An understanding of concrete frequently asked questions is a must for those planning on constructing their own home. You will find that there are numerous questions to be answered in the initial stages of your construction when you decide upon the shape, size, and color of your building.
You will have to identify the various types of concrete that you can use, depending upon your budget, whether you wish to use water, liquid or gas cement, how much reinforcement you require and what type of weather you want to achieve with your project. Even if you are a seasoned professional and have been working with concrete for many years, it is imperative that you understand the basic principles of concrete so that you can maximize your energy in the construction process.
Concrete, or a form of natural stone, is a complex and complicated system of stones bonded together with various chemicals to form a tough, weather-resistant, fireproof and aesthetically pleasing material. A firm mix of two parts cement and one part water or other liquids may be required depending upon the characteristics of the substance you have chosen to use for your home.
If you do not have water to mix with the cement you have chosen, your choice of concrete will be water, however, if you do not have any chemicals or liquids of other kinds mix with your concrete, it will be available in some form or liquid form, this might include white glue, water or any other solvent. Each of these provides a different set of benefits and it is up to you to make the most appropriate choice.
It is recommended that you contact a plasterer who is familiar with the chemical composition of your chosen concrete. The reason for this is that you do not want to deal with an inexperienced contractor who might incorrectly mix your concrete, damaging it and leaving you with a home that is either unsightly or doesn’t have the proper strength.
The acidity or alkalinity of your concrete is another critical consideration. This is a property of the concrete that refers to the pH value and it is found in the types of chemical bonding or hydration that is involved in cementing concrete together.
Water should be neutralized to avoid hardening or softening, hence, it must be chemically treated to create a compound of alkaline or neutral nature. For this reason, a useful word to describe the element of water is alkaline, this is because this is the most common acidic element of our environment.
This is why it is important to try and arrive at an ideal concrete mix that maximizes the strength and durability of your concrete. All the ingredients will have different reactivity to varying temperatures and other elements of the environment that you can expect to live in, it is, therefore, best to choose a mix that will withstand the changing environment.
Water, for example, requires heating up before it can become powerful enough to transform into solid concrete. Since different materials react differently to heat, the best approach is to select a water/cement mix that is basically a mixture of both together.
As a result, the likely result of your chosen concrete is likely to be a mixture of two components that contain 40% water and 60% cement. What is important is that this is the least disruptive component of your mixture, which will maximize the strength and toughness of your concrete and ensure that it is good for your home for many years to come.
As you can see, there are several questions to be answered when it comes to deciding whether to use concrete or something else for your project. Remember, this decision is one that will affect your house and the type of people you will want to live there for many years to come, so there is no point making an unnecessary choice that could result in a home that is a loss to you.