Most Popular Myths About Concrete Work in Lakeland FL
Concrete is one of the most widely used materials in construction. Not only is it one of the strongest and most durable, but it also has its merits in cost-efficiency. The best part is that it adds colors and a greater appearance to your property. Well, these were a few factors making the concrete emerge as a top paving material.
Still, people cling to plenty of concrete myths. Lakeland Concrete focuses on helping customers get the best concrete services and provide great customer service. Here are some of the famous concrete myths.
Every Concrete Will Crack
A properly installed concrete pavement won’t require concrete paving services. In fact, these pavements won’t encounter cracks or any other pavement issues. This only happens when the contractor utilizes a proper understanding of concrete mixes. In case, the concrete mix specifications aren’t adhered to, cracks can appear as a common issue. Still, strategic concrete applications can get you sturdy and attractive pavement.
Ideally, structural reinforcement would make that building so structurally sound that it can prevent cracking. But in reality, even with reinforcement, concrete that does not move during volume changes, like setting and drying, can crack because it is weak in tension areas. The role of structural reinforcement is not to prevent cracking but rather to hold the crack faces together.
When cracking in concrete happens, the tensile stress is transferred to the steel from the concrete. This allows reinforced concrete to hold up against a higher tensile load than just concrete alone.
The More The Better
To be clear, performance requirements should specify mixes and not cement content alone. Additionally, it’s essential to consider the water-to-cement ratio, one of the most vital concrete mix properties. For example, one of these requirements is the minimum comprehensive strength, which is influenced by the amount of water in the concrete mix.
Similarly, most people think the more water the better concrete mixtures will be. However, this entirely depends upon the water to cement ratio you add. Here, concrete rules play a pivotal role. Obviously, adding excessive water in the mix isn’t good in any case. The chances of the cracks in such cases increased dramatically.
Hence, sticking to the primary concrete mix specifications is necessary. Specifying bags of cement without considering the amount of water is not a specification at all– you can’t decide on anything with just cement in mind.
Higher Strength Equals Higher Durability
Strength and durability do not mean the same thing; ergo, higher strength concrete is not more durable. Although comprehensive strength is one of concrete’s notable characteristics, it alone does not determine its durability; other factors make it durable in harsh environments.
The compressive strength ranges between 2,500 psi – 10,000 psi. You might consider, the higher the concrete psi is the more durable it is. However, that’s not completely true. On the other hand, the principal causes of concrete deterioration are alkali-silica reaction, corrosion of reinforcing the steel, and exposure to freeze-thaw cycles or sulfate reaction.
Even though concrete is not indestructible, its durability can increase by reducing permeability. For most durable, you don’t require excessive concrete psi in terms of specification but reducing permeability can work. Moreover, in areas of tension, structural reinforcement does not prevent cracking but holds crack faces together.