About Me

How to Beat Concrete Cancer

Hello, my name is Tony and this is my concrete installation and maintenance blog. I am not a professional concrete contractor but I am very passionate about DIY. My dad was a contractor and when I was growing up he taught me all kinds of neat tips and tricks. Once time, he took me out into the yard and made me inspect the concrete wall. The concrete was crumbling away, exposing the metal bars beneath. My father explained that this was concrete cancer and then demonstrated how to repair the damage. I hope you find my blog useful and entertaining.

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How to Beat Concrete Cancer

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Why Are Concrete Pavers Ideal If You Want to Upgrade Your Back Patio?
When it comes to upgrading your backyard patio, one of the first things you need to decide on is the type of material you want to use. There are many options to choose from, but concrete pavers are an ideal choice for many reasons. Not only are they affordable and versatile, but they are also durable and easy to maintain. What do you need to know to see if they are the perfect choice for you?

What Should You Do If You Suspect Issues with Your Retaining Wall?
If you're facing some issues with a retaining wall in your back garden, you need to act as quickly as possible. After all, if this wall is unstable, it may not be able to hold back the soil behind and could even collapse following heavy rain. So, what do you need to know about these walls, and how can you fix any issues as soon as possible? How a Retaining Wall Should Be Built

Four Signs You Need Your Commercial Concrete Kerbing Redone
The roadways are an important part of your commercial property. They are used by clients, employees and visitors. They help direct traffic into your parking lot and around your building. A poorly designed or constructed roadway can easily lead to accidents and injuries to workers and customers alike. When you notice any of these four signs that it's time to have your commercial concrete kerbing redone, then it's time to call in the professionals for concrete kerbing.

4 Remarkable Advantages of Installing Concrete Water Tanks for Your Home
Water is an essential basic need, and finding the best solution to store it goes a long way in ensuring sufficient supply for your home. Generally, most homeowners store water in different types of tanks, each with distinctive advantages. When deciding on the ideal water tank for your home, there are numerous reasons to invest in one made from concrete. Depending on your preferences and space requirements, you can opt for underground or above-ground concrete tanks.

Benefits of Decorative Concrete on a Residential Property
If you're considering what paving to use around your yard, on the driveway or patio, why not consider decorative concrete? Here are several benefits. Diverse Looks Decorative concrete can be customised to harmonise with virtually any environment. For instance, you could install stamped concrete. To create this, after the concrete is poured, contractors place stamping moulds on the cement to give it texture. You can choose from numerous stamping mats. For example, you could create the impression of bluestone cobbles on the driveway if you have a heritage house.

Is Your Asphalt Driveway Cracked? Why Asphalt Sealing Is the Best Solution
Asphalt is perhaps the most widely used material in paving driveways, parking lots and other areas in a building's outdoor space. When properly installed and sealed, your asphalt pavement can last for decades with minimal repairs.  However, the pavement will not last forever. It will age and begin to crack at one point in time. When that happens, you will need to repair or resurface it. One of the best ways to minimise damage on your asphalt surface is through professional asphalt sealing.

Benefits of a Concrete Driveway
You might plan to rejuvenate your home's driveway with concrete and be curious about the benefits you can expect. To discover several, consider the following points. Design Options The design options for a concrete drive are virtually open-ended. Concrete can be coloured in numerous ways, with pigments added to the cement mix before it's poured. Alternatively, contractors can add stains or dry-shake hardeners on top to produce a blend of various tones.

See Why It's Vital to Invest in Timely Kerb Repairs
The kerb is a barrier that protects the driveway, patio, and other walkways from chipping, storm damages, and erosion. When the kerbs are installed and properly maintained, your pavements can remain in perfect shape for decades without the need for repairs and replacement. On the other hand, when the kerbing deteriorates, your pavement also gets damaged by the UV rays of the sun, water, and other harsh weather elements, faster than they should.

How will you feed your livestock?
When you need to provide feed for your livestock, then what options do you have? You could put the feed into almost anything but many possible solutions will present problems of one form or another. You might find that the feed isn't easy for your livestock to reach or perhaps the solution won't allow you to accommodate enough animals at one time. If you want a way to provide feed for the right number of animals at one time in a safe, convenient way, then concrete livestock feed bunks could be the right choice for your farm.

5 Signs That Your Asphalt Pavement Needs Repair
Asphalt surfaces are quite long-lasting. Unfortunately, they do not last forever. At some point, you'll need to undertake some repairs so that they as look as good as they did at first.  When your pavement begins to show signs of wear and tear, you may be tempted to turn a blind eye to it. This may result in bigger and more costly issues sooner than you think. Your asphalt requires routine repairs and maintenance in order to stay attractive, usable and safe.

How to Install New Conduit in Concrete Without Too Much Disruption
If you're involved in a renovation job at home or in work, then you will be trying to figure out how to complete the job without causing too much disruption to the status quo. You may need to install some new electrical wiring conduits, water pipes, phone lines or air conditioning ducts into an existing concrete structure, and you'll definitely want to make sure that you do so without causing too much damage to the concrete.

Concrete Pumping Safety Tips to Remember
Concrete pumping is one of the fastest and most economical ways of placing concrete on a construction job. But this process isn't without danger; it often presents multiple hazards. Fortunately, there are certain ways accidents can be prevented. This article will share some of the key safety precautions that must be kept in mind. Responsibilities of the contractor The key to minimising safety problems at a concrete pumping site is organisation.

Important Features to Look For in a Buffer Water Tank
In systems that contain fluids, buffer water tanks are used to increase capacity and to ensure temperature/pressure stability. Buffer tanks are used in both commercial and industrial water supply systems that operate within a closed loop. Whether you're using a hot or chilled system, buffer tanks provide an insulated housing that reduces unnecessary heat transfer. When you're looking for a buffer water tank for your establishment, there are many important factors to consider.

The Top Advantages of Exposed Aggregate Concrete
When it comes to the paved areas such as driveways, pool decks and concrete patios, you will want to think about the surfacing materials used. Your choice of the outdoor surfacing materials will affect not only the aesthetic appeal of those areas but also their overall functionality. There's quite a range of options when it comes to decorative or surfacing materials for your paved areas. However, exposed aggregate concrete is one of the most sought-after options by many homeowners.

Three Crucial Considerations for Concrete Driveway Sealer Selection
Concrete has numerous beneficial properties such as high strength, durability, customisation options and cost efficiency. However, the material has one distinct disadvantage: porosity. Concrete driveways are prone to damage because of this characteristic. In general, the water penetrates through the holes in the surface and causes the structure to weaken. Over time, cracks, fractures and holes form, decreasing the appeal and functionality of the driveway. If you are concerned about these issues, you should choose the right sealer to limit moisture penetration.

5 Signs You Should Choose a Line Concrete Pump Over a Crane Pump
If you need concrete for a project, there are cases where you can just pour the concrete out of the truck, but there are other cases where you need to use a concrete pump. The standard option is a line pump, but there are also crane pumps (which are a bit newer). Here are five signs you should opt for a line pump. 1. You are working on a relatively small project.

How to Repair Cracked Concrete Joints
Concrete structures are known for their sheer strength and durability. Few things can bring down a concrete structure if is well built. Regular maintenance and repairs will ensure the structure lasts a long time, but one thing that can bring down a concrete structure, given time, is cracks. Why does concrete crack? Many times, concrete will crack within the first month of setting. Most cracks are so small that you cannot notice them, so when they have widened is when you see them.

Key Pros of Exposed Aggregate for Your Driveway
Although your driveway provides you with additional space to park your vehicles, this does not mean that it has to be unattractive. Plain concrete may be a popular option when it comes to paving driveways, but this does not add any aesthetic appeal to your property. If you would like to boost your kerb appeal but still install functional paving, you should consider exposed aggregate. This type of paving is made up of concrete that has been infused with foreign materials such as pebbles, glass, and more.

Concrete Pump Hire: 3 Questions You Should Ask
If you are working on a large construction job which involves laying a large quantity of cement, you may be thinking about hiring a concrete pump so you can cover a large area. A concrete pump will mean that you won't need to break you back shovelling wet concrete from the back of a concrete mixer, and it will allow you to complete the job at a faster rate. However, before you hire a concrete pump, it is important that you ask a few questions.

3 Ways to Help Control Soil Erosion
If you are a contractor that frequently works with open land for building homes or commercial buildings, you understand what happens when there is soil erosion. This can lead to bad drainage in the soil, along with various types of soil structure issues. Soil erosion is often the result of the topsoil wearing away from wind, water and other elements. While it is a natural occurrence, you might be able to avoid it with the following methods.

Easy and Stylish Garden and Lawn Edging Materials You Can Try at Home
Adding a decorative border or edge around your lawn, landscaping, flower garden or any other area can add visual interest to the space and also provide a bit of protection against errant bikes and toys while also keeping moisture in the soil for added hydration. Consider a few easy and stylish garden or lawn edging materials you might consider at home and how to make them look their best. River rocks

Precast Concrete Construction: Three Crucial Tips for Building with Slabs
Precast concrete is one of the most useful materials to consider using when building or renovating your house. This construction product is manufactured in an offsite environment as opposed to poured concrete, which is made and used immediately within the development area. Precast concrete slabs and blocks are resilient and stable because they are molded and cured in optimally controlled conditions. Also, the material can be used in various construction features, including floors, walls, and partitions.

Top Benefits of Exposed Aggregate Finish
Essentially, exposed aggregate concrete or simply exposed aggregate is a durable and stylish way to add a spectacular look as well as quality to your home or commercial property. It is most suitable for use outdoors on areas such as pool areas, driveways, and patios. With exposed aggregate, concrete is poured and then aggregates such as rock salt, natural rock, slate, seashell, and tile are added. The concrete is then sanded back to expose the natural beauty of these aggregates.

Tips to Protecting Your Concrete Kerbing During the Winter
One of the staple materials used for kerbing and other exterior applications is concrete due to its high durability as well as the aesthetic appeal you can derive from decorative concrete options such as stamped or acid stained concrete. Nonetheless, this does not mean that concrete is not immune to acquiring damage over time. The rate at which your concrete will deteriorate can become exponential during the colder seasons due to the consistent exposure to wet conditions.

A Few Factors to Consider When Renting Scaffolding for Your Commercial Building
If you own or manage a commercial building of any sort and need to make repairs inside or out, you might want to rent scaffolding for the job. Scaffolding is often safer than ladders, as it allows for room for workers to walk around freely and is less likely to tip or slide out from under someone while in use. When you are ready to rent scaffolding for any type of work, note a few factors to consider so you know you get the right piece and know what's involved in its rental.

An Overview of Concrete Scanning
Concrete scanning is scanning the internal features of a concrete structure, whether a wall or floor. It is usually done to investigate the strength of a building. This will be used to determine the structural issues, load it can carry, and level of degradation. This might be used to determine if a building requires renovations and reinforcing. Also, whenever a building has to undergo renovations or adjustments, it is important to find out what lies beneath the concrete floors and in concrete walls.

Thinking of Setting Up a Commercial Building? 4 Reasons Tilt-Up Concrete Construction Is the Way to Go
Constructing your own commercial or office building gives you the utmost control over things such as the design. However, in any building and construction project, the choice of building material and method of construction used are always key things to consider because they affect the durability and even aesthetic appeal of the building. For this reason, it is essential to learn that selecting tilt-up concrete construction for your commercial building construction project would be more beneficial than traditional or even steel building construction.