Concrete Installation Project Recommendations for a Successful Property Addition
Installing concrete in your yard can be a big task. You usually only have one chance in which you can pour and smooth it properly. A problematic concrete installation can leave you with a cured slab that you need to demolish and haul away before you can start over again with a fresh mixture. Because you want to get your concrete project just right, here are some installation tips to make sure your concrete project is successful and goes smoothly.
Know Your Concrete Needs
Planning to pour concrete into your yard? Whether it is for a large concrete slab for a driveway, shed foundation, or for curbing around your landscaping, you need to make sure you can order or buy the right amount. If you plan to do a smaller job or a project where you will need small individual batches, you can usually get by with mixing up your own concrete from bags of premixed product. However, if you plan to pour a bigger concrete project, an order of premixed wet concrete is a great way to ensure success with your project.
When you order a delivery of premixed concrete, the concrete company will need to know how much you need in yards, which is based on the size and thickness of your installation. If you want to install concrete curbing, for example, calculate your needs in square feet, then you can divide it into yardage to get an accurate amount.
Round up a bit on your concrete order to make sure you don't short yourself. It is better to have a little bit too much concrete than not enough and you end up with a section of concrete curbing forms that are left empty and which you will need to finish on your own. Adding in a separate concrete mixture to a set concrete can promote lifting and cracking of the concrete product, especially if the mixtures are combined with differing amounts of water.
Pour the Delivered Concrete
When your concrete delivery arrives in a concrete truck, it will be mixed and ready for you to pour it into its forms. Have the site prepared with any excavation completed and the forms set properly. If you need to moisten the area with water to prevent too much evaporation occurring to your concrete mix, mist the area down with your garden hose. Keep the hose handy and ready if you need to reapply more mist. Working in a hot and dry environment can affect the quality and proper cure of your concrete mix, so be sure to keep this in mind.
Also, have plenty of help on hand to pour, level, and smooth the concrete. If you need to move the concrete to a difficult-to-reach site, have a couple of wheelbarrows to ensure you can move it there easily. Otherwise, ask your concrete contractor about using concrete chutes or pumps. Speak to companies likes Sunny Concrete Services LLC to learn more.