Ready-mixed concrete from reputable ready mix concrete suppliers is one of the sturdiest and lasting construction materials, making it a popular choice among contractors and construction experts. It’s a flexible material that may be used for a variety of projects, including roads, driveways, patios, and sidewalks.

When properly poured and maintained, the concrete’s strength and final appearance can last for many years. To achieve this, you must follow particular procedures to attain the desired strength and, more critically, to prevent the concrete from cracking.

Cracks have a substantial impact on the quality of your concrete, reducing its durability. They are visually unappealing and prone to water incursion, which can induce contraction and destabilize the structure.

Fortunately, you can avoid cracking with a few simple techniques and tricks. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most common reasons of cracking in the concrete and practical ways for preventing cracks on your ready mix concrete and increasing its longevity.

Shrinking

One of the most common causes of concrete cracking is ‘shrinking’, which occurs when there is too much water in the concrete mix. When excess water in the cement evaporates, it shrinks, resulting in fissures in the concrete.

The key to avoiding this is to maintain an appropriate water-cement ratio.

The water-cement ratio is the weight of water divided by the weight of cement.

Higher amounts of water than cement mix can reduce the strength of your concrete mix. As a result, your W/c ratio must not exceed 0.5; the less water you use, the stronger your concrete will be.

Since you are getting the concrete already mixed, you need to ensure that the company delivering the concrete knows what they are doing and they adhere to this rule.

Poor quality concrete

Concrete’s quality and intrinsic strength will also determine whether cracks come from your concrete. The strength and durability of the concrete will be inadequate if it is made with inferior materials.

If the aggregate is of low quality, optimizing aggregate size, gradation, and content could not have much of an impact on concrete shrinkage.

Concrete may shrink more when a large aggregate with poor qualities is combined with a mid-size aggregate with good qualities, thus raising the likelihood of cracking.

Due to this, it is essential to work with a well-known concrete provider that offers a premium mix made with sufficient-quality aggregates.

When you are buying the mix, make sure that the mix contains premium water, aggregates, and cement. These materials’ impurities or irregularities can erode the concrete and raise the possibility of cracks.

To be on the safe side adhere to a carefully thought-out mix design that strikes a balance between aggregates, water, and cement. The chance of cracking is decreased by using the proper proportions, which provide the proper workability and strength.

If necessary, include additives such as fibers, retarders, or plasticizers. These can enhance the mix’s workability and resistance to cracking.

Substandard finishing process

Once you’ve confirmed the quality of ready-mixed concrete, you can begin pouring. Improper finishing is one of the most significant causes of cracking. As a result, it is critical to use proper finishing procedures with the poured mix.

Flat floating and troweling are the greatest options for finishing a concrete surface. You should not finish the concrete when there is bleed water on the surface because it may cause the water to return to the concrete rather than evaporate, resulting in cracks.

To avoid cracks, pour the concrete as soon as possible to avoid delays and ensure a consistent mix. To avoid segregation, carefully handle and transport the concrete.

Use the appropriate positioning procedures to reduce air pockets and guarantee even distribution.

Vibration techniques are effective in removing air bubbles and increasing density. Finish the surface carefully to avoid producing weak points.

The finishing equipment you use such as trowels and floats can help you obtain a smooth, level surface. Ensure that you use high quality equipment that will give you the results that you are after.

Improper curing

“Curing” is the next process after concrete finishing. Although the curing process often takes up to 28 days, the first few days are critical to guaranteeing a strong, long-lasting, and crack-free concrete surface.

Allowing the moisture to evaporate gradually is necessary to guarantee a surface free of cracks. In order to slow down evaporation and create stronger concrete, you need to maintain the surface damp.

Throughout the curing phase, keep an eye on the forecast for any potential cold fronts. If the temperature is predicted to fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, cover the freshly laid concrete with an insulating blanket or polyethene sheeting that is at least four millimeters thick.

Failure to use the right reinforcements

Concrete is a naturally robust construction material, but you can strengthen it and make it more durable with reinforcement. Before pouring a concrete slab, you should arrange reinforcements in a grid pattern on the base.

To prevent cracking in smaller projects, use wire mesh before pouring. Your concrete delivery professional will be able to recommend which reinforcements are ideal for your concrete mix. So work closely with them.

Forgetting to include control joints

Even if you follow the above-mentioned curing recommendations religiously, big surfaces such as patios and sidewalks are susceptible to shrinkage and cracking.

This cracking is mostly the result of shrinkage caused by temperature fluctuations and soil movement.

Control joints can prevent shrinkage by reducing the slab down to roughly a quarter and strengthening the weakest areas to keep them from splitting. For a 4-inch-deep slab, create slab joints at 8 to 12 feet apart.

Parting shot

Using pre mixed concrete is an excellent choice for any job, regardless of size of the project. By eliminating concrete cracking using the strategies described above, you will strengthen your concrete even more and have a project that you will be proud of for many years to come.

As mentioned, ensure that you work with a reputable ready mix concrete delivery company Montgomery County that will not only deliver high quality concrete made from high quality materials, but also advise you on the strategies to use to minimize the chances of cracks occurring on your concrete.