When can you start my project?
Our schedule is determined by two factors. First being the order in which a signed contract was received and secondly being the weather. We will give the customer an estimated time for starting the job, but could be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.

How long will my concrete project take?
The length of the project is determined by the scope of the project. We do not jump from job to job. When we start a job we will stay on it until it is completed.

Do I need to make a down payment?
We require no down payment; all that we ask is that you pay in full when the job is completed.

What types of payment do you accept?
We accept personal checks, money orders, and cashier’s checks. We do not accept credit cards.

Are you insured?
We are fully insured and our coverage includes liability insurance covering property damage and worker and public injuries, vehicle insurance, and workers' compensation insurance.

What will be the strength of my new concrete?
The proper mix should have minimum break strength of 4,000 pounds per square inch. This is obtained through a 6-bag mix or a 4,000 pound design mix.

How thick will my new concrete be?
Generally, a thickness of 4-5 inches is standard for most residential applications unless unusual circumstances would be encountered. An example of this would be if a homeowner would have an unusually heavy vehicle where the concrete would be under more stress due to the heavy load, at that time the proper thickness would need to be determined.

What is low-chert aggregate and what benefits do they provide?
Chert, which is found to some degree in most aggregate deposits used to produce concrete in Southeastern Wisconsin, is porous aggregate (sand, gravel, or crushed stone) with low-resistance to weathering. Chert can cause surface defects, known as "pop outs," in exterior concrete flatwork applications.  Pop outs are indentations in a concrete slab surface created when porous aggregate picks up moisture, freezes, expands, and fractures, taking a portion of the concrete slab surface mortar with it.

Pop outs can be minimized by using low-chert aggregates, which contains a specified maximum percentage limit of porous aggregates.  Generally this percentage ranges from 95-98% chert-free.

What is FIBERMESH and what benefits does it provide?
FIBERMESH® brand micro-reinforcement, when added to the concrete mix at the batch plant, creates a uniform system of millions of polypropylene fibers, which are formulated to address the following:

• The reduction of concrete cracking as a result of plastic shrinkage.
• An alternate system of nonstructural secondary and/or temperature reinforcement.
• Greater impact, abrasion, and shatter resistance in concrete.
• Internal support and cohesiveness
• The reduction of concrete cracking as a result of plastic settlement.
• Helps lower the permeability of concrete

What is wire mesh reinforcement?
Wire mesh reinforcement consists of pieces of wire welded together to form a grid pattern.  Although concrete is an excellent building material and is extremely strong in compression, it has one limitation - concrete is weak in tension. By combining concrete with material that is strong in tension can create a composite that greatly reinforced. Wire mesh is reactive. It only holds concrete together after it cracks, and only if placed properly. It does not prevent cracking.

How long must my concrete driveway cure before I can drive on it?
For Southeastern Wisconsin, the American Concrete Institute and the American Concrete Pavement Association recommend a minimum of seven days following concrete placement before using a concrete driveway.

How long must my patio, sidewalk, porch etc. cure before I can use it?
We recommend a minimum of 1-2 days before walking on new concrete and 7 days before placing any patio furniture or items on the newly poured concrete. It also recommended waiting 7 days to do any landscaping or work around the new concrete.

How can I protect and maintain my concrete?
Frequent cleaning keeps your new concrete looking good and does wonders to improve the curb appeal of your home.  By keeping your concrete clean by frequent sweeping and occasional hosing, you can also significantly reduce fall risks to family and guests.

Wet leaves left on a driveway will have a tendency to stain, so be prepared to clean your driveway often in fall.  Leaf stains can be cleaned away with a pressure washer (light pressure) or with hot water mixed with tri-sodium phosphate (one pound per gallon is recommended).

Can I use deicer chemicals on my concrete?
The use of deicing chemicals during the first year of service is not recommended, especially if concrete is installed late in the year.  Sand is an acceptable alternative anytime. Deicing chemicals used for snow and ice removal can cause and aggravate surface scaling.  Therefore, judicious use of these products with regard to amount and frequency of application is strongly advised.  Remember deicers can also reach concrete surfaces other than by direct application — for example, drippings from the under-carriage of vehicles.

During and after the concrete's second winter, deicing chemicals containing sodium chloride (common salt) or calcium chloride may be used judiciously.

NEVER use deicers containing ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate, as they will chemically attack and rapidly disintegrate concrete.

ALSO NOTE: common garden fertilizers often contain ammonium sulfate and/or ammonium nitrate, and can cause disintegration of your concrete.  Avoid loading or cleaning your fertilizer spreader on your concrete slab and follow best-spreading practices by applying fertilizer around the periphery of your lawn first, without crossing pavement, then run the spreader back and forth within the area bounded by your perimeter fertilizer run.  This practice both ensures consistent fertilizer application around the edge of your lawn and, because the spreader never crosses pavement, minimizes the potential for fertilizer damage to your concrete.

Does my concrete come with a warranty?
We use only the best materials available to give our customers a quality job. We do stand behind our workmanship, but we do not guarantee the concrete itself because we do not make the concrete. We use ready-mix concrete companies that stand behind their product and warrant their concrete to be free from manufacturer defects.

top