Whether new pours or existing ones, scoring is a terrific technique that will instantly update the look of concrete surfaces. Basically, scoring concrete is the process of making permanent shallow etches or ridges in a concrete foundation. These markings can be custom and artistic, or standard and geometric, and they give concrete surfaces the look of tile or pavers.
This is a cost-effective alternative to these higher end materials. Not only are higher end materials more expensive, they are more of a challenge to clean and maintain, and they take much longer to install. Scored concrete is a fantastic solution to enhancing the look of concrete on a budget. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of this trendy paving option.
Commercial Concrete Paving 317-549-1833
Scoring Concrete
Although numerous tools and equipment can be used to score
concrete, the most common include power saws, grinders, diamond plated blades,
and chisels. Chiseling is primarily used to achieve a more rustic and weathered
look, whereas diamond cutting will render smooth, precise lines.
Benefits of Scored Concrete
One of the most revered benefits of scored concrete is the
lack of invasive construction. There is no need to tear out the slab of
concrete, mix together a solution, re-pour, and cure. Instead, the surface of
the existing concrete is altered to give it a brand new appearance without all
the demolition. This is also very environmentally-friendly! And as for
maintenance, occasional sweeping and sealing is all it needs.
Trusted Paving Installation in Indianapolis
Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for commercial and municipal concrete paving services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our licensed and qualified paving contractors provide several Indianapolis asphalt and concrete paving services, including pavement repair, sealcoating, road work, commercial paving, industrial paving, winter cold patching, and more. We are the industry veterans to trust for skilled craftsmanship and competitive prices! Request a free estimate, today.
Let’s get right to the answer of the classic paving
question, “When is the right time of year to install new pavement?” Well, as
with any property remodel or construction project, the best times of year to
carry them out is when the weather is mild and warm. Primarily, late spring and
summer are the most effectual times to pave, however, a warm fall can also be a
good time for such projects. Here in Indiana, we can our summers sometimes
extend far into September, giving us a Fall October and November, which can
make the weather acceptable for pavement work.
Continue reading to learn how weather affects paving work,
and when you should have your pavement repairs and installation done this year.
Indianapolis Commercial Paving 317-549-1833
Temperatures for Asphalt Paving
When it comes to paving asphalt, summer is a good time to
implement any needed work, including crack filling, pothole repair, overlays,
and full-on replacements. This is because an asphalt job renders the best
results in temperatures that average around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Mid-summer
is usually the best time for these temperature averages, since August can be
too hot and June too rainy.
Winter Cold Patching
If you must have your asphalt pavement worked on in colder weather, it can still be done so long as you hire a reputable and skilled paving company that retains the proper knowledge and resources to do so, correctly. The process of repairing potholes and other surface defects in asphalt is generally performed during warmer seasons because a hot mix product is used to fill in gaps and openings in damaged pavements.
However, with winter cold patching, it is possible to make emergency asphalt repairs in the winter. Also known as cold tar patching, this method of asphalt pothole repair works well in colder temperatures because the actual product is designed with special polymers that render it ready-to-use at all times.
Rainy Weather Conditions
Paving and rain do not go well together. It is not recommended to wait until there is clear weather conditions for an extended period of time on the calendar, before beginning any pavement work. In order for pavement, both concrete and asphalt, to cure properly, the conditions must be free of precipitation. Although a light sprinkle won’t hurt, moderate to heavy rains, or continuous light showers, can jeopardize the structural integrity of paving work, and ultimately, the outer appearance as well. See our blog, “Will Rain Affect My Newly Laid Asphalt?” to learn more.
Who to Trust for Expert Paving in Indianapolis
Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for Indianapolis pavement repair and sealcoating services you can trust. Our team of paving contractors are licensed, bonded, and insured, and have decades of combined hands-on experience in the road construction and design industry. We provide paving services for both asphalt and concrete. Request a free estimate, today.
Although it doesn’t seem right that something as solid and firm as
concrete can crack, but unfortunately, it does, and can do so very quickly
under particular conditions and circumstances. This is an issue that thousands
of home and property owners all across the nation are dealing with every day. You
see, concrete deterioration is all too common, and the thought of wasted money on
premature concrete repair scares property owners. Fortunately, there are plenty
of things you can do to abate pavement deterioration, all of which can be
implemented this spring!
But first, continue reading to learn why concrete cracks, what
might be the reason behind your particular concrete woes, and what you can do
about it all!
Indianapolis Commercial Paving 317-549-1833
Concrete Paving
Many questions start to arise once a contractor or customer
notices cracks and crevices in their newly paved concrete foundation. They
wonder if the concrete technician added too much water to the mix; or if the
sand content was too high. Was fiber or wire mesh installed? Were the saw cuts
placed correctly? Although it is easy to
blame the contractor that installed the concrete, they are not always the root
of the problem. There are natural
circumstances beyond our control that can cause pavement to crack.
Surprisingly, the main culprits behind self-destructing pavements have to do
with cold weather and hot weather.
Freezing Temperatures
In the northern parts of the nation, freeze and thaw cycles are
the most common reasons behind cracked concrete pavement. This cycle begins
when water inside the ground freezes from cold temperatures; and when water
freezes it turns into ice and expands. This increase in mass can cause the
ground to rise or shift, causing anything above it to do the same. If concrete
pavement lies above a frozen and lifted ground, the concrete is likely to be
implicated as well.
When seasons change and the ice melts, pavements are shifted and
moved again because there is a void where solid ice once existed. This results
in more cracking and damage. There is not much a property owner can do to prevent
natural occurrences like this; however, in order to prevent a freeze thaw cycle
issue, wait until spring and summer to install new concrete. This way it has
time to strengthen and solidify before harsh weather can cause its
deterioration.
Extreme Heat
In contrast to freezing temperatures, concrete can also crack in
extreme heat. In the south and coastal regions of the United States, it is
common for pavement to rupture from extended sun exposure and heat. Just as ice
expands within the ground, heat causes concrete to expand and move as if it
were baking in the sun. Once the sun or temperatures go down, the concrete
retreats back to its normal state. This consistent expansion and decreasing in
size can make pavement more susceptible and vulnerable to cracks, crumbling,
and deep crevices.
The fact that concrete is moving and shifting is the damaging factor; not the magnitude or weight of the damage. In order to prevent natural occurrences and weather from damaging your newly paved concrete, be sure to discuss the best times to install new pavement. Always use a reputable and licensed paving company that can answer your questions about concrete installation, or concrete repair and protection, as they are the industry experts that can deliver precision concrete placement you can trust.
Trusted Concrete Repair in Indianapolis
Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for commercial paving services in Indianapolis and its surrounding areas. Our licensed and qualified paving contractors provide a wide range of concrete and asphalt repair and installation services at the most competitive prices in town. Request a free estimate, today.
Ultra-high performance concrete, or UHPC, is a new class of superior-performing concrete paving material. It is also known as reactive powder concrete, or RPC for short. This version of concrete is strong and ductile, delivering compressive strengths up to 29,000 pounds psi (per square inch), and flexural strengths up to seven thousand psi. It is primarily formulated by combining a list of powders, superplasticizers, organic materials, and more. The most common constituents include varying ratios of water, cement, quartz flour, silica fume, fine silica sand, high-range water reducer, and organic or steel fibers.
Indianapolis Concrete Pavers 317-549-1833
UHPC Benefits
When procuring UHPC, you will generally get them in a pre-blended bag of all the above-mentioned materials, excluding the water of course. It is commonly sought-after for its capacity to distort and support flexile and tensile loads, even after its early age cracking phase. These qualities and more make construction applications simpler by eliminating the need of steel reinforcements, and because ultra-high performance concrete has the capacity to nearly self-place or dry cast.
So what makes ultra-high performance concrete so useful and effective? It’s the combination of fine powders (no larger than 600 micrometers per grain) and the induced chemical reaction. As a result, UHPC renders a small, disconnected pore structure with ultimate compactness.
UHPC Applications
The most common modern-day applications for UHPC include the construction of bridges (bridge girders, decks, piles, etc.), building facades, marine anchors, piers, seismic columns and structures, highway infrastructure, wind turbine towers, reinforcement connectors (bridges, buildings, etc.), and much more.
Indianapolis Concrete Pavers
Asphalt & Concrete Pavers 317-549-1833
Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete Inc. at 317-549-1833 for professional concrete installation and repair in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner Lindsey Lewis, and his team of licensed and insured pavers, provide a wide range of paving services for commercial, industrial, and municipal properties. Call 317-549-1833 to request a quote from one of our esteemed Indianapolis concrete pavers, today.
Cracks in concrete are a very common occurrence, but more often than not, misjudged. In fact, the American Concrete Institute (ACI) acknowledges this issue by stating that it is unrealistic to expect crack-free concrete, and normal to expect some degree of cracking, despite the quality of product and installation. The only method of crack prevention is to use certain paving strategies to control the cracking. And although not all concrete cracks can’t be entirely controlled, all can be explained.
Continue reading to learn some common, and overlooked, causes behind concrete cracks, and some methods that professional pavers use to prevent excessive cracking in concrete.
Indianapolis Concrete Repair 317-549-1833
Cracks in Concrete
A professional paving team will use special tools and strategies to stop concrete from cracking excessively. This includes proper sub-grade preparation, accurate water-to-material mix ratio, and fashioning reinforcement in the proper places. For this reason, it is vital to choose an experienced and reputable concrete repair service that can provide quality results you can trust. But keep in mind that concrete cracks can happen despite of everything else. Here are some reasons why:
Shrinkage
One of the most common reasons for cracks to appear in newly-paved concrete is plastic shrinkage. When concrete is still soft, and not yet hardened, it is in its plastic state. This is when the concrete is still full of water. And since water takes up space, it makes the concrete slab a certain size and shape. But as the concrete cures, and leaves its plastic state, the water inside begins to evaporate. This can cause the concrete to slightly shrink.
Concrete is rigid, so the shrinkage causes a lot of stress on the concrete slab. As it moves along the granular sub-grade, it can cause the slabs to move apart from each other. And when the stress gets to be too much, cracks will appear to relieve tension. All of this is exaggerated in hotter climates and weather.
When installed properly, these inevitable cracks are hairline fissures, and barely visible. But if the installation and mixing process is done inadequately, the cracks will be larger and more abundant. One example is mixing the concrete improperly by making it too wet. It is important to get the right water-to-mix ratio to ensure less cracking. It is common for under-qualified pavers to mix concrete with more water because it is easier to install and finish, especially in hot temperatures. Although a few extra gallons won’t have much effect, too much water can create weaker pavement and larger cracks.
Expansion
When concrete is exposed to hot weather, it expands as it increases in temperature. Cracking occurs when the concrete slab expands to an obstruction point that it cannot pass, such as a curb, brick wall, or even another concrete slab. Professional pavers know to use expansion joints to help control the amount of cracking in concrete. An expansion joint is simply a point of separation between two static surfaces. Also called isolation joints, these points of separation are filled with a type of compressible material that provides adequate shock absorption. This allows a little room for concrete to expand, thus reducing the amount of cracking.
Heaving
Heaving is another common cause behind concrete cracks. It occurs when concrete slabs, like sidewalks, experience a series of freeze/thaw cycles. The repetition of frozen and thawed states causes concrete to shrink and expand multiple times. This results in the ground beneath concrete to lift, causing the slab to heave or bow. Slabs can rise several inches, and also be affected by large tree roots.
Round Objects
Drains, sewer covers, and other rounded objects in concrete pavement are common causes for cracks. In the same way that concrete experiences expansion and shrinkage, round objects inhibit concrete from compressing, thus resulting in excessive stress on the slab. This creates cracks in the concrete.
Professional pavers will constructively incorporate control joints concrete slabs. These are contraction joints that give concrete a designated place to crack when shrinkage or expansion occurs. Instead of cracking randomly through the slab, the concrete will crack exactly on the control joints.
Commercial Concrete Repair and Paving in Indianapolis
Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for professional concrete repair in Indianapolis and its surrounding areas. Our licensed road construction contractors provide a wide range of asphalt and concrete work for commercial and industrial properties, including inspections, installation, replacement, repair, and more. We also offer free estimates and consultations, flexible scheduling, references upon request, and more. Best of all, our work is backed by our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, so you can rest assure that your investment is sound. Request a free quote, today.
Concrete patios are known to experience a strange, distinctive type of damage in the wintertime; a kind of damage that leave property owners completely puzzled. Although there is no technical name to describe this unique concrete damage that shows up every winter, many people describe the effect as “pop outs” or popped cracks. These areas of damaged concrete are about the size of a quarter, and appear as if they have risen or been pushed up from underneath, separating the concrete from its original surface level.
These pop outs can be very frustrating for property owners being that they are just as unsightly as they are costly to repair. Fortunately there are ways to prevent such damage to concrete patios and foundations, however, they do require a bit of time and money. The best way to prevent concrete damage is to provide regular maintenance and ensure the installation process is done correctly.
Continue reading to learn the causes behind concrete pop outs and how to manage them.
Commercial Concrete Paving 317-549-1833
Concrete Damage and Repair
Concrete pop outs occur on driveways, sidewalks, patios, porches and more, generally as a result of freezing temperatures and winter precipitation, like snow, ice and rain. When concrete freezes, water inside the pores freezes and thaws, expanding the aggregate material and popping it out through the surface of the concrete. This is caused by snow and ice, and the melting of both. When pavers use moderately porous aggregate material to make concrete, this kind of damage is more likely to occur. The most porous the concrete, the more vulnerable it will be to water freeze and thaw cycles.
Although pop out damage doesn’t affect the structural integrity of the concrete foundation, it is unsightly in an aesthetic sense, which is very important for commercial properties; especially those that provide a service. For this reason, it is common for property owners to outsource concrete repair services. Concrete repair companies are a fast and cost-effective approach to patch up concrete pop outs or repave concrete foundations. They retain the proper tools, training, and equipment to accurately repair concrete in a time frame that is convenient for everyone.
Commercial Concrete Paving Services in Indianapolis
Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for commercial concrete pavement repair services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our licensed road construction contractors provide a wide range of asphalt and concrete work for commercial and industrial properties, including inspections, installation, replacement, repair, and more. We also offer free estimates and consultations, flexible scheduling, references upon request, and more. Best of all, our work is backed by our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, so you can rest assure that your investment is sound. Request a free quote, today.
Before concrete polishing innovation, concrete was drab, matte, and almost always grey. But now that we have products, equipment, and knowledge to polish concrete, these surfaces have never looked so amazing. In fact, concrete is becoming more and more popular for residential properties too. This is because concrete polishing gives home and property owners options in color, shade, grade, texture, style, and more! Not only does polished concrete offer a variety of looks, it is easy to clean and maintenance too!
Continue reading to learn more about polishing concrete and the benefits it offers residential and commercial properties.
Indianapolis Commercial Paving 317-549-1833
Polished Concrete
Polished concrete is treated concrete that looks glossy and retains a constant and brilliant shine. Before, concrete was solely used for constructing foundations in homes and buildings; but now with the new polishing technology, concrete can serve multiple purposes and be used as an alternative flooring option.
Instead of traditional carpeting, laminate, hardwood, linoleum, or tile flooring, polished concrete is a new option that might better provide the look and feel you are looking for. This is because its patterns and colors can be customized just the way you like! In fact, polished concrete can imitate other flooring types, like tile or stone. You can even install it for outdoor or patio purposes too!
Polishing and grinding machines are used to achieve these effects for concrete. It is very similar to sanding wood, but instead, it is concrete that is being buffed and shined. And with acid-staining technology, customizing the colors, patterns, and effects is easy! So long as new concrete has had at least 28 days to manicure and mature, it is ready for polishing.
If you wish to polish existing concrete, it must first be thoroughly washed, rinsed, and dried. Dirt, grease stains, and other surface imperfections and contaminants must be removed for optimal results. If existing concrete is uneven or very porous, it has to first be resurfaced, and then properly cleaned.
Top Benefits of Concrete Polishing:
☑ Non-Slip Flooring ☑ Dirt-Resistant ☑ Easy to Clean and Maintenance ☑ DIY Products and Options ☑ No Need for Seal Coating and Waxing ☑ Can Be Used for Countertops Too!
Once polished concrete is lain, dried, and completely finished, owners can enjoy less maintenance and easy cleaning. A damp mop and dry broom are all you need to clean and maintain this floor type. Outsource a professional concrete repair service for any damages that occur after. They can also provide concrete polishing services.
Commercial Concrete Paving and Repair in Indianapolis
Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for commercial concrete pavement service in Indianapolis and its surrounding areas. Our licensed and qualified paving contractors provide a wide range of asphalt and concrete pavement repair and installation services at the most competitive prices in town, including crack filling, overlays, resurfacing, and sealcoating. Request a free estimate, today!
