Tucson Concrete Contractors & Driveways
Concrete has been around since ancient times. The Mayans, Greeks and Romans were mesmerized by its strength and versatility – and so are we! I’m proud to present my company, Concrete Contractors Tucson AZ, born from a passion of working with concrete. We service the greater Tucson area and come highly recommended by all previous clients. As a concrete company, we are obsessed with providing the best possible services to guarantee client satisfaction. Our team of licensed and bonded contractors will ensure that all your expectations are not just met, but surpassed. We provide quick and reliable estimates and assist in providing solutions to concrete-related problems. With a professional and creative approach, we are sure to transform any living or office space into a spectacular and functional area.
The Colosseum in Rome housed hundreds of thousands of spectators and mighty gladiators since 80 A.D. This massive concrete structure is still strong as ever and one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world. The Panama Canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the majestic statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil were also constructed with concrete to stand the test of time. Therefore, as experienced artisans we would love to build your concrete structure so it too can stand the test of time and the scorching Arizona sun. |
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It goes without saying that concrete is versatile and durable. It is also one of the most fire-resistant building materials in the world, adding to the safety of the substance. Concrete pouring is fast and creates a smooth finish. Concrete is also known as Portland cement concrete and its uses range from highways and airfields to beams, columns and dams. Because concrete cannot withstand tension without reinforcement, it needs to be reinforced with other building materials dependant on the usage. Most commonly concrete is reinforced with steel.
Concrete is primarily made up of four principle ingredients:
1.Cement (or another binder like lime or asphalt)
2.Fine aggregate, like sand or stone
3.Coarse aggregate, like chippings and
4.Water (which should be potable)
Different materials and substances can also be added to concrete in order to obtain a specific quality. When adding water, a process called hydration takes place. It should be noted that concrete can successfully set below water as well. It takes about ¾ of an hour for normal concrete to start setting after water has been added to the mixture. Hereafter, it should not be disturbed. Evaporation and excess temperatures should be avoided until the mixture has properly set three to six days after the initial process. Concrete gets stronger with time.
Concrete is primarily made up of four principle ingredients:
1.Cement (or another binder like lime or asphalt)
2.Fine aggregate, like sand or stone
3.Coarse aggregate, like chippings and
4.Water (which should be potable)
Different materials and substances can also be added to concrete in order to obtain a specific quality. When adding water, a process called hydration takes place. It should be noted that concrete can successfully set below water as well. It takes about ¾ of an hour for normal concrete to start setting after water has been added to the mixture. Hereafter, it should not be disturbed. Evaporation and excess temperatures should be avoided until the mixture has properly set three to six days after the initial process. Concrete gets stronger with time.
Concrete Driveway
Concrete Repair
Stained Concrete
There are different types of concrete for different situations and uses.
Cast-in-Place-Concrete
Traditionally cast-in-place concrete has been utilised by placing the concrete into plastic forms and providing sufficient time for the mass to harden. Once the concrete can support its own weight, the plastic forms are removed.
Hereunder falls walls and wall footings, which are primarily used for foundation walls, tank walls and other specialised structures for instance erections built specifically for nuclear containment. Typical cast-in-place shapes include rectangular and circular columns.
Floors and roofs can also be cast-in-place through the use of slabs. One-way slabs are supported in one direction. Supporting beams, girders and slabs may be cast at one time, though columns are constructed before the first mentioned to lower the risk of shrinkage. Two-way slabs offer support in two 90˚ angles and flat slabs are usually supported by columns.
Precast Concrete
This type of concrete has been cast in a specific shape before using it in a structure. Precasting is usually done in an industrial setting, not on the building site. The standardisation of shapes for the construction world has led to cost-effectiveness for the builder and subsequently the client. Common slab shapes include single tees, double tees, channels, flat slabs or hollow-core slabs. Another type of precast wall is called tilt-up construction where panels are horizontally cast at the building site. Usually wall panels are cast on previously placed building floor slabs.
Prestressed Concrete
This type of concrete entails the application of an initial compression load. The fact that concrete is strong in compression, but weaker in tension is addressed by prestressing the concrete so the load can be increased. The process of prestressing involves smaller members assisting the member to carry the load. The member will be kept under compression and any cracking that might occur will not be superficial. There are two methods used to prepare prestressed concrete. Firstly, pretensioning entails placing tension on the material (steel or cables) in the form in which one wants to use it before adding the pouring member. Once concrete has hardened up, the structures used for external tensioning are taken away. Secondly, post tensioning entails adding tension to the member after the pouring has taken place.
Architectural concrete
Use of decorative concrete in architectural design has become increasingly popular. The standardisation and availability of forms and shapes has led to affordability and cost-effectiveness. Different shapes, sizes, colors and textures can be used and combined to make a visually pleasing effect.
One of the most common methods used in order to get the desirable architectural effects include exposed aggregate surfaces. This effect entails removing the cement paste from the exterior surface, thus exposing the underlying (aggregate) surface. Removal takes place by using chemical surface retarders, sandblasting or water blasting – to name a few techniques.
The Portland Cement Association describes architectural concrete as concrete providing an aesthetically pleasing finish, though at the same time provides a structural function. Colored concrete may be used as a decorative finish. When trying to get a preferred color, one should take into consideration the amounts of iron and manganese oxides – the natural materials that give cement its greyish color. By adding mineral oxide pigments different shades can be integrally mixed to produce different hues.
Testing whether the concrete structure is sufficiently hard and sturdy requires that a test be carried out. Specialised equipment and methods are used to determine whether concrete’s compressive strength is sufficient enough. This is done by a cores impact hammer (also known as Schmidt hammer). An elementary test can also be done by chopping away at the concrete with the corner of a brick. Hard concrete will sound sharp and a dull sound will indicate a low strength concrete. In this case it may be necessary to conduct further, professional tests in order to ensure the structure is safe.
Structures made from concrete cannot easily be demolished. Broken and crushed concrete can be used as an aggregate for filling or lower-strength concrete.
Concrete is our passion. We can assist with a variety of concrete structures to suit your every need. We specialise in concrete driveways, stamped concrete, concrete patios, concrete repairs and stained concrete.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to assist in making your dreams come true!
Cast-in-Place-Concrete
Traditionally cast-in-place concrete has been utilised by placing the concrete into plastic forms and providing sufficient time for the mass to harden. Once the concrete can support its own weight, the plastic forms are removed.
Hereunder falls walls and wall footings, which are primarily used for foundation walls, tank walls and other specialised structures for instance erections built specifically for nuclear containment. Typical cast-in-place shapes include rectangular and circular columns.
Floors and roofs can also be cast-in-place through the use of slabs. One-way slabs are supported in one direction. Supporting beams, girders and slabs may be cast at one time, though columns are constructed before the first mentioned to lower the risk of shrinkage. Two-way slabs offer support in two 90˚ angles and flat slabs are usually supported by columns.
Precast Concrete
This type of concrete has been cast in a specific shape before using it in a structure. Precasting is usually done in an industrial setting, not on the building site. The standardisation of shapes for the construction world has led to cost-effectiveness for the builder and subsequently the client. Common slab shapes include single tees, double tees, channels, flat slabs or hollow-core slabs. Another type of precast wall is called tilt-up construction where panels are horizontally cast at the building site. Usually wall panels are cast on previously placed building floor slabs.
Prestressed Concrete
This type of concrete entails the application of an initial compression load. The fact that concrete is strong in compression, but weaker in tension is addressed by prestressing the concrete so the load can be increased. The process of prestressing involves smaller members assisting the member to carry the load. The member will be kept under compression and any cracking that might occur will not be superficial. There are two methods used to prepare prestressed concrete. Firstly, pretensioning entails placing tension on the material (steel or cables) in the form in which one wants to use it before adding the pouring member. Once concrete has hardened up, the structures used for external tensioning are taken away. Secondly, post tensioning entails adding tension to the member after the pouring has taken place.
Architectural concrete
Use of decorative concrete in architectural design has become increasingly popular. The standardisation and availability of forms and shapes has led to affordability and cost-effectiveness. Different shapes, sizes, colors and textures can be used and combined to make a visually pleasing effect.
One of the most common methods used in order to get the desirable architectural effects include exposed aggregate surfaces. This effect entails removing the cement paste from the exterior surface, thus exposing the underlying (aggregate) surface. Removal takes place by using chemical surface retarders, sandblasting or water blasting – to name a few techniques.
The Portland Cement Association describes architectural concrete as concrete providing an aesthetically pleasing finish, though at the same time provides a structural function. Colored concrete may be used as a decorative finish. When trying to get a preferred color, one should take into consideration the amounts of iron and manganese oxides – the natural materials that give cement its greyish color. By adding mineral oxide pigments different shades can be integrally mixed to produce different hues.
Testing whether the concrete structure is sufficiently hard and sturdy requires that a test be carried out. Specialised equipment and methods are used to determine whether concrete’s compressive strength is sufficient enough. This is done by a cores impact hammer (also known as Schmidt hammer). An elementary test can also be done by chopping away at the concrete with the corner of a brick. Hard concrete will sound sharp and a dull sound will indicate a low strength concrete. In this case it may be necessary to conduct further, professional tests in order to ensure the structure is safe.
Structures made from concrete cannot easily be demolished. Broken and crushed concrete can be used as an aggregate for filling or lower-strength concrete.
Concrete is our passion. We can assist with a variety of concrete structures to suit your every need. We specialise in concrete driveways, stamped concrete, concrete patios, concrete repairs and stained concrete.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to assist in making your dreams come true!
Concrete Patio
Stamped Concrete
Concrete Resurfacing
Different shapes and liners can be used to simulate creative textures, patterns and designs. It can also be used to copy the look of bricks or stone.
A typical breakdown of constructions costs involving concrete will look as follows:
For the formwork:
39% Labor and equipment
10% Material
For the concrete:
24% Materials
+- 10% Labor and equipment
For reinforcing steel:
12% Materials
7% Labor and equipment
We all know that Tucson has a dry, desert climate. Summers are hot and winters are sunny. Temperatures vary between 42˚F to 102˚F, with June proving to be the hottest month year round.
Concrete is prone to harden in warmer temperatures. 90˚F is considered to be the upper limit for concrete processes. Higher temperatures lead to a quicker setting time and a reduction in the amount of slump. Therefore, in order to get the correct consistency of slump, water should be added to the mixture. Proportionally, cement should also be added. Low humidity and windy conditions also contribute to an increase in shrinkage, leading to cracking. Our team of expert professionals are well-equipped to take the necessary steps to avoid surface cracks in the blistering Arizona heat.
Lowering plastic concrete by cooling the water and/or aggregates before combining the mixture will lower the temperature. Adding retarders or low-heat cement to the mixture will reduce heat gain. Without tampering with the water-cement ratios, which often leads to cracking, we use air-entraining agents, water-reducing agents or workability agents. The use of covers and shades also proves to be successful in controlling the temperatures. After finishing, moisture curing should be started without delay and continue for at least a full day.
Cold-weather concreting, in opposition to hot-weather concreting has its own challenges. Concrete should not be placed on frozen surfaces. Irreversible damage will occur when the concrete is left to freeze within the first twenty-four hours. All shapes and steel used for reinforcing should not be frozen and be free of ice and snow. Concrete should be kept at a temperature of minimum 70˚F and maintained for a minimum of thirty-six hours after placing, according to the American Concrete Institute, in order to achieve the desired strength. During the cold winter months high early strength cement, alternatively accelerators, should be used to reduce setting time. Prior to mixing, water and/or aggregates may be heated and thereafter be mixed with cement. Within three days after placement, vented heaters can be used to reach the desired temperature. Unvented heaters can cause dust on the surface. Cracking can result should the concrete not be allowed to cool down steadily after heating.
When referring to concrete floor finishing there are several methods to be used. Before trowelling the surface all water that’s ‘bled’ onto the surface should have evaporated. The surface should have started to harden. After casting there should be at least a waiting period of two to three hours wherein the mixture should set. In order to get a non-slip finish a wood float is needed. Hard-and-smooth can be done by finishing the normal non-slip with a plaster trowel. Small areas should be done manually and larger areas via a power trowel. During finishing, neat cement should not be added.
Curing refers to the process of keeping the concrete moist during the setting process. During this process, cement should be hydrate. This process ensures that the compressive strength, durability, weathering and resistance to chemical damage is improved. It also aids in avoiding cracking of the surface. Hydration takes place either by keeping the concrete moist or covering the area with plastic sheets to ensure that all moisture does not evaporate.
A typical breakdown of constructions costs involving concrete will look as follows:
For the formwork:
39% Labor and equipment
10% Material
For the concrete:
24% Materials
+- 10% Labor and equipment
For reinforcing steel:
12% Materials
7% Labor and equipment
We all know that Tucson has a dry, desert climate. Summers are hot and winters are sunny. Temperatures vary between 42˚F to 102˚F, with June proving to be the hottest month year round.
Concrete is prone to harden in warmer temperatures. 90˚F is considered to be the upper limit for concrete processes. Higher temperatures lead to a quicker setting time and a reduction in the amount of slump. Therefore, in order to get the correct consistency of slump, water should be added to the mixture. Proportionally, cement should also be added. Low humidity and windy conditions also contribute to an increase in shrinkage, leading to cracking. Our team of expert professionals are well-equipped to take the necessary steps to avoid surface cracks in the blistering Arizona heat.
Lowering plastic concrete by cooling the water and/or aggregates before combining the mixture will lower the temperature. Adding retarders or low-heat cement to the mixture will reduce heat gain. Without tampering with the water-cement ratios, which often leads to cracking, we use air-entraining agents, water-reducing agents or workability agents. The use of covers and shades also proves to be successful in controlling the temperatures. After finishing, moisture curing should be started without delay and continue for at least a full day.
Cold-weather concreting, in opposition to hot-weather concreting has its own challenges. Concrete should not be placed on frozen surfaces. Irreversible damage will occur when the concrete is left to freeze within the first twenty-four hours. All shapes and steel used for reinforcing should not be frozen and be free of ice and snow. Concrete should be kept at a temperature of minimum 70˚F and maintained for a minimum of thirty-six hours after placing, according to the American Concrete Institute, in order to achieve the desired strength. During the cold winter months high early strength cement, alternatively accelerators, should be used to reduce setting time. Prior to mixing, water and/or aggregates may be heated and thereafter be mixed with cement. Within three days after placement, vented heaters can be used to reach the desired temperature. Unvented heaters can cause dust on the surface. Cracking can result should the concrete not be allowed to cool down steadily after heating.
When referring to concrete floor finishing there are several methods to be used. Before trowelling the surface all water that’s ‘bled’ onto the surface should have evaporated. The surface should have started to harden. After casting there should be at least a waiting period of two to three hours wherein the mixture should set. In order to get a non-slip finish a wood float is needed. Hard-and-smooth can be done by finishing the normal non-slip with a plaster trowel. Small areas should be done manually and larger areas via a power trowel. During finishing, neat cement should not be added.
Curing refers to the process of keeping the concrete moist during the setting process. During this process, cement should be hydrate. This process ensures that the compressive strength, durability, weathering and resistance to chemical damage is improved. It also aids in avoiding cracking of the surface. Hydration takes place either by keeping the concrete moist or covering the area with plastic sheets to ensure that all moisture does not evaporate.
Best tree concrete company I've used before for repairing a patio in my backyard. Good quality services and awesome pricing! - Bridgette A
They were absolutely great! Called them to fix my driveway, it had many cracks in and they fixed it up in a few days. Thanks Again to the team! - Jarod R
Always a pleasure working with the team, we use them for our commercial work and they are just brilliant! - Martinez S
