Concrete Information
We at Certified Concrete LLC try our best to ensure that for many years to come, you will have long lasting, high quality concrete flat-work inside and around your home. Whether it’s your driveway, front porch, sidewalk, patio, garage or interior floor, we will do everything we can to satisfy you as a customer. Although concrete is a very durable product, it is not without its flaws. Because concrete shrinks as it dries and cures, all concrete will crack, and you may notice hairline cracks soon after install. We will do everything that we can to prevent this from happening.
Curing: Your concrete will be curing for the next 30 days. This is the natural hardening process. We recommend that you do not use the newly poured area for a minimum of 7 days and up to 14 days; this includes parking, placing patio furniture, grills, etc. on the newly poured area. You may walk on the area if needed the day after, but limited access is advised for seven days.
Colored and Stamped Concrete:
Double Lines: This occurs in stamped concrete. It happens when two stamp mats come together during the stamping process; which allows the concrete to push up through where two mats meet. We do our best to smooth these out although because we throw on a release powder on the concrete as we stamp, we may miss one or two spots.
Bird bath like puddles:
one of the risks of being on the concrete to apply the stamps. Almost all stamped concrete will have areas that hold water, either due to the nature of the texture of the stamp design or these deeper depressions.
Whitening: This occurs in stamped finishes. If moisture gets trapped beneath the sealer it can cause a whitening or hazy appearance. Contractor should be made aware of this as soon as possible to remedy it. Your colored and stamped concrete will be protected with a commercial grade sealer. This will help protect the concrete from stains or fading from the sun. It also assists in the curing process. We recommend that your concrete is power washed and resealed again every 2-3 years to protect it. This maintenance can be scheduled through Certified Concrete LLC, for an additional cost.
Cracking: Your concrete is poured at 4000-4500 PSI (pounds per square inch), with rebar where needed. This is for strength, durability, and vitality of the concrete. Exterior concrete is subject to inclement weather and heavy vehicle traffic. This results in normal wear and tear on the surface of the concrete.
In Colorado with such an extreme variety of weather it will contribute to ongoing stress of the concrete. Joints have been placed to guide the cracking. However, you may notice thin “hairline” cracks in other areas. If this happens, please be assured that it will not affect the integrity of your concrete. Please see the warranty section below for more detail.
Snow and Ice: We do not recommend that you use any type of de-icer for your concrete, as it will damage the concrete and can cause flaking. For colored and/or stamped, the best method is to remove with a plastic shovel to avoid scratching. If you must apply something, as safety is a priority, you can use sand, please be advised this may cause some abrasions to the surface of the colored and/ or stamped concrete.
For Driveways:
*Do not drive on the "new" concrete for at least 7-14 days.
· Do not allow water to drain beneath the slab. Settlement cracks may develop.
· Do not apply deicing chemicals (salt) for snow and ice removal the first winter. As an alternative, sand can be used for traction.
· On hot weather days, the crew will advise you to "mist" or spray your concrete to minimize the chance of cracking. Please speak to Louis directly for instructions.
*WARNING: Never use deicers containing ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate (i.e. fertilizers). Such products are known to aggressively attack concrete.
· For stain removal, do not use harsh acids. Use a product specifically designed for the stain in question and for use on concrete.
· Allow up to 24 hours to walk on "new" concrete.
Thank you,
Louis Ferguson.
Owner of Certified Concrete LLC.
| Office (720) 401-7206 | Email: office@certifiedconcrete1.com
