be contained, and thus the form work is crucial. Installing reinforcement is also a good idea. Common reinforcements include wire mesh and re-bar. The representative from Kingston Concrete will help you decide what sort of reinforcement you should install. Pour and Finish The Concrete This is the part where the concrete arrives on site and is poured into the formwork. One thing to note is that before the pour occurs, the weather conditions need to be checked. If the installers do not believe the weather conditions are ideal, then pouring should be postponed until the weather conditions are ideal. When the concrete arrives on site, a couple checks should be performed. One is the slump, which looks at the “liquidity” of the concrete, and determines if it is within the specifications. The other is the air entrainment. The air entrainment test evaluates the percentage of air bubbles found in the concrete. In northern climates (where temperatures reach below zero), having the right amount of air in the concrete will ensure the longevity of the concrete even during the harsh free-thaw cycles that occur in the Kingston area. Once it is poured, it needs to be finished. Finishing concrete means smoothing it out. Stamp the Concrete After a bit of time (which the installers will decide) has passed, the concrete will be stamped. This steps first involves adding the colour. One of the best practices when adding the colour powder is to use a technique called “broadcasting”. This involved using a brush to throw the colouring powder onto the concrete. This is better than throwing by hand because it diminished the chance of having clumps of powder which can negatively affect the appearance. After the colour has been added, a release agent is added. A release agent ensures the stamps used to create the design do not stick to the concrete. Then the team will stamp the concrete, using the patterns which were selected by the client. |