Dont's In Concrete Construction
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• Never hire a contractor who
will not: notify utilities,
provide a certificate of
insurance directly from his
insurance company, or obtain
proper permits for
construction!
• Never place concrete directly on uneven soil that doesn't allow for adequate drainage. Inadequate drainage can lead to problems like ASR* and allows for future settlement problems.
• Never place concrete on uneven or un-compacted subgrades. Settling of subgrades lead to cracked and settled section of concrete slabs in most cases.
• Never add unnecessary water to concrete for ease of placement.* Increasing the water/cement ratio of the concrete leads to low compressive strength, plastic shrinkage cracks, excess bleed water*, lower freeze/thaw resistance and scaling* of the surface!
• Never place concrete directly on uneven soil that doesn't allow for adequate drainage. Inadequate drainage can lead to problems like ASR* and allows for future settlement problems.
• Never place concrete on uneven or un-compacted subgrades. Settling of subgrades lead to cracked and settled section of concrete slabs in most cases.
• Never add unnecessary water to concrete for ease of placement.* Increasing the water/cement ratio of the concrete leads to low compressive strength, plastic shrinkage cracks, excess bleed water*, lower freeze/thaw resistance and scaling* of the surface!
• Never begin concrete placement
without adequate manpower.
Concrete is unforgiving and will
harden before finishing procedures
can be achieved.
• Never start concrete placement without access to the proper equipment, tools, *admixtures and incidentals needed for changes in weather and site conditions. Retarders, * curing compounds, plastic sheeting, and safety equipment should be on hand for every project as situations and ambient conditions may require these items and more, for a successful final product.
• Never finish concrete while * bleed water is present and don't throw water on to the slab in the finishing process. Increasing the water/cement ratio at the surface of the slab is the surest way to guarantee surface * scaling of the slab.
• Never start concrete placement without access to the proper equipment, tools, *admixtures and incidentals needed for changes in weather and site conditions. Retarders, * curing compounds, plastic sheeting, and safety equipment should be on hand for every project as situations and ambient conditions may require these items and more, for a successful final product.
• Never finish concrete while * bleed water is present and don't throw water on to the slab in the finishing process. Increasing the water/cement ratio at the surface of the slab is the surest way to guarantee surface * scaling of the slab.
• Never use a steel
trowel* or
Fresno* on
exterior concrete flatwork. Steel
troweling seals over the surface
trapping water and can also
compromise the
air entrainment* near
the surface of the slab that was
designed for greater freeze/thaw
resistance.
• Never overwork or over finish the surface of any exposed concrete slab. This brings too much fine material to the surface, works out the designed air entrainment*, and will weaken the surface of the slab leaving the top of slab more vulnerable to freeze/thaw damage and sheet scaling*.
• Avoid jointing* concrete in rectangles where one joint is more than 1-1/2 times the length of the converse joint.
• Never hire an inexperienced contractor to do your concrete project!
What may seem like a bargain price can cost you far more in repairs, headaches and legal fees!
• Never overwork or over finish the surface of any exposed concrete slab. This brings too much fine material to the surface, works out the designed air entrainment*, and will weaken the surface of the slab leaving the top of slab more vulnerable to freeze/thaw damage and sheet scaling*.
• Avoid jointing* concrete in rectangles where one joint is more than 1-1/2 times the length of the converse joint.
• Never hire an inexperienced contractor to do your concrete project!
What may seem like a bargain price can cost you far more in repairs, headaches and legal fees!