A Guide to Concrete and Concrete Mixtures

September 15, 2013

Though a familiar part of our 21st century environment, concrete has been used for construction since ancient times. Roman forms of concrete, using hydrated lime and volcanic ash, were markedly superior to the predominantly sand and lime mixes used by other civilisations. Mixing The characteristic strength and density of concrete is related to the proportions of the three principal ingredients: water, cement and aggregate. The aggregate component is generally a type of gravel and/or small stone mixture which gives a rough or smooth texture to the finished concrete, reflecting the fine or coarse nature of the aggregate mixture. Water is generally…

How to Repair Cracked Concrete

July 19, 2013

Concrete is a very strong building material that can cope with large amounts of stress, but it is possible for it to be damaged. However, there are several methods that can be used to repair damaged concrete. The technique that is chosen will depend on the extent and location of the crack. Narrow concrete cracks are easier to repair than those that are wider, as long as the correct techniques are followed. Loose debris should be removed using a wire brush, and then the area should be washed using either a bucket of water or a hose. This will remove any…

A Beginner’s Guide to Staining Concrete Floors

June 26, 2013

You may find this hard to believe, but staining a concrete floor can be a complex task; especially for a beginner. Different stains have different chemical compositions that may react with the flooring, while others do not have the durability necessary for the material of your floor. Here are some tips to consider if you are a beginner and you plan to do it yourself… For the staining process, you will need protective clothing, including rubber boots, safety glasses, gloves, long trousers and a sleeved shirt. A fan is also useful to provide fresh air. Use plastic bags to cover what…

How do Concrete Pumps Work?

May 23, 2013

A concrete pump is a piece of apparatus designed to simplify the process of moving liquid concrete from one place to another. They have become a mainstay of any application requiring large volumes of concrete, and replace the old method of shifting concrete by manual labour alone. Broadly speaking, there are two main types of concrete pump: boom-mounted concrete pumps, and line concrete pumps. Boom-mounted concrete pumps are attached to a large computer controlled boom which is often mounted on a truck or other large vehicle. Concrete can then be pumped to a site specified by the computer. This type of…

Volumetric Concrete Mixers: The Benefits

April 2, 2013

Developments in technology are forever making life more convenient for us; reducing effort and increasing productivity. The construction business is no exception, with advances in all areas – from machinery to materials – helping all contractors to produce work quickly and efficiently. One such advance in the concrete industry has seen the introduction and development of the volumetric concrete mixing method – an innovative technique that provides a huge number of benefits for both concrete producers and trade customers alike. Volumetric concrete mixing has become the norm within the construction industry, slowly taking over from traditional methods since its creation in…

Volumetric v Drum Mixers – Infographic

March 18, 2013

Volumetric v Drum Mixers – An infographic by the team at Volumetric Concrete Mixers Embed Volumetric v Drum Mixers on Your Site: Copy and Paste the Code Below <img src=”http://www.roadmasterconcretemixers.co.uk/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/volumetric-drum-infographic-10m3.jpg” width=”540″> Volumetric v Drum Mixers – An infographic by the team at <a href=”http://www.roadmasterconcretemixers.co.uk/volumetric-concrete-mixers.php”>Volumetric Concrete Mixers</a>

Concrete and Cement: What’s the Difference?

March 6, 2013

On an almost daily basis, we encounter “facts” and phrases that have been passed off as truth for generations. For example: the red stuff in meat isn’t actually blood; goldfish have a memory far longer than three seconds; the Great Wall of China isn’t actually visible from the moon; Thomas Edison didn’t invent the light bulb; and so on. The BBC comedy panel show QI is almost entirely based around dispelling these types of common misconceptions. Another regularly heard fallacy regards the assumption that concrete and cement are essentially the same thing. Not only is this not true, it could actually…