Insight To Help You Order And Complete Your Concrete Project

Concrete work is a fundamental part of foundations and slab installation for adding to your property's improvements. When you plan to work with concrete, there are some rules and guidelines to make sure you get the best results from all your hard work. Here are some ordering and preparation tips to help you plan for and complete your next concrete installation project.

Order the Right Concrete 

When you are ready to order some premixed concrete from your local supplier, you will need to request the right strength of concrete depending on the project you are using it for. Some concrete needs to be a stronger mixture than others so it will cure at a greater strength. For example, if you are pouring a foundation for a garage, home, or a shed, you will need a stronger mixture than if you were to be pouring concrete for a patio or sidewalk. 

Talk to your ordering specialist when you place your concrete order. They may ask you what the concrete is to be used for so they can know what mixture ratio to use. For example, a traditional standard mixture of concrete would be mixed with one part cement, two parts sand, and three to four parts aggregate gravel. For a stronger concrete mix, the sand and aggregate would increase slightly when they mix the product at their plant to include one part cement to three parts sand and six parts aggregate gravel.

Consider the Weather Conditions

When you order your concrete, you will also need to account for the weather conditions expected during the delivery day and its installation. When the weather is hot and dry, it can cause more of the water in the mixture to evaporate before the concrete can cure. For this reason, your concrete supplier can adjust the water content to be slightly more than the traditional mixture to allow for some evaporation once it is poured and leveled. Similarly, when you plan to pour the concrete in weather that is rainy and humid, they can add slightly less water to the mixture and also mix in additives to help the concrete cure well, especially if the temperature is expected to fall to a colder level. 

Your concrete needs to complete its chemical reaction to come to a full cure, especially over the first few days after its installation. If a proper cure is not reached because the temperatures are affecting its chemical reaction, you will end up with a weak concrete. Ideal temperatures for concrete pouring are between 40 and 60 degrees F. Any colder or warmer than these temperatures will affect the cure and your concrete professional will need to make adjustments in the mixture.

For more information, reach out to a company like Southport Concrete Corp.