Sunday 30 October 2016

Top Concrete Contractors In Sacramento CA (916) 312-4166

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Call (916) 312-4166 for first class concrete solutions – full range of concrete products, including stamped concrete

If you’re looking to renovate your home’s patio, or your business’ walkways, or even add outdoor walkways and features to a project currently being built, you’ll notice there is a variety of materials available. Stone, concrete, and brick all provide a different look. Concrete offers a lot of advantages over stone or brick, including ease of cleaning and durability. You may have a certain look in mind, and the best part about concrete is that it can give you a similar look to more expensive materials at a fraction of the cost and time. Laying down interlocking pieces to create a surface or fixture is both time consuming and costly in terms of both materials and labor, and using concrete can help cut costs down on both fronts.

Highest Quality Services (916) 312-4166

Stamped Concrete

stamped-concrete-patio-10Stamped concrete is designed to match the look of stone or brick, and patterns can be pressed into complex fixtures as well as large flat surfaces, making it perfect for replicating those beautiful stone or brick paths, fountains, and almost any other outdoor fixture much more cheaply in many cases. Our customers sometimes express concern with the color of the concrete, but that can be easily changed using acid staining techniques to match various color patterns and designs.

Repair and Maintenance

We also service existing concrete, including repairing cracks and chips or removing and re-pouring areas with extensive damage. It can be very hard to match the color and level of existing concrete during repairs, but we’ll do our best to make the seams blend as well as possible! This service doesn’t apply only to the concrete we pour, of course, and you’re always welcome to call and get a repair estimate. If we need more information to get you a quote, we’ll come out and take a look to give you the most accurate price we can at no charge!

Quality is important when choosing a contractor, as stamping concrete seems easy, but small mistakes can leave you with very noticeable faults in your walkway or patio. The same is true for staining, contractors without enough skill can leave you with a disappointing look. We’ve been at this for years, and offer only the highest quality in terms of pouring, stamping and staining. At AAA Concreting, we aim to be the best concrete contractor in Sacramento, and offer both standard concrete pouring and stamped concrete services.

Call (916) 312-4166 Today!

If you’re not sure which of the many options available is best for you, you’re not alone! We know it can be hard to choose what materials to use and who should install it for you, so we welcome you to give us a call and discuss the options available with us. We’re priced competitively and operate on a no pressure sales model, meaning we’ll help guide you to what it is you’re looking for without trying to convince you to spend more money on something you didn’t have in mind. There’s no commitment or charge that come with the call, so you can be comfortable knowing that if you change your mind or choose a different option, we won’t hassle you!

Services we provide:

AAA Concreting
1779 Tribute Rd Ste N
Sacramento, CA 95815
(916) 312-4166

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Thursday 27 October 2016

What Concrete Curing Blanket Is All About?

For every construction projects that are making use of concrete, it will certainly take time to let the concrete settle and thaw on the ground quickly. Yet, one very important aspect when it comes to the use of concrete is that, it should be settled first to enhance its quality, and make it sturdier than ever before. You cannot let any external factor to impede on the way the concrete is settling or being dried up, as it will certainly compromise the quality of your poured concrete.

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It is for this reason that there are concrete blankets which most construction works can depend upon. With its use, you are certain that the concrete  will thaw quickly on the ground, thus ensuring you of a much sturdier quality. You are for certain that what you have with you is extremely helpful in the construction works that you are embarking on.

Concrete Curing Blankets and Ground Thawing Blankets for Quick Results

There aren’t many options to choose, but that’s really not a bad thing. From my experience, the products from Powerblanket are very good quality. Whichever model you choose will be based on the size you want. For those looking for a larger sized blanket, such as 4 feet by 5 feet, consider thePowerBlanket MD0304.

For those who don’t need one this size, consider the PowerBlanket EH0202, which is 2 feet by 2 feet. This manufacturer actually offers sizes to meet everyone’s needs. If you need a 3 foot by 20 foot blanket, they have one.

These are some of the major specs on these particular products:

  • Very easy to use

  • Removes frost from frozen ground quickly

  • Cures concrete faster than other methods

  • Heats to a preset amount

  • Used to melt snow and ice from all areas. Read more from the main source:

Fact is that concrete is actually one substance that is second most consumed in the planet, that is only after water. There are so many uses of such in today’s fast developing world, it is being utilized in school, sidewalks, dams and whatnot. Thus, it is important to see how the concrete and that of the cement industry is affecting the world in general.

Emissions from the Cement Industry

Indirect emissions from burning fossil fuels to heat the kiln can be reduced by switching to alternative fuels, including natural gas, biomass and waste-derived fuels such as tires, sewage sludge and municipal solid wastes. These less carbon-intensive fuels could reduce overall cement emissions by 18-24% from 2006 levels by 2050.

Alternatively, efficiency measures can reduce the demand for fuel by addressing the production process itself (such as switching from inefficient wet kilns to dry ones) or through technical and mechanical improvements (such as preventative maintenance to repair kiln leaks). While some estimate that energy efficiency improvements could achieve emission reductions of up to 40%, some industry analyses suggest that producers may have already exhausted this potential. Without additional financial incentives (such as subsidies or a tax on carbon), further breakthroughs could be difficult.

Reducing emissions from the calcination process means looking to a material other than limestone. Blended cement replaces some of the limestone-based clinker with other materials, primarily coal fly ash and blast furnace slag. Blended cement could reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 20%, but widespread use of blended cement is limited by other environmental regulations (these substitutes can contain toxic heavy metals); the limited availability of substitute material; and some building code restrictions (blended cement can take longer to set). See this site for more details: http://ift.tt/1oYSOQ5.

With all these being said, it can be concluded that now more than ever before, concrete will play a big role in how the world would be like. It is essential to really get an in depth understanding of the major role that it is playing and what it can bring to the table. There are certainly a lot of benefits that you will experience from the use of concrete.

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Monday 17 October 2016

The Quality of Concrete Homeowners Should Choose

The Quality Of Concrete Homeowners Should Choose

A sturdy and strong house depends on the concrete that is used by its concreting contractors. It is essential for any homeowners out there to be able to use the best and high quality kind of concrete to ensure that the foundation of the house will remain strong as ever. With a strong foundation, it means that the house is a good place to stay at; such that you get the necessary peace of mind. It will also mean that the concreting materials used are going to withstand any catastrophic forces of nature.

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Choosing the innovative kind of concrete in the construction phase will ensure that you get to enjoy so many advantages. In fact, it will offer to homeowners a certain level of excitement in knowing that the concrete being used has a fantastic longevity that is expected of it.

Custom Concrete Contracting Blog: Myths and Facts About Pervious Concrete

Myth: It won’t stand up to heavy or commercial use.

Fact: A pervious driveway is just as durable as any other concrete driveway. The key here, for both pervious and regular concrete, is that the pour is thick enough to handle the expected traffic. Custom Concrete will pour 5- to 6-inches thick on some projects instead of the standard 4 inches if the load will be heavier. Most parking lots, for example, will be at least 6 inches thick. At Meridian High School in Bellingham, WA, Custom Concrete installed pervious 8 inches thick because fire trucks and buses would be using the lot to turn around. On commercial projects, engineers design the surface thickness to handle the traffic that’ll be using it.

Myth: Snowy conditions clog pervious concrete.

Fact: Actually, the opposite is true. Because of its porous nature, pervious concrete increases airflow and helps melt snow more quickly. It’s totally fine to use shovels and snow plows on pervious, too. Just make sure the scoop has a rubber edge, so you’re not using metal to scrape the concrete surface.

Myth: It’s a fad, and it soon will go away.

Fact: Cities and counties nationwide say pervious is the way of the future. Municipalities all over Washington state are investing in it and planning for it. In fact, most of the pervious installs done by Custom Concrete are for governmental agencies. Read more from the main source.

Thus, as a homeowner, in any concreting works that you will embark upon, you must put the home foundations as the most important thing to always delve closely into. One thing that you can do is that you can always keep away water, such that you need to drain it properly. Doing so will achieve the chance for you to finally waterproof your house. This process will strengthen and make your house worthy of any settlement and whatnot.

French Drain Installer Carrollton TX

  1. Code requirements:The International Residential Code (IRC), in Section R405.1, requires drains “around all concrete or masonry foundations that retain earth and enclose habitable or usable spaces below grade.” The IRC goes on to provide details about what kind of drains are sufficient. However, very well-drained soils are an exception and mixtures such as sand and gravel do not require drainage.

  2. Moisture: There are two zones of subsurface moisture: the aeration zone (where both water and air exist) and the saturation zone. Generally, the saturation zone is everything below the water table, which is the level at which water rises to in a well. The saturation zone is seldom an issue in residential construction—soil moisture is the concern.

  3. Loss of soil moisture: Soil moisture beneath a foundation is lost in a triangular configuration, so the deepest dry area is just outside the edge of the foundation and the ground beneath the middle of the slab remains saturated. Differential drying or differential amounts of moisture in the soil can create problems, especially in expansive soils, which in many parts of Carrollton are more the rule than the exception. In some areas, homeowners actually have to water their foundations to maintain soil moisture.

  4. Surface drainage: Controlling surface water is critical to controlling soil moisture beneath the foundation. The ground surface should slope away from the house at between ½ and 1 inch per foot for at least 6 feet—10 feet is better. Be careful of poorly compacted backfill, though, because that will soon mean that the surface will slope back toward the house. Visit this site for more info: http://ift.tt/2dibsGE.

Proper research on your available choices when it comes to the concreting works that need to be done is an important first step when you want to begin building your home or whatever edifice you think is best. It is the responsibility of any homeowner to always have that informed choice in everything, especially when it comes to concreting works. Doing all these things will mitigate any possible damages that may be caused to your newly constructed house as a result of a catastrophe.

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Concrete Mixing Ratios

When making concrete it’s important to use the correct concrete mixing ratios to produce a strong, durable concrete mix.

To make concrete there are four basic materials you need: portland cement, sand, aggregate (stone), and water. The ratio of aggregate to sand to cement is an important factor in determining the compressive strength of the concrete mixture.Image Credits: http://ift.tt/2elJcPs

A concrete mixture ratio of 1 part cement, 3 parts sand, and 3 parts aggregate will produce a concrete mix of approximately 3000 psi.

Mixing water with the cement, sand, and stone will form a paste that will bind the materials together until the mix hardens. The strength properties of the concrete are inversely proportional to the water/cement ratio.

Basically this means the more water you use to mix the concrete (very fluid) the weaker the concrete mix. The less water you use to mix the concrete (somewhat dry but workable) the stronger the concrete mix.

Accurate concrete mixing ratios can be achieved by measuring the dry materials using buckets or some other kind of measuring device. By measuring the mixing ratios you will have a consistent concrete mix throughout your entire project.

Mixing ratio to make 1 yard of concrete

To produce a 3000 psi cubic yard of concrete (27 cubic feet) the concrete mixture ratio is:

1. 517 pounds of cement

2. 1560 pounds of sand

3. 1600 pounds of stone

4. 32 – 34 gallons of water

This mixing ratio will give you a concrete mix that is strong, durable, and good for most concrete projects. A cubic yard of concrete will fill an area 8 feet wide by 10 feet long by 4 inches thick, or 80 square feet @ 4 inches thick.

At 6 inches thick a cubic yard of concrete will fill an area 52 square feet and at 5 inches thick, it will fill an area that’s 65 square feet.

To produce a cubic yard of 4000 psi concrete, you have to adjust the concrete mixing ratio to:

1. 611 pounds of cement

2. 1450 pounds of sand

3. 1600 pounds of stone

4. 33- 35 gallons of water

As you can see a little more cement and a little less sand is required to produce this stronger concrete mix that is great for driveways, pooldecks, sidewalks, exterior patios, and commercial garages.

Knowing the weight of the materials and how much water to use should help you determine how much cement, sand, and stone to purchase to complete your project.

For estimating purposes, you can make about 1 cubic yard of concrete with 5 1/2 94-pound bags of cement, 17 cubic feet of sand, and 18 cubic feet of gravel. (It takes about forty 80-pound bags of prepackaged materials to make 1 cubic yard of concrete.)

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