Tips for how to further strengthen concrete

Many builders use concrete for commercial and industrial buildings, and many homeowners are now choosing concrete for their home construction projects because of its strength and sustainability. In fact, concrete is durable, resistant to wind, water, and fire. It also cuts heating/cooling bills and is low maintenance compared to other building materials.

However, we should also understand water can cause significant damage to concrete. Water carries chemical contaminants into concrete, and it can erode the surface, which can lead to massive cracks and other disruptive reactions. 

That is why it is important to keep water out of your concrete to enhance its durability and longevity. Here are suggestions on how you can improve the strength of your concrete:

• Mix design

Durability starts with a concrete mix design, and it should properly be matched to the condition and weather of your location. You must also understand that there is no single mix design that can be durable to every situation. Therefore, the mix design should include air-entraining admixture because it will help protect the concrete under any conditions.

• Construction joints

Construction joints in concrete are essential and unavoidable. They are also considered the weak points in the structure because this is where water finds its way through the interior part of concrete. Therefore, water penetrating joints may deteriorate your structure and cause corrosion, especially on the reinforcing steel. That is why you should ensure the design of your structure, and there must be adequate control join locations to avoid random cracking. Next, ensure that each joint has a reliable waterproofing system of its own.

• Low permeability

Mix designs must be based on the condition of your area, and it should have low permeability. You need to ensure low permeability, which can be achieved with good mix proportioning. In fact, you can use water-reducing admixtures and plasticizers to reduce the amount of free water in your mix.

• Proper curing

One of the most overlooked steps in achieving durable concrete is proper curing since this will maintain the conditions that will allow the concrete to gain strength and harden optimally. Therefore, adequate temperature and humidity are essential and must follow the golden rule that it should be above 10°C for strength development and proper curing at a reasonable pace.

Moisture must also be maintained during the first few days to promote cement hydration and to keep the concrete from cracking, shrinking, and drying. Remember that proper curing will increase your concrete’s durability and life expectancy.

Overall, these are just some tips for strengthening your concrete, but you can readily contact a reliable concreting company for more details.