The Professionals at B&W Share Their Thoughts
B&W Custom Concrete is here to give you helpful tips on your concrete surfaces to help them look sparkling new. Follow these simple suggestions and you’re sure to be pleased.
Concrete Finishes
A finish on your concrete will protect it both on the surface and in the interior. However, finishing it may be difficult if you’re not knowledgeable. Many people try to use the finish on wet concrete. When you do this before it should be done, the finish is ineffective.
The first thing that needs to be done is to wait for all the water to bleed out of your concrete. The way to tell if this process is complete is when the sheen on the surface is gone. Once dry, a broom will provide the most accurate finish. Machine floating or troweling may be inaccurate causing complications.
Joint Installation
In order for the concrete to expand and contract with varying temperatures, it needs to have high-quality joints along the surface. If you’re not a professional installer, you may find it difficult to know when and where to add the joints. You don’t want to add too many or not enough, or neglect to cut them at the right depth.
Here are the basics:
Slabs must be cut to at least ¼ the thickness of the piece and each joint needs to be properly spaced to create a high-quality slab. For example, if your slab is four inches thick, you need to cut a minimum of one inch into the surface at least every 10-12 feet.
To avoid complications, be sure to install your joints after all other finishing and curing are finished. By waiting for it to dry, the surface will be strong enough to saw without any complications. If all your joints aren’t straight, it may not allow the concrete to expand appropriately.
No Salt the First Winter
Unfortunately, salt has a tendency to have quite a negative impact on new concrete so avoiding it during the first year is strongly advised. Instead of salt, you can use sand to improve traction and melt the snow and ice. Sand, unlike salt, won’t cause the concrete to scale.
You also want to avoid getting any fertilizer on your pavement as it will stain the surface due to an ingredient in it. It will cause temporary rust that will need to be cleaned.
Concrete Sealants
You may think concrete sealants are the same as finishes, but they aren’t. Sealants are used to prevent damage; finishes are used to add a pigmentation.
Before applying a concrete sealant, wait a few hours to a full day if possible. You may want to use fans to speed up the process. Concrete contractors will bring in high-quality fans. This will give the surface a chance to dry and cure flawlessly, and the sealer will extend the life of the surface.
B&W Can Help With These Tips
Although these tips are helpful, you may not want to take the job on yourself as it can be very overwhelming. B&W Custom Concrete in Buffalo, NY will guarantee your concrete project is done to perfection. Contact us today.