Any loose, particulate materials, such as sand, gravel, or pebbles, added to a cementing agent to make concrete.
Gravel applied and compacted prior to pouring concrete. Material used to stabilize the area which the concrete is to be installed.
Surface texture obtained by pushing a broom over freshly placed concrete, givivg the surface traction.
A decorative surface formed by removing the surface mortar from concrete slab (either by scrubbing, pressure washing, abrasive blasting) to expose the underlying aggregates.
Tiny filaments made of polypropylene, polyolefin, nylon, polyethylene, polyester, or acrylic used to control shrinkage cracking. Fibers do not provide structural reinforcement.
Concrete flatwork that os patterned with platform tools, stamping mats, or seamless texturing skins to resemble materials such as brick, slate, stone, tiles and wood planking.
Expansion Joints (Control Joints)
Engineering a gap in concrete to allow for thermal expansion. A joint between two parts of a structure, permitting expansion, as from heating or cooling, without creating structural damage. Expansion joints are planned-for-cracks which allow for movements caused by temperature changes and drying shrinkage. In other words, if the concrete does crack-you want to have an active role in deciding where it will crack and that it will crack in a straight line instead of randomly.
Re-bar (or Reinforcing Bars)
Ribbed steels bars installed in concrete as primary reinforcements to provide flexural strength. Rebar comes in various diameters and strength grades. Using steel reinforcements will provide additional structural capacity for your driveway and is especially important if the slab will be exposed to heavy traffic. Reinforcements wont’t prevent cracks, but it will help hold them together if they do occur.
Wood or plastic used to shape and hold concrete in place until curing from a liquid to solid state occurs.
Pounds Per Square Inch (PSI)
It is the pressure resulting from a force of one pound-force applied to an area of one inch. Often considered the true strength of your concrete. Also, a measurements of the amount of cement versus the amounts of aggregate and water in one yard of concrete.
Concrete that has been enhanced by color, pattern, texture, or a combination or ornamental treatments.
The process by which the looseness of a given form of sediment is decreased as a result of it being pressed together by mechanical means.
Richly colored natural stones, such as basalts, granite, quarts, or limestone, used to enhance exposed aggregate concrete or decorative toppings.
Leveling, smoothing, compacting, and otherwise treating the surface of newly placed concrete to produce the desired appearance and service properties.