Daytona Beach Concrete Contractor – Experience Residential & Commercial Experts

Is cement the same as concrete? The terms are often used interchangeably but there is a difference between the compounds. Cement is the active ingredient in concrete. It is made from clay, rock, limestone, iron ore, and other mined materials. These materials are heated at very high temperatures in a kiln. The generic name for the cement that is used in most concrete products is portland cement. There are other types of cement that are manufactured to address different chemical or physical conditions in the environment as well. Concrete is ultimately the combination of aggregates such as sand, stone, or gravel that is combined with a paste containing cement and water. The aggregates make up about 75-80% of the concrete mix and the cement mix comprises the remaining volume. The water is what activates the cement to harden or set the concrete.

Are there different types of concrete? Yes, there are four broad categories of concrete including: 

1. Ready-Mixed Concrete: This is the most common form of concrete. Simply add water and mix it together. Ready-mixed concrete is the form of concrete that is delivered in those revolving drum trucks that all the little kids love. 
2. Precast Concrete: This is the type of concrete that is used for concrete masonry (building with concrete bricks), pavers, bridges, and other precast (i.e., cast in a factory) structural applications. Precast concrete is great for customizing your construction project because of the breadth of textures, colors, and shapes that are manufactured. 
3. Advanced Concrete Products: Products such as countertops and roof tiles, which include aggregates beyond those in standard concrete products. 
4. Related Cement-Based materials: These products are related to concrete in that they share many of the same qualities but are used for different purposes. Products may include terrazzo, tile-grout, mortar and soil-cement. 

Does concrete reduce our carbon footprint? All human-made materials add to the carbon footprint to some extent, but concrete possesses qualities that lessen the impact over time. Concrete structures stand the test of time, and they will not need to be rebuilt prematurely due to wear and tear if they are properly maintained. Concrete is low maintenance leading to less materials being used over time as well as cost savings. The thermal properties of concrete also help to slow down heat loss in the winter months and cooling loss in the summer months. 

How does concrete hold up against extreme weather events? As extreme weather events become more frequent and costly, this is a question on the minds of home and business owners. Concrete is among the best building materials to protect against extreme weather events and most importantly one of the safest construction materials to provide shelter during a storm or disaster. It holds up very well to fire because it is non-combustible, maximizing the time you and your family or coworkers have to get to safety.  

How comfortable will concrete make my living or working space? Concrete is a beautiful material that will upgrade any residential or commercial space. It has been shown to improve air quality and reduce noise transfer by acting as a sound barrier. Have you ever heard of a pest that eats concrete? Nope. Concrete is more difficult for pests to penetrate than wood and other building materials. Concrete also improves energy efficiency and results in more consistent temperatures in your building or home. Decorative design options can create any kind of ambiance you can think of. 

How much do concrete services in Daytona Beach cost? This really depends on the scope and breadth of your project. Obviously, the cost of a concrete foundation is going to differ significantly from the cost of a concrete patio, but the costs can also differ within similar projects depending on all the variables of the project. To give you an idea, the average cost of a concrete patio Daytona Beach typically ranges from $1,800-$3,600. The average cost of a concrete foundation is about $10,000 but has a wide range due to the many factors that are involved.  The average cost of a concrete driveway in Daytona Beach is about $2,500-$6,000. We encourage you to obtain an estimate from more than one concrete company. A word of caution though, if one of your bids is significantly lower than the others, you should ask yourself why. Dealing with the reasons a concrete company is so much cheaper than the others is usually not worth what you will save. Is that company licensed, insured, efficient, experienced? Do they have a full crew? Are they paying enough to retain highly skilled workers? How is their reputation? Sometimes the cost savings aren’t worth the headaches that are created by poor communication, customer service, or quality. We are confident that we will provide competitive pricing and we are certain that we will exceed your expectations.

What is a concrete joint? A joint is a separation that is purposely put into a surface or structure to allow for movement in the concrete. It is also intended to relieve stress from the weight that the concrete is supporting. Ultimately, joints are intended to prevent cracks that can result from weather changes, settlement, and expansion or contraction.  There are many different types of joints that are used depending on the nature of the project.  For example, expansion joints are intended to allow for the expansion of the concrete and are typically used for large concrete slabs. Isolation joints are often placed between sections of a building to prevent cracking due to movement. Control joints are strategically placed to encourage cracking in a predetermined spot of the concrete. There are several other types of joints as well.