CD Designs Blog
Concrete Mix Design
The right concrete mix ratio can solve problems or it can create them. What we rely on in a concrete mix is one that is easy to place, strong enough to meet the needs of the application, durable for the life of the Pattern Imprinted Concrete, and that will look good when we are done with our decorative efforts.
The design mix is of the upmost importance especially when it comes to Pattern Imprinted Concrete. There must be a happy medium in terms of water and cement ratio and also the types and amount of aggregates used. For us a wetter concrete with smaller aggregates will be easier to place, but with this the concrete upon curing will be less durable. Where as an extremely ‘stiff mix’ with larger aggregates, which may be the most durable concrete in the world would be near impossible to place.
This video was taken at the time of an excavation which shows how detrimental not having the right design mix can be. The supplier of this concrete evidently didn’t take design mix seriously, the concrete appears putty like and is easily destroyed. In reality, with correct mix, the hammer should bounce off the concrete. To view the video follow the link to our you tube channel below.
Post Date: | 11th February 2012 |
Posted in: | Pattern Imprinted Concrete, Pattern Imprinted Concrete Driveway Installation, Pattern Imprinted Concrete Driveway Maintenance, Pattern Imprinted Concrete Driveways |
Tags: | Concrete Mix Design, pattern imprinted concrete installation |
How Rock Salt and De-Icer can Damage your Pattern Imprinted Concrete Driveway
We have talked a few times about how your pattern imprinted concrete driveway can suffer from damage at the hands of salt and de-icer. Here we’ll talk a bit more about how this happens.
First, the basic way de-icer works is to form a brine by mixing with the water in ice and snow. This brine has a lower freezing point than water, so continues to melt the snow and ice until it becomes too diluted to function effectively. The trouble is that this brine can seep into concrete, especially unsealed porous concrete. As temperatures get lower, the brine can refreeze, which causes cracking and other damage to the concrete. In the spring, you may experience a continuous freeze and thaw cycle, which can cause much more serious damage.
Second, rock salt will dissolve in the moisture left behind as it melts snow and ice. It too can then seep into your concrete, and when the climate becomes warmer and the moisture evaporates, the salt will recrystallise, causing the surface of the concrete to spall, or flake off. The process is also known as sub-florescence.
Third, if rebar metal is present in your concrete, you can face another problem – the de-icer and salt can corrode the metal, and the corrosion process can exert pressure on the surrounding concrete, making it crack and break down.
To mitigate such problems, we would advise that if possible, you shouldn’t use salt and de-icer on your concrete driveway or patio at all. If you think you’ll need to, make sure your concrete is sealed properly, to cut down on the chance that brine/liquid could seep into the pores. And make sure you use small amounts as needed – don’t saturate the area with de-icer or salt.
Post Date: | 10th October 2011 |
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Tags: | Concrete in Winter, De-Icer, Rock Salt, winter concrete care, winter driveway care |
Resealing Your Pattern Imprinted Concrete Driveway: Essential Maintenance!
So, you’ve got to the stage where you’ve got a finished pattern imprinted concrete driveway or patio installed. It looks great, and you can sit back and relax. For the moment anyway – you should bear in mind that the seal is not going to last forever. We recommend that resealing be done every three to five years, depending on the exact materials used for the original work. Our experts are more than happy to advise you on the exact timescale for your particular installation.
In general, before you reseal your pattern imprinted concrete driveway you should make sure that your driveway is clean. It doesn’t have to be clean enough to eat your dinner off, but you should definitely give it a good clean if it is heavily soiled, or if it has stains on it such as oil.
Next up, make sure that your installation is perfectly dry before you start resealing, and is likely to be dry for a day afterwards to give the sealant a chance to properly dry and solidify. The summer months are a better bet for successful DIY resealing jobs: just keep an eye on the weather reports when you are planning your work!
In terms of what sealants to use, there are a wide variety on the market. The main choice is penetrating sealer versus surface sealer. The former penetrates below the concrete’s surface to form a hydrophobic barrier against water and ice, and doesn’t affect the surface texture, whereas the latter forms a gloss over the surface. Penetrating sealers probably last longer and are a good choice if you don’t want to affect the look of the concrete. Alternatively, you might be looking for the glossy look a surface sealer will create.
Post Date: | 15th September 2011 |
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Tags: | concrete driveway maintainance, concrete driveway reseal, pattern imprinted concrete driveway maintenance, Reseal |
Maintaining and Caring For Your Driveway
When you’ve spent a hard-earned chuck of cash on a great looking pattern imprinted concrete driveway, you’ll want to make sure that it lasts as long as possible, so you can enjoy it for years or even decades to come. There are a few simple maintenance tips to follow for success: let’s have a look shall we?
Pattern Imprinted Concrete Driveway Reseal
First, make sure it is sealed properly to start with, with a sealant suitable for the specific surface you’ve got. This is necessary to protect both the colour and the structural integrity. You should also ask your contractor about crack control joints before work starts – properly positioned and cut crack control joints will minimise cracking and other structural problems. These are especially important around weak points, for example when the driveway has to go around a drain or manhole.
You also need to reseal your driveway at regular intervals – this should be about every 2 to 5 years, but what’s best for you will depend on a number of aspects of the installation. Talk to us to get exact advice on what you need! We even offer a complete resealing service, so you don’t have to worry about a thing. Amongst other things, regular sealing can stop unwanted plant growth – pattern imprinted concrete suffers from this a lot less than other types of ground coverage like paving, as there are no natural joints. There is still a chance however, as moss can grow into pores, and other plants can exploit weak points, which may lead to cracks. Reseal regularly to avoid such problems.
Take care also to avoid prolonged exposure of your driveway to any corrosive substances that might cause damage. Substances that you’ll be likely to find near your driveway include oil, chemical de-icers and cleaners, and grit/salt. It’s better to use sand to provide traction in winter, and to wash away any such spills.
Post Date: | 8th September 2011 |
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Tags: | concrete driveway care, concrete driveway reseal, driveway care, pattern imprinted concrete driveway, pattern imprinted concrete driveway maintenance, Reseal |
Maintaining And Caring For Your Pattern Imprinted Concrete Patio
So, you’ve decided to get a nice new pattern imprinted concrete patio installed, to make your back garden look great and cut down on upkeep time. But you want to keep it looking nice in the distant future, as well as just after installation, don’t you? You should therefore start thinking about maintenance and upkeep now, and follow our simple advice.
Make sure it is sealed properly, with a suitable sealant for your specific surface. This is necessary to protect both colour and the structural integrity. You should also ask your contractor about crack control joints before work starts. With these properly positioned – especially around weak points such as manholes and drains – you can minimise cracking and other structural problems.
You also need to reseal your driveway at regular intervals – exactly how often will depend on your particular situation, but it should be in the region of every 2 to 5 years. Talk to us to get exact advice on what you need! We even offer a complete resealing service, so you don’t have to worry about anything. Amongst other things, regular sealing can stop unwanted plant growth – pattern imprinted concrete suffers from this a lot less than other types of ground coverage like paving, as there are no natural joints. There is still a chance however, as moss likes to grow into pores, and other plants can exploit weak points, leading to cracks. Reseal regularly to avoid such problems.
Be careful also to avoid prolonged exposure of your driveway to any corrosive substances that might cause damage. Problem substances that you’ll be likely to find near your driveway include oil, chemical de-icers and cleaners, and grit/salt. It’s better to use sand to provide traction in winter, and to wash away any such spills.
Post Date: | 6th September 2011 |
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Tags: | concrete driveway care, concrete driveway reseal, Patio, pattern imprinted concrete patio, Reseal |