Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our frequently asked questions concerning our concrete and construction services. If you still have questions for Superb Concrete & Building Construction, please feel free to call us at 780-812-6714 for more information.

QUESTION 1. WILL MY CONCRETE CRACK?
Concrete’s volume will change slightly after it has cured. Typically concrete shrinks about 1/16 of an inch over 10 feet. Our concrete finishers strategically put wet cuts, or sawcuts to encourage the concrete to crack in a more uniform, straight line at the joint when the concrete shrinks and changes its volume. Hence why we call them Control Joints. They are employed to help control where the concrete will inevitably crack.

QUESTION 2. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE THE FRESHLY POURED CONCRETE CAN BE WALKED ON OR DRIVEN ON?
Superb Concrete & Building Construction Ltd recommends that you wait at least 2 days before you walk on your freshly poured concrete and at least 7-10 days before you drive on it.
QUESTION 3. WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SEAL THE CONCRETE?
A cure and seal should be used within 5 days of the concrete being poured, cut and washed. If a high gloss sealer is to be used it should be installed 6 months to a year down the road.
QUESTION 4. WHAT TYPE OF MAINTENANCE IS REQUIRED FOR MY CONCRETE?
Superb Concrete & Building Construction Ltd recommends that you seal all types of exterior concrete or garages at least once per year. Stamped or exposed concrete should be sealed twice per year; Spring and Fall.
QUESTION 5. DO YOU HAVE TO PUT A BASE DOWN TO POUR ON?
We remove the bad earth (top soil, mixed earth) and put down a good solid base of gravel. Once we have our base in we use a tamper to reach compaction.
QUESTION 6. HOW DO YOU REINFORCE THE CONCRETE?
Superb Concrete & Building Construction Ltd reinforces the concrete by using a wire mesh and or rebar within the concrete. In some cases we add fiber mesh in the concrete at the home owner’s expense.
QUESTION 7. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ‘CEMENT’ AND ‘CONCRETE’?
Often people use the two terms cement and concrete interchangeably, believing there is no difference between the two. However, cement is actually an ingredient of concrete. Concrete is essentially a blend of aggregates and paste. The aggregates consist of sand gravel and/or crushed stone; the paste is water and cement. Cement comprises 10 to 15 percent of the concrete mix. Over many years the cement and water harden bringing the aggregates closer together, making the concrete stronger, a process known as hydration. This process continues on for a very long time, therefore concrete keeps getting stronger over many years.
QUESTION 8. HOW DOES TEMPERATURE EFFECT CONCRETE?
The temperature is a very key part of the curing process. On hot days when concrete is curing, the heat causes excessive moisture to evaporate from the concrete. However, on the other hand if the temperature drops too close to freezing, hydration will occur at a snail’s pace. This is why we always recommend using a wet-curing method. Call to ask us more about the methods we employ to protect new concrete from summer heat.
QUESTION 9. WHAT IS AIR ENTRAINED CONCRETE?
Air-entrained concrete is ordinary concrete that contains controlled amounts of air in the form of microscopic bubbles. These intentionally entrained air bubbles are extremely small. This creates many tiny air pockets in the concrete. These air pockets ease internal strain and pressure on the concrete by allowing water a place to expand when it freezes. The amount of air we use in the mix varies, but is typically between 4 percent and 8 percent. The primary benefit of entrained air in hardened concrete is the resistance it offers to scaling caused by de-icing salts or chemicals and freeze-thaw damage.