Blotchiness

The key to a successful poured concrete is curation management.

Concrete have different ingredients mixed together in order to produce a durable product that will last. One of the most important ingredient is water. The longer a slab retains its moist, the greater the chance of proper curation. This will reduce the possibility of cracking.

There are many contributing factors to a blotchy surface, such as base preparation, how much water was applied to your base prior to pour, different concrete mix designs, weather, temperature, etc.

The most important information to know in these cases, is that blotchiness is not a defect. The reality is, not every slab will cure the same. And as unsightly as it is to look at, it’s actually a good thing for the moment as it’s trapping some of the moist. This will slow the drying process and allow your concrete to cure properly. Eventually it will all dry up and have a consistent look.

Pop-ups

If you see a freshly poured concrete with a bunch of small crater-like dips all over, that is what we refer to as pop-ups. This type of damage occurs in area where temperatures can drop to freezing level, where ice and snow will begin to accumulate.

The complexity of this defect can be challenging for both home owners and contractors. The true cause of this, is the fact that concrete absorbs water or moist. When ice/snow accumulates on a concrete slab, people use deicers to thaw out the area for accessibility. Calcium and magnesium chloride from the deicer mixes with the melted ice/snow and the concrete absorbs it. These chemicals are trapped in the concrete, and the next round of freezing temperature creates a shrinking pop-ups in these pockets. Creating the crater-like dips. Eventually disintegrating the slab overall.

If a contractor tells a home owner to avoid using deicer as it will damage the new concrete. There could be a potential lawsuit against the contractor, if an unfortunate injury should occur.

This information is only to educate both party on the subject and hoping that all will do their due diligence in making a well informed decision.

Cracks

Cracks are the most common defects that occurs in concrete work. Although no one likes to hear it, and let alone say it. The truth is, all concrete surfaces do crack. The most common type of concrete cracking is what we call plastic shrinkage. This can be caused by multiple contributing factors. Concrete curing or drying up too fast, concrete poured up against an existing corner pointing into the slab, circular objects in the middle of the slab (drainage, pipes, etc).

Because concrete guarantees to crack, we combat the unsightly look of it by installing expansion joints. This is an intentional process of cutting a concrete slab into sections to alleviate the possibility of future cracking.

Maintenance

Your concrete work can look fresh and new as long as you want.

You’ve worked so hard to spend a portion of your finance on a beautiful driveway or patio. Why not keep it looking new? Because we live in the Pacific Northwest, we are constantly exposed to some unforgiving weather patterns. The rain, freezing temperature, along with the abundance of trees can instantly turn your new slab into a disappointment.

The good news is, maintenance work isn’t that difficult. And it’s fairly inexpensive to do on your own. Once every other year, perform a light wash using a 2500psi pressure washer to get rid of any residue. Then seal your slab with 2 coats using a concrete sealer. This sealer acts as a repellent against foreign debris that leads to mold and moss build-ups. This will ensure the longevity that your concrete deserves.