Concrete pumping is the most efficient and reliable methods of placing concrete. In some cases, it can be the only mean of getting concrete into specific areas. Many builders would agree that concrete pumping is the fastest and most convenient method of concrete placement. Concrete pumps and other necessary equipment are very accessible and can be acquired from service contractors. There are many construction scenarios where ready-mix trucks are not able to access the work site.
If you need to place concrete in an enclosed building, you will need to find a way to move the concrete to the area of placement from the mixer or truck mixer. Because concrete hardens at a quick rate, you will need to move the concrete to the placement point in a timely manner. This can get very inconvenient especially if the source of the concrete is too far from the area. This construction struggle has lead to the idea of concrete pumping. Concrete pumps are machines used for transferring freshly mixed concrete through pumping. Typically, concrete pumps are attached to concrete mixer trucks where the concrete comes from.
Larger-diameter pipelines require less pumping pressure than smaller-diameter pipes. However, there are disadvantages to using the larger conduits, such as increased blocking, bracing and labor needed. Regarding the concrete mix in relation to line diameter, the maximum size of aggregate should be no larger than one-third of the diameter of the line, according to ACI standards. If you want to read the entire article, just visit https://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/concrete_pumping/.
In some countries, concrete pumping is considered a standard method of concrete placement, especially in cold areas. Concrete quickly freezes when exposed to cold weather which is why it should be contained until poured in the placement area. In places with very cold weather, the standard pumping may even cause some freezing problems. The best way to avoid freezing inside the pumps is to mix the concrete with hot water.
Another way to keep the pipeline from freezing is to pre-heat the boom pipeline using the exhaust stack from the unit’s engine. Using an exhaust hose specifically made to withstand high temperatures, the boom operator slips the heat resistant hose over the exhaust pipe and places the other end into the tip hose of the boom – allowing its warm air to flow through the pipeline and exit from the hopper. With this procedure, it is important that airflow has an open pathway for exiting. Without an open path, the hot air from the exhaust will be forced backward and create excessive back pressure on the engine of the truck. Learn more about concrete pumping through this website.
The construction methods in modern times are far more efficient and convenient than ever before. Other than that, the safety of the workers has also been optimized with recent innovations in the construction industry. Renting concrete pumps is available in many areas from established contractors. If you want a quick and easy way of pouring concrete, you should consider getting concrete pumping services.
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| Do Concrete Patios Crack? | Concrete is good for warm climate landscapes that do not experience the extreme freeze-thaw of the northern states, which is the cause of uncontrollable cracking. Chris Major of Blue Ridge Landscaping in Holland, Michigan says, “Concrete is great and cheaper at the start, but it cracks.” Trust a Michigan landscaper to be forthright about the problem that does and always has afflicted concrete patios. The radical pressures of freeze-thaw make this a problem in the north, but other factors can lead to cracking too.Virginia marl is a unique soil condition that afflicts projects by Adam Heath at Mid Atlantic Enterprise. “Marl makes our soils unstable, causing big problems with paving. This is a mushy organic soil composed of silt and sediment that is very expansive. You literally can’t build on it. We have to excavate all our patio spaces to remove all the marl then backfill it with specific crushed stone to obtain the solid compaction we need.”
Similar problems are experienced by Matt Schmuke of Arcadia Design Group. “In Colorado you’re guaranteed that a slab will crack. Plasticity of the clay soil is the problem. With pavers we have an infinite number of joints so you’ll never see a crack.” Read more: https://www.landscapingnetwork.com/patios/concrete.html. |
| Concrete Sealer Pros and Cons |  There are two ways to use sealers on your concrete patio. One is as a standalone sealer over bare concrete. The other is to use the sealer on top of a concrete stain or paint, says Kerri Schlenker, Rust-Oleum brand manager for high performance coatings. “A stain isn’t going to offer protection, only color, so the sealer over it would protect the color and the concrete in general, ” she says.Sealers that are film-forming (meaning they leave a sheen on the surface) come in two types — solvent-based and water-based. According to ChemMasters, a manufacturer of concrete coatings, solvent-based sealers are high gloss and darken concrete, while water-based sealers are low gloss with minimal darkening and/or color change.
If you’d like stain protection from food, fire/water features or flower pots and planters, choose a film-forming sealer. However, one drawback is because these sealers form a film, they may create a slippery surface on the concrete. Consider them for stamped concrete and broom-finished concrete patios. And to prevent the sealer from yellowing your concrete due to excessive UV exposure, look for a film-forming sealer with UV stable resin. A second class of sealer is known as a penetrating sealer, or a water-repellent sealer. This type seeps into the concrete surface and is best for smooth concrete and broom-finished concrete. Penetrating sealers will offer freeze/thaw protection and, of course, prevent water absorption, but do not offer stain protection. Penetrating sealers give a matte finish to concrete and do not add slippage to the surface. Both film-forming and water-based sealers come in acrylic and epoxy varieties. Generally, epoxy sealers are applied to extremely high-traffic areas and to prevent chemical spills because they offer excellent protection. Acrylic sealers are often used to block water penetration for residential applications and decorative concrete. Keep in mind that applying any solvent-based sealer will require chemical clean-up, while water-based are easier to clean with soap and water. Choosing which type can be a tradeoff between long-term maintenance and ease of application. Schlenker says that the “easiest product to use and apply is water- or latex-based, but an oil-based or solvent-based [product] will last longer over time, requiring less maintenance.” |