Tag Archive for: brisbane concrete

How to Speed Up Concrete Drying Time: Pre-Pour & Post-Pour Tips

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In applications like flooring, one needs to wait for a long time to let the concrete dry properly. During this time if anything is rushed, it may result in flooring issues. The flooring may crack later. In order to avoid this, the ideal drying time set is around one month.

Here are some pre-pour and post-pour tips that will help to achieve maximum efficiency and strength of concrete. Also, it will boost the drying process.

Pre-Pour Tips
Follow these pre-pour tips to fasten up the concrete drying time:

1. Reduce Water Quantity:
It’s an obvious solution here. If you add a lot of water to the mixture, it will take more time to dry up. It’s advisable to add a little water to speed up the drying process of concrete. However low water-cement ratio can make the mixture too thick.

Still, if you are skeptical about the right water-cement ratio, you can consult concrete suppliers Brisbane for that matter.

2. Add Self-Desiccation Agents:
Chemicals like calcium chloride hydrate the mixture quickly and attain enough moisture. It reduces the drying time of concrete to a great extent. So instead of adding more cement, you can add chemicals like these before pouring to accelerate hydration. A good alternative to this is to use ready-made premix concrete Brisbane.

3. Add Warm Water:
Water added when it’s hot fastens the reactions in the mixture and therefore the drying time also. Adding hot water accelerates the concrete mixture to attain hydration quickly. However, do not add blazing hot water as it can have its own repercussions.

4. Choose the Right Weather:
If it’s not urgent, avoid laying down floors in cooler months. In winters, the concrete drying time becomes much more than in the summers. Always go for hot sunny weather as it will quickly dry out the mixture without compromising on strength and efficiency.

Post-Pour Tips
Follow these post-pour tips to fasten up the concrete drying time:

1. Trowelling Technique:
High intensity trowelling should be avoided after the mix of concrete has been prepared. Hard trowelling loses the ability to let moisture dry. The vents or capillaries somewhat sealed off prevents the moisture to vaporize. It remains inside and thus slows down the drying time.

2. Dehumidification:
This process is often used to dry out the concrete slab much quicker. The method is quite simple; you just need to reduce the dew point of the air surrounding the concrete Brisbane slab. This helps in evaporating out the moisture through the surface of the concrete. This process is most commonly used in the building industry.

3. Use a Dryer or a Heater:
If the weather is acting against the drying time of concrete, use heaters. But never overheat the concrete mixture as it may end up creating more problems; just heat in the right intensity. You can also use heating mats for this purpose.

Wrapping Up:
These were some of the pre-pouring and post-pouring tips to improve the drying time of concrete. Since the natural drying time is not always good enough, these tips become necessary to set it quickly and attain the desired strength. Apart from this, readymade concrete delivery Brisbane is also available which has the right amount of chemicals added to it!

Wire Mesh Vs. Rebar – a Comparison to Understand which is Better?

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Having even the slightest knowledge about concrete can help you make the right choice when confirming the support material to be used with concrete.

A search for Steel bar Brisbane in Google will return you with all the top dealers of Rebar materials near you. If you are seeking a solid driveway poured, your contractor will ask you to choose either wire mesh and rebar for support. If you have no clue why you are asked this question and what to answer here, this blog will give you a brief summary.

What Is Wire Mesh?

Wire mesh is made up of diminished disfigured steel in its coolest form. The wire mesh is utilised to add robustness and toughness to the concrete being used. When the concrete settles down, wire mesh plays an important role in providing the required support. It also helps in keeping a check against cracks and crevices. Mesh reinforcement Brisbane promotes the maintenance of the concrete’s uprightness against fracturing throughout its lifecycle.

What Is Rebar?

Rebar, abbreviated from reinforcing bar, is also manufactured making use of steel alike Wire Mesh. These are rounded bars with seams that are usually in sizes differing by 1/8th-inch of thickness. Rebar makes use of more space in comparison to wire mesh as it is laid in larger square sections. Rebar is a significant element when it comes to providing depth and has to sustain the structural design. Rebar is also a material of high strength which prevents cracks.

Wire Mesh Vs. Rebar – Factors when Deciding which one to Choose?

Now since you understand the major differences between the two, you might be wondering which one to choose. So, if this question is continuously popping into your mind, here are a few factors that you can consider when deciding on which out of the two:

·      Cost:

Wire mesh is comparatively affordable than rebar. They come in rolls and are made using thin steel bars. The cost of rebar is dependent upon the width of the bars and will eventually cost you more for labour.

·      Support:

Considering the support constraint, rebar is undoubtedly stronger than wire mesh. Several constructors consider rebar for domestic jobs. For thicker driveways and locations that involve greater traffic, rebar is always a good option to consider.

·      Strength:

Cracking is something that both wire mesh and rebar cannot prevent. But together they can serve to be useful in bonding the concrete in place when any sort of cracks occur. The Steel reinforcing mesh Brisbane behaves in a similar pattern on the basis of contraction and expansion properties that is experienced at different temperatures. Also, it is necessary to take extensive care while laying the wire meshes so that it can serve better functionality.

Final Thoughts:

Now that you have a basic idea about the difference between rebar and wire mesh, which one are you going to choose? Steel suppliers Brisbane offers the best products from their wide range. Both wire mesh and rebar have their own advantages of being used for construction. Your needs and requirements will serve as the main factor to decide which one to use.

The Problems and The Solutions when Using Exposed Aggregate Concrete for Renovating your Home’s Exterior

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Are you planning to use exposed concrete in your home’s exterior or perhaps your office exterior? If yes, then you have chosen the right material for this. Exposed aggregate concrete is an extended version of concrete in which you get two benefits – one is the durability and the second is the beauty.

You don’t need to think twice because you are on the right track. The use of exposed aggregate concrete is increasing nowadays as it’s a great way to highlight beauty and toughness at the same time, a rare combination. For this, you can get the help of Reocrete, which is one of the best concrete suppliers Brisbane.

Though using exposed aggregate concrete is ideal for the exterior of a home, there are certain difficulties that may occur while using it.

You May Find It Difficult To Clean:

Yes, people think it is hard to maintain exposed concrete but that’s not true. It’s very easy especially because it doesn’t necessarily require much maintenance. This material only needs a very low level of maintenance. Reocrete, as concrete delivery Brisbane, offers the finest quality concrete so that you need not worry about cleaning it frequently. They also offer concrete Brisbane cleaning services.

Getting the Right Exposure:

You need to get the right depth and appearance because if you are revealing stones in a large quantity then it may break. The surface should be smooth and unbreakable. We would advise you to hire a professional for this. Reocrete has got experienced professionals for this.

Removal of Stones:

Sometimes, when heavy vehicles pass over the surface of exposed concrete, it can dislodge stones from their place which then leaves holes. You may need to repair holes or find the exact stone as it was before the damage. Finding the exact texture of stones is a tedious task in using exposed concrete in exteriors.

Application of Exposed Concrete:

Another possible difficulty you may face while installing exposed Concrete is in its application. You should have the knowledge of how much you need to expose the area. The traditional method of exposing the concrete is by using a brush to extract the top layer of mortar. However, there are many other methods of application available nowadays to guide you well. You just need to explore them.

Conclusion:

So, these were some of the problems you may face with Exposed Concrete. But there are solutions too. Also, do check out concrete prices Brisbane for better understanding and knowledge. The price range of exposed concrete is generally on the lower side, so you do not need to think twice. It’s highly cost-effective.

Is it possible to Recycle Concrete?

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Recycling materials are highly desirable for the sake of the environment. Whether it is of household use, an industrial product or construction materials and equipment, recycling is eco-friendly.

As we all know, products like paper, wood, and some metals can be easily recycled, but what about concrete? You mustn’t have thought about it from this angle, but concrete can actually be recycled.

In this article, for mini concrete Brisbane we will unravel this question of “is concrete recyclable?” We will delve into its ways and benefits and all things related.

The Process: Recycling Concrete

Before we move further into the discussion of benefits and uses of recycling concrete, let’s see the process. Because if you don’t know how to recycle it, how will you avail its benefits?

So, to be able to recycle concrete, you require a heavy-duty machine or equipment to do this for you. You will precisely require a crushing machine that comes with impactors as well as giant jaws for breaking down.

In this machine, the concrete is finely crushed and beaten upon, to impact it. The next step involves screens. This helps in separating useful materials from amongst the dirt and wasteful particles in the mixture.

There are a total of 2 screens, where the first one separates and segregates, the other removes the coarse aggregation of wasteful particles.

If the concrete needs further cleansing and separation, then there is an additional step. Here equipment like separators, magnet etc can further rid the mixture of these materials.

Benefits of Recycling Concrete

If you have some burning questions about the process, then let’s discuss the benefits of recycling concrete.

1. Environment:

The most beneficial reason of them is that it looks after the greater good. It helps in decreasing the waste created from construction projects and activities. It aids in keeping the usage of landfills in check, hence increasing their lifespan.

You can even use your recycled concrete for your new projects in place of fresh aggregates. Thus, ensures lesser and lesser wastage on the environment.

2. Cost reduction:

Just imagine, buying a fresh batch of concrete mix. The cost of transportation, the cost of procuring a fresh batch, the cost of creation will all add up and increase the cost.

Now, think about having your recycled batch being used in its place. You don’t need to pay for its transportation, its procurement etc. Do you see how cost effective it will all be?

On top of all that, you can elude filling landfill taxes and you won’t require them for disposing your concrete wastage.
So, as you see the concrete prices Brisbane will reduce so much.

Uses of Your Recycled Concrete

There are numerous benefits of recycling your old concrete and hence utilizing it to save your resources. Read a few of these benefits down below:

  • Recycled concrete may be used for constructing walkways as well as pathways for pedestrians. This works perfectly because of the commendable blend of reliability and porosity that ensures enough seepage through the gaps in the underground soil.
  • It can also be used for conversion into great quality aggregates that can be incorporated into mixes.

Wrapping-Up:

From all of this, you can assess how beneficial recycling concrete may be for your projects as well as the environment. It comes with an array of benefits like reduction in costs, minimising wastage and spoilage while keeping the quality top-notch.

We offer amazing premix concrete Brisbane as well as timely concrete delivery Brisbane. Check out our services and contact us today for further inquiry.

Pouring Concrete in Hot Weather – What Do I Need to Know?

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Excess heat can have a devastating effect on the quality of freshly mixed concrete. It is recommended to store newly prepared concrete at a lower temperature than 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, Concrete Brisbane strongly recommends that you should have proper arrangements for placing, finishing, and curing of concrete if you wish to use it as the planning material for your building.

Pouring concrete in hot weather can be a little tricky as it does not take too long for the quality of concrete to break down in hot weather conditions. From the loss of entrained air to the surging demand for water, here is a list of what can happen to the concrete if the temperature exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Effects of Pouring Concrete in Hot Weather

  • During the hot weather, the temperature is very high and calls for more water. This is the reason for which the water-cement ratio increases and leads to enhance the potential strength of the concrete.
  • Hot weather also accelerates slum loss and may even cause loss of entrained air.
  • Weather plays a crucial role in setting time of concrete. If the weather is hot or the concrete is poured in high temperature, then the concrete sets quickly and requires more rapid finishing.
  • In hot weather, the temperature is usually high, which increases the rate of evaporation due to which the surface water removes very quickly. Surface water plays an important role in hydration.
  • High temperature further escalates hydration of cement due to which thermal cracking of the concrete can be observed in many concrete structures.

Whether your concrete would show the signs of all these effects or not, it would depend on its quality. The material from reliable providers, such as concrete suppliers Brisbane, can resist a higher temperature without showing any sign of the deterioration of quality to a certain extent.

While there is no denying the fact that you may need to spend a little more on a quality product, it does not mean spending a fortune. For instance, if you are based in Brisbane, there are ways to keep concrete prices in Brisbane within your reach.

Furthermore, you can consider taking certain steps to keep things under your control. For getting desired results while pouring concrete in sultry weather conditions, consider taking the steps given below.

Measures to be taken during Pouring Concrete in Hot Weather

  • At first, you need to erect temporary windbreaks which limit the wind velocities and try to keep fix sunshades in order to reduce concrete surface temperature.
  • You can add cool aggregates and mixing water to the concrete mixture which will reduce its initial temperature to a smaller extent.
  • Ensure that you have enough workers to minimize the time to place and finish the concrete, because hot weather conditions mostly decrease the setting time of concrete.
  • Try to perform the concrete process in the foggy area which helps you to raise the relative humidity and also satisfy moisture demand of the ambient air.
  • Also, provide authentic cutting method after the completion of the concrete placement.
  • Always use a concrete consistency which allows rapid consolidation and placement.

Takeaway

No matter how hard you try, the fact remains that hot weather conditions will have a negative effect on your construction material in some way or another. You can keep the effects down to a certain extent by choosing a reliable supplier such as Concrete Brisbane.

By choosing such providers, apart from getting quality material, you can also expect to have proper concrete delivery in Brisbane for the construction of your project.

Using Concrete for Kitchen Renovations

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Concrete is a versatile material which is used for outdoor applications like the construction of a building, wall finishings, and a range of other applications. But have you ever thought that it could serve home décor purposes too? Yes, you heard right!

Let’s start with your kitchens. Kitchens are one of the most integral parts of a house and everyone wishes to have a perfectly designed cooking space. Renovating your kitchen is a call for bringing in the mini concrete Brisbane and premix concrete to transform the look of your kitchen into a magical place where you can socialise as well as have a gala time cooking your delicacies. In order to make your kitchen strong, concrete plays a crucial role. It gives your kitchen a shiny finishing. Concrete can be used as a decorating material for enhancing your kitchen aesthetics. The best part of renovating your kitchen using concrete is that you can readily get concrete in the market from concrete suppliers Brisbane.

Here is why you can use concrete for your kitchens:

1. The Grey Effect:

If you wish to deck up your kitchen in the industrial style with minimal embellishments, then you can opt for concrete for the same. The grey colour stands as a neutral colour and looks perfectly fine for floors and even countertops exhibiting a sleek look. You can use premix concrete Brisbane for flooring, backsplashes, and other areas to highlight the other metallic features such as your sinks, taps, etc.

2. It Creates an Excellent Visual Appeal:

You may think of grey to be boring and dull, but the reality is somewhat different to what you may have imagined. Concrete Brisbane countertops are attractive and extremely durable in nature, which can be a perfect thing to use for your kitchen counters. It spreads out a smooth and uniform ambiance to your cooking space and is in trend. Concrete can be the best material to use for minimalist kitchens and can still state out loud the features of a welcoming cooking heaven.

3. A Must for Kitchen Islands:

Kitchen islands can be considered as the focal point of your cooking space. May it be installed with sinks for some extra cleaning or a simple place to sit down in your relaxing moments, kitchen islands are something important. So, try renovating it with mini concrete Brisbane to bring in special attention towards your kitchen islands.

Conclusion:

These are just a few awesome reasons for which you can welcome concrete inspiration to your homes. Apart from serving as a home décor material, there are numerous advantages of using concrete Brisbane in your kitchen. They are sturdy and durable, and if, by chance, any type of cracks or crevices occurs, it can be fixed easily with minimum labor. It exhibits a rustic ambiance to your kitchens and is easy to maintain.

So now since you know the benefits of using concrete in your kitchen, when are you planning out your kitchen renovation? Do let us know!

Everything You Need to Know About Concrete Resurfacing

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Everything has a lifespan, and so does your concrete surfaces. You cannot consider the concrete surfaces to be eternal. With the passage of time, there are high chances that the concrete surfaces may face wear and tear, discoloration, and other types of damages. This is the circumstance where the concept of concrete Brisbane resurfacing comes into action.

For all those people who do not prefer the idea of removing or replacing their concrete surfaces, Concrete Suppliers Brisbane can play a very effective role in giving them the apt solutions.

The Need for Concrete Brisbane Resurfacing

Concrete surfaces are durable and strong, and thus you can find these surfaces almost everywhere, floors, roads, paths, pool decks, etc. Though these concrete surfaces are long-lasting and durable, still they can be prone to wear and tear. It may result due to the foot traffic and other adverse conditions that they may have to face serving their usage, thus comes the need for repairing and refurbishing the concrete floors.

Concrete Brisbane has thus emerged out with one of the best and cost-effective ways to resurface your floors by the method of concrete resurfacing. It can cover up all the damaged corners and give the old floors a new aesthetic look. Concrete resurfacing is basically the process in which the concrete floors are not replaced but resurfaced. In this process, an additional layer of concrete is added on to the old surfaces.

How Does It Work?

Concrete resurfacing is a simple and cost-effective method for playing the magic on the wear and tear condition of your concrete floors. It is a budgeted method of taking control of your concrete installations and covering up the flaws of concrete floors. Concrete suppliers Brisbane can get the best hacks for you to hide all the spalling, cracking and fading issues of the concrete floors in a hassle-free and budgeted aspect. One can also add colour to the concrete floors and use over Crete resurfacing compounds that can give additional functional benefits.

How It Is Beneficial?

If you are skeptical about counting on concrete Brisbane for binding your deteriorating concrete floors, then here are few undoubted benefits of counting on concrete resurfacing.

1. Pocket-Friendly Prices:

The very first thing that you would like about availing resurfacing concrete Brisbane is the budget-friendly prices that it comes with. Opting for resurfacing is much better than replacing as it can cut down on the costs and make a value for money deal for you.

2. Gives a Pleasing Ambience:

All those wear and tear corners and damaged floors may cause embarrassment and may spread out an unpleasant appeal. But opting for concrete Brisbane resurfacing surfaces can make your floors look aesthetically pleasing with a perfectly finished appearance.

3. Time Saviour:

Not only is concrete Brisbane resurfacing a budgeted aspect but a time saviour too. For replacing a floor, one may consume a good amount of time but for resurfacing the time constraint is reduced. The surfaces can be levelled evenly within a quick span of time.

4. Maintenance:

Resurfaced surfaces are easy to maintain and can serve for a long time span by simple and regular cleaning. It does not require a lot of effort and can display your concrete surfaces in a new and refreshed outlook.

5. Resilience Feature:

The products and materials used for resurfacing are durable and are bought from the best concrete delivery Brisbane suppliers thus one can be assured of the quality and stain resistant feature.

So if you are looking out for resurfacing services, then concrete Brisbane is the place where you can get all types of resurfacing solutions according to your needs and requisites. A trustworthy and quality service provider is what one looks for and concrete Brisbane thrives to provide the same.

How to Decide Which Concrete is Right for Your Home

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Building or renovating your home is one of the most personal experiences. While many factors are involved, choosing the right concrete is often overlooked. If you are looking for concrete delivery in Brisbane, you might want to think again about choosing the right concrete.

Things to Check before Contacting Concrete Delivery Brisbane

Concrete might look like a single product, but it is a combination of many and depends on many properties. Depending on your needs, you need to check all of them:

Strength:

The primary criteria while choosing concrete should be the strength, or more precisely, compressive strength. It is measured as Pounds per Square Inch. 2500 PSI is generally suitable for driveways, floors etc. and used commonly in mini concrete Brisbane supplies. The more impact and extreme conditions it will the face, the higher the strength of the concrete should be.

Mixes:

The way concrete would be mixed also has its own importance. While going for concrete delivery Brisbane, it is important to know the type of mixes; whether it is pump mix, exposed aggregate mix, entrained air mix or flexible concrete.

Slump:

One of the most important concrete properties is a slump. It denotes the plasticity of the material and how easy it will be to use. Generally, a slump is increased by adding water.

Colour:

Though it might seem that grey is the only way concrete exists, it’s not quite true. By adding certain additives, you can get a variety of desired colours. This lowers the concrete prices Brisbane offers, compared to painting later on.

Finishing:

Once the concrete is dried and set, finishing is required to deem it ready for use. Floating and troweling are the most common finishing techniques, along with broom and salt finishing. Before concrete delivery Brisbane would ask for your expectations regarding the finished product.

Choosing the right concrete might look complex, but it is extremely necessary. Before you go for concrete delivery Brisbane, be sure to get all your queries answered.

Flexibility with concrete

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The words ‘concrete’ and ‘flexible’ aren’t two you’d imagine go together. But concrete has a lot of versatility, making it a popular choice in construction, design and even art.

 

Shape-shifting

Wood is all angles and sharp corners. Trades need to use loud machine tools to get the wood the way they want it to look. Concrete does require effort during the mixing process, but once it’s poured it’s easy to shape, mould. or scoop.

 

Damage-proof (mostly)

Unless Superman or The Hulk is around wanting to show off their strength, concrete will withstand plenty of punishment.

That’s not to say, though, that all concrete is equal. Different blends will withstand different amounts of pressure and the contractor/builder will give their recommendation on what to use. 3500 psi blends withstand everyday foot traffic and are commonly used in houses and commercial building floors. Vehicular traffic is another matter. Concreters will only use 5000 psi mixes or above in warehouses, public buildings where machines drive across the floor,  and even airport hangars.

The concrete isn’t strong enough, though, on its own. To ‘toughen it up’, steel bars (rebar) get laid first before the slab is poured. The rebar holds strong against vibrations, adding to the slab’s tensile strength. It also acts as a frame, especially when the concrete is an ‘unusual’ shape or standing vertically.

 

Creative control

Concrete is known to feature in art installations. Artists can make moulds and pour the concrete in, or carve a sculpture out of a slab. In schools and homes, children take to the concrete with chalk to make drawings.

You don’t have to leave your concrete grey, either. Homeowners can choose from among lots of options around colours. They can also ask for a pattern to get stamped in so the final product mimics tiles, wood, or even marble.