Concrete Contractor

Concrete is one of the most popular construction material. It is the material of choice for building walls, paving roads, floors, building foundations, and other structures. Concrete is commonly used mainly because it is quite affordable, durable, and quite easy to maintain. However, the strength and quality of a concrete construction depend largely on the contractor. For instance, if the concrete foundation of a building is not constructed well from the onset, it can result in costly damages in the future. This is why choosing a seasoned contractor for residential and commercial concrete projects is super important.

Site preparation for concrete works

This is one of the fundamental steps in any type of concrete work. There are various steps that may be involved in site prep for concrete projects. This includes site excavation and back-filling. Also, shrubs and rocks in the construction site have to be removed and the ground must be compacted and graded to ensure that it can support the structure that will be built on it. Poor ground prep practices can lead to settling, buckling, and other structural problems in the future. A good number of concrete contractors carry out their site preparation. But some companies require the services of sub-contractors to prepare the construction site.

Concrete formwork

One of the most endearing qualities of concrete is the fact that it can be poured into a variety of shapes based on the building construction designs. For most projects, what determines the shape and structure of the concrete installation is the formwork which is carried out to create the mold in which the concrete is poured. The concrete mold holds it in place until the concrete mixture hardens. Concrete forms may be permanent or temporary and can be made of various materials including plastic, wood, or metal. At Erie Construction Pros, we speed up this stage of the process using a formwork prefabrication process. This also makes the process cheaper, less expensive, and less wasteful in the long run.

Pouring the concrete

With the ground adequately prepared and the formwork completed, the concrete can then be poured into the prepared form. The concrete is mixed based on the project requirements. The concrete mixture may be poured directly into the form by the mix truck if the site is easily accessible or poured into wheelbarrows or concrete pumps and moved to the desired site. The concrete crew then spreads and move the concrete through the form using shovels, and special concrete rakes (come along)

Concrete finishing

Once the concrete pouring process has been completed, large metal or wooden board is used to compact and consolidate the concrete. In many cases, screeding is then preceded by floating for more detailed work and to create a smooth and even finish. Some decorative work may also be included in concrete finishing depending on the type of project. This may include adding dyes with the desired colors or stamping the concrete surface to create the desired texture and patterns in the case of stamped concrete