Simply put, a concrete paving contractor installs concrete surfaces, from curbing, to patios, to driveways and roadways. However, this simple answer doesn’t dive into the full scope of what a concrete paving contractor does.
The concrete paving contractors at Morgan Pavement provide comprehensive concrete paving services and maintenance that includes the following:
- Grading
- Form builds
- Pouring
- Screeding
- Curing
- Form removal
If you seek concrete services and would like a quote from a Utah or Las Vegas concrete company, call us at Morgan Pavement for a bid.
Concrete Paving Phase One: Grading
When you hire a Las Vegas concrete company or a Utah concrete contractor, our contractor will visit the site and determine what grading needs to be done. Concrete will crack and break over time if it is laid over uneven soil that hasn’t been drained. The disparity between weather conditions in Las Vegas and Utah means that our concrete contractors specialize in the needs of each area and know how to excavate and compact the soils in each region to pour long-lasting concrete.
Our team removes surface vegetation and topsoil to prepare the concrete surface. We’ll excavate and build-up areas to create a smooth, flat surface. Finally, we’ll compact the soil to prevent settling after the concrete is poured.
The quality of your final concrete product depends upon the underlying soil materials, including the soil density and moisture content. In order for your concrete to bear the anticipated load, a geotechnical engineer will test the soil for the proper density specified by your structural engineer. If the soil doesn’t have the proper density, our team will remove the soil and replace it with suitable material, mix aggregates with the soil, or apply layers of soil above weaker soils to distribute the load.
Once excavation, grading, and compaction are complete, your concrete paving contractor will move to the next phase.
Concrete Paving Phase Two: Form Builds
Concrete forms create a solid barrier that holds and shapes concrete. Some concrete forms provide insulation or will create patterns on the finished concrete.
Depending on your project, our team will build the concrete forms to accommodate the weight and pressure of the concrete. For simple slabs, wood forms suffice. However, for larger projects such as the base of buildings, bridgework, or large highways, a concrete contractor may build the form out of steel or metal that can withstand the pressure of thousands of tons of concrete.
Some structures require a latticework of rebar to be laid before the concrete is poured over the metal rods. This reinforces the concrete.
Concrete forms are becoming more decorative as cities and municipalities look to beautify the area. For some projects, concrete can be poured into a unique, one-of-a-kind mold created and designed by a sculptor. If you are searching “concrete contractor near me” and you are looking for a Las Vegas concrete contractor or Utah concrete contractor, Morgan Pavement has the experience you need.
Concrete Paving Phase Three: Pouring
Concrete comes in different grades, which is defined by the amount of minimum strength the concrete must have 28 days after being poured. Depending on your structure and design requirements, the grade of concrete will be selected and mixed in the proper proportions.
Your mix design is the ratio of aggregates and paste. Cement, mixed with water and air, comprises the majority of the paste volume, where aggregates are usually derived from the local environment and may be fine or coarse, such as sand or rocks.
A concrete pour is planned around the needs of the project with the mix setting time in mind. Most mix setting times are around 45-60 minutes, so the pour pattern must take this into account.
Finally, a vibrator will be used to compact the concrete to make sure that all air is removed. This helps keep the concrete strong. During this phase, the mix type dictates the time and amount of needed compaction.
Concrete Paving Phase Four: Screeding
Flat surfaces such as cement patios, sidewalks, and roadways require screeding. Before the concrete dries, large boards are used to screed the final layer of concrete.
Screeding is a binder that is laid down in certain degrees of thickness to bring the surface of the concrete to the required height. Your concrete construction contractor will screed the surface of the concrete to smooth it or to provide the right type of surface that’s needed. For example, a slick surface isn’t desired around swimming pools since it can become too slick when wet. Screeding will rough up that surface and provide traction.
Screeds are made from pre-blended mortar, and this finishing surface helps protect your concrete slab.
Concrete Paving Phase Five: Curing
Curing is one of the most important stages of a concrete project. Proper curing methods ensure that the concrete is strong and durable. During the hot summer or cold winter, your Las Vegas concrete company and Utah concrete contractor will hydrate the cement and use special techniques to properly cure the concrete at the right temperature and moisture levels.
Curing techniques include sprinkling the concrete surfaces with water fog, or laying down moisture-retaining fabric. Or, they may seal the surface with plastic or curing compounds.
The first 28 days are critical to the curing process. Your concrete contractor will pay close attention to outdoor weather conditions and adjust accordingly. Concrete hardens and strengthens over time, so older concrete must receive regular hydration in order to maintain its durability.
Concrete Paving Phase Six: Form Removal or Stripping
Once your concrete has been poured and is sufficiently cured, the Morgan Pavement concrete contractors will strip or remove any forms that are no longer needed. Forms can be reused over multiple projects, so stripping is done carefully to keep the forms intact.
Depending on the type of project and the mix grade used, our team will remove forms after a required number of days that allow the concrete to properly dry and set.
Hire The Concrete Paving Contractors At Morgan Pavement
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