Myths about Concrete

Concrete has been ruling the construction industry for years because of its versatility. The material makes the building stronger and studier. However, there are a few myths that we might have been listening for years. Some of the popular ones are;

1. Concrete is always of a gray color

While constructing a building, there are various levels where you need concrete such as to build walkways, sideways, and other things. many of us believe that concrete is of gray color. Well, it does not always have to end as gray. Mineral colors are available in the market that we can add to the mixture while it’s still wet and blended in to give it a different color when it hardens.

2. You can use acid to strip a concrete sealant

This is by far not true. In fact, acid is a chemical that can severely damage concrete and should not be used to strip any sort of sealant. Instead, a sealant stripper or solvent should be applied.

3. Concrete and cement are the same thing

Though both of the materials are use interchangeably, yet the cement is more defined as an ingredient in the concrete that is used for concrete driveway repair companies. Not only does the concrete composes of cement but with water, aggregates, pastes and additives are also mixed with it.

4. For a durable concrete, needs a compressive strength

The strength of concrete material varies from 2500 psi to 10,000 psi. You may think the strongest concrete is the most durable but that is not true. Although it’s an important characteristic, yet the durability depends on the elements that can break the concrete down. Keep its permeability low to increase its durability.

5. Concrete is impermeable.

Actually, concrete is porous – even the most dense types. This means that water and other substances (whether they’re in liquid form or vapor form) can pass through concrete. How long it takes for them to penetrate the material depends on its density, so water may seep through in just a few minutes or it may take months.

6. You can lay concrete any time of year.

Concrete is a durable material, however, it won’t fully dry unless it’s poured in the right conditions. Laying concrete when the temperature is below freezing or it’s incredibly hot can prevent the mixture from hardening properly. For best results, our concrete paving company suggests doing it in spring or fall.

7. There are dead bodies in the concrete of the Hoover Dam.

Have you ever heard a story where a dam worker falls into the concrete that’s being poured and because he’s unable to get out, the pouring continues and he eventually dies encompassed by concrete? This is simply untrue. While more than 100 people died creating the Hoover Dam, none of them became part of the concrete structure. If this scenario were to happen, it would cause structural issues once the body began decaying.