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Concrete is one of the most common building
materials in the world, used in homes,
commercial buildings, outdoor areas and even roads.
Concrete is made up of cement (the main binding
ingredient), sand, water and aggregate. Aggregate
is simply sands and stone.
Almost all residential homes utilise concrete
in some form, and whether you’re renovating
or building new, engaging the services of a professional
will ensure that your concreting project looks
as good as possible while fulfilling its function.
Types of Concrete
There are several different types of concrete
that are available, with some including:
plain
coloured
stenciled
stamped
spray on patterned concrete
pebblecrete
exposed aggregate
grinded aggregate
polished concrete
Spray on patterned concrete is a concrete coating
that is cement based and can simulate several
different patterns, such as cobblestones, pavers
etc. stenciled concrete is where a cardboard stencil
is laid over existing concrete and a coating painted
or sprayed on in order to give a patterned look.
Stamped concrete gives the concrete a three-dimensional
look and can recreate several different paving
effects. The advantage of all these types of concrete
is that you get a sophisticated paved appearance
without having to worry about the weeds or dirt
that are associated with traditional paved areas.
What type of concrete you choose depends on what
you will be using it for. For example, coloured,
stamped or patterned concrete or exposed or grinded
aggregate can be used for driveways while plain
concrete can be used for walls, footings or foundations.
Polished concrete looks great indoors. Speaking
to a professional will allow you to select the
correct concrete for your project.
Concrete Uses
Concrete can be used almost anywhere in
the home. Some examples are:
foundations and footings in houses, sheds etc
walls
structural elements such as beams
driveways
paths and patios
outdoor entertaining areas
pool surrounds
landscaping
as the floor of a pergola
as paving
What Concretors Do
Concretors perform a variety of tasks including
but not limited to:
mixing sand, cement, water and aggregates on
site to make concrete
using concrete pumps to put concrete into position
putting concrete into formwork, spreading and
levelling it before compacting it (formwork is
simply a mould that is made from timber or steel
to contain the concrete as it dries)
the operation of paving and trowelling machines
polishing concrete
creating different concrete surfaces through the
use of stencils, stamps or hand tools
cutting joints into concrete to allow for expansion
and shrinkage
digging foundation trenches
Selecting a Professional Concretor
There are several things to consider when selecting
a concreting professional. The first is to ensure
that the concretor is licensed and has insurance
(necessary for larger concreting jobs). You should
also ask if the concretor will provide a warranty,
and what the warranty will cover. Some forms of
concrete such as stamped or stenciled concrete
will need to be resealed periodically so check
if your professional is willing to do this for
you. Also gain several quotes before choosing
a concretor and ask for a timeframe so that you
know how long the job is likely to take
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