Meadows Concrete Construction

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Few driveway paving materials can match concrete when it comes to sustainability and conserving the environment. Below are some of the top reasons why.

1) They are made with renewable resources.
Unlike asphalt pavements that are made with nonrenewable petroleum supplies, concrete pavements are made from abundant, sustainable resources including water, natural rock and sand, and cement. The predominant raw material for the cement in concrete is limestone, the most abundant mineral on earth.

2) They can utilize recycled and waste materials.
Your ready-mix supplier can also make the concrete for your driveway using waste byproducts, which reduces the consumption of raw materials and keeps waste out of landfills. Fly ash, ground blast furnace slag and silica fume—all byproducts from power plants, steel mills and other industrial processes—are commonly used as partial cement replacements. You can also use recycled aggregates in the concrete mix and reinforcing steel that has a high recycled content.

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At Meadows Concrete Construction Inc., we pride ourselves in being a full service flatwork contractor. Our crews are skilled and organized to perform a variety of work varying in any size. In todays market, price is an important factor but not the only factor that’s why we provide a quality service at a competitive price. We have worked for homeowners, general contractors, home builders and commercial contractors. We have a complete repair division for the removal and replacement of concrete including a qualified service man for patching needs.

We customize our services to accommodate our client’s needs whether it's new construction or a restoration project. We have the experience and team for all of your concrete flatwork needs. We provide our customers professionally installed driveways, patios, sidewalks, stamped and stained concrete and much, much more.

See How A Concrete Project Will Improve Your Home With Deco-Con Software
At Meadows Concrete Construction we offer new customers free pictures of your home with new concrete products in place. What better way to decide on the right concrete look including different patterns and colors before starting. Contact us today to schedule your appointment with one of our project planners.

Colors for Concrete
Davis Colors™ mix into any concrete, transforming it into a new design feature for building and paving projects or to enhance appearance around the home. Davis ColorsTM are strong, durable and last as long as the concrete. There are bold and intense premium colors, standard colors that add less than a dollar per square foot, and subtle shades for any budget. Click the concrete color selector banner to sample available colors for your project.

Reinforcement is required because all concrete cracks, so if you want your cracks to remain small, you'll need reinforcement. Wire mesh, rebar, and fiber in the mix are all commonly used materials. Don’t forget to ask us to include in your project.

In considering price, think first about getting the quality and service you want. Concrete done correctly will last for years-so saving a dollar or two per square foot will not be money saved in the long run if the job is not right.

What is Miracote?
Miracote is a repair & resurfacing product that is applied to existing concrete. It is available in normal gray concrete color or a variety of colors to change things. There are many benefits of applying Miracote to your concrete surface.

Cleaning concrete periodically will extend its service life and enhance its beauty. It can be difficult to tell when concrete is in need of cleaning because the dirt and grime can build up so slowly. However, once the process is done, the results of freshly cleaned concrete are very noticeable. There are multiple ways to clean concrete depending on the type of surface, such as exterior slabs, floors or stamped and decorative concrete. Each requires a different procedure to avoid damaging the surfaces. Call Meadows Concrete Construction Inc today for a maintenance plan to keep your concrete looking great!

Why cure concrete?
Curing serves two main purposes. It retains moisture in the slab so that the concrete continues to gain strength. It delays drying shrinkage until the concrete is strong enough to resist shrinkage cracking. Properly curing concrete improves strength, durability, water tightness, and wear resistance.

How to cure concrete.
Water cure: The concrete is flooded, ponded, or mist sprayed. This is the most effective curing method for preventing mix water evaporation.

Water retaining methods: Use coverings such as sand, canvas, burlap, or straw that are kept continuously wet. The material used must be kept damp during the curing period.

Waterproof paper or plastic film seal: Are applied as soon as the concrete is hard enough to resist surface damage. Plastic films may cause discoloration of the concrete-do not apply to concrete where appearance is important.

Chemical Membranes: The chemical application should be made as soon as the concrete is finished. Note that curing compounds can effect adherence of resilient flooring, your flooring contractor and/or chemical membrane manufacturer should be consulted.

Why Concrete Cracks
One of the most common questions asked by homeowners is about cracks that are developing in newly poured concrete. The homeowner will question why it is cracking and did they receive a shoddy job. When installed properly, concrete is one of the most durable and long lasting products you can use around your home. But it is important that concrete contractors follow well-established guidelines with respect to concrete placement. Durable, high strength, and crack resistant concrete does not happen by accident.

Reason #1 - Excess water in the mix. Concrete does not require much water to achieve maximum strength. But a wide majority of concrete used in residential work has too much water added to the concrete on the job site. This water is added to make the concrete easier to install. This excess water also greatly reduces the strength of the concrete. Shrinkage is a main cause of cracking. As concrete hardens and dries it shrinks. This is due to the evaporation of excess mixing water. The wetter or soupier the concrete mix, the greater the shrinkage will be. Concrete slabs can shrink as much as 1/2 inch per 100 feet. This shrinkage causes forces in the concrete which literally pull the slab apart. Cracks are the end result of these forces.

Reason #2 - Rapid Drying of the concrete. Also, rapid drying of the slab will significantly increase the possibility of cracking. The chemical reaction, which causes concrete to go from the liquid or plastic state to a solid state, requires water. This chemical reaction, or hydration, continues to occur for days and weeks after you pour the concrete. You can make sure that the necessary water is available for this reaction by adequately curing the slab.

Reason #3- Improper strength concrete poured on the job. Concrete is available in many different strengths. Verify what strength the concrete you are pouring should be poured at.

Reason #4 - Lack of control joints. Control joints help concrete crack where you want it to. The joints should be of the depth of the slab and no more than 2-3 times (in feet) of the thickness of the concrete (in inches). So 4"concrete should have joints 8-12' apart.

The ground upon which the concrete will be placed must be compacted. The sub grade must be prepared according to your soil conditions. Some flatwork can be poured right on native grade. In other areas 6"of base fill is required along with steel rebar installed in the slab.

Understand what you contractor is doing about each of these listed items and you will get a good concrete job!