What is Concreting?

Concreting is the process of proportioning, mixing, transporting, placing, compacting, finishing, and curing concrete to produce a construction element that performs its functions safely. It may sound simple, but all stages must be carried out in the proper sequence and time to prevent faults, because a fault in one stage can affect subsequent stages.

The objective is not to make the material solid, but to meet the specific strength, dimensional stability, ruggedness, and surface-quality requirements of the situation. It is an “apartment parcel,” bridge component, warehouse floor, foundation, and retaining wall can each call for different specifications and construction practices.

 

Understanding Concrete and Its Key Properties

The basic ingredients of concrete are cementitious material, water, fine aggregate, and coarse aggregate. Additions of admixtures or supplementary materials may be added to concrete when particular properties are required. Concrete strength develops through hydration, a chemical reaction between the cementitious material and water.

The water-cementitious-material ratio is critical, as excess water often increases porosity and, in turn, compromises post-hardening performance. A good mixture design optimizes workability with strength, permeability, durability, setting characteristics, and exposure conditions likely during the service life of the structure.

 

Choosing Ready Mix Concrete for Consistent Results

Ready mix concrete is mixed at a batching plant to a specific mix design and trucked to the site where it is placed. This increases accuracy in proportioning and productivity (especially for high volumes or tight tolerances).

Establish the appropriate grade, workability, aggregate properties, admixture requirements, delivery program, and estimated volumes with the project team before placing. Do not add uncontrolled water on site just to make the concrete easier to place, as deviation from the accepted mix will alter its performance and should only be done as per project requirements and a professional approach.

Concrete Pouring: Placement and Compaction

Fresh concrete shall be placed in the minimum practical time near its final position and should be transported, distributed, consolidated, screeded, finished, and cured by a well-coordinated crew without segregation, contamination, and induced delays.

Compaction pushes air from the layer and ensures the concrete flows to fill all voids, i.e., around the reinforcement, at the corners, and over/around other embedded items. To use the correct technique, it is necessary to consider the mixture properties, element shape, reinforcement systems, and type of vibrating equipment; the method should be specified in the approved construction method with no improvisation.

 

Preparing Before Concrete Pouring

Preparation is one of the best methods to avoid concrete defects, as the finished material will only be as good as the underlying support and formwork. Check the subgrade, subbase, reinforcement, formwork joints, embedded items, drainage provisions, and access before placing.

The formwork should be supported and stable, since fresh concrete applies high pressure, and the supporting ground should be stable and compacted to the correct level. Also, you have to consider the weather, since heat, wind, rain, and cold affect the setting, evaporation, curing, and finishing.

 

Finishing Concrete Flooring Correctly

Finished concrete floor should be finished as best suits the application (a living apartment, parking lot, warehouse, or large industrial facility all have vastly different requirements for finish flatness, abrasion resistance, slip resistance, appearance, and chemical resistance), and finishing cannot save or compensate for poor mix control, poor sub-base preparation, or poor curing.

Finishing with water on the surface may produce a weak layer on top, and particle loss or dusting if the surface is finished too early or too late. For critical applications, protection systems (e.g., industrial floor coating) could be taken into consideration if their properties match anticipated traffic, chemicals, moisture, and maintenance needs.

 

Importance of Concrete Curing

Curing is the moist or warm conditions necessary for continued hydration and development of the required concrete properties. The American Concrete Institute defines curing as the protection of concrete against loss of moisture, and the attendant prevention of undesirable changes in the concrete, during the early stages. Curing promotes strength gain and durability; poor early curing leads to a weak surface and can cause early cracking.

Concrete does not just dry to the final state, and strength can keep increasing over a very long period as long as proper conditions are maintained. Seven days of curing is typical, but ‘actual’ curing may be longer or shorter, based on mix environment specs and performance desired. ACI typically defaults to 28-day results for specified compressive strength unless more exactly noted otherwise in project documents.

 

Concrete Waterproofing for Protection

Water penetration often leads to deterioration when it passes through joints, penetrations, porous surfaces, or other vulnerable areas carrying aggressive agents. Good protection starts by investigating the source and pressure, not choosing a product based on its label.

Depending on the application, you can use various waterproofing materials, such as cementitious systems, liquid-applied membranes, polyether technology, modified bitumen systems, water stops, or penetrating treatments. Material performance depends on compatibility, surface preparation, thickness, detailing, curing, and continuity.

 

Concrete Construction and Quality Control

Quality control should be carried out during placement, curing, inspection, and maintenance. As per the National Building Code, all buildings shall comply with regulations on the quality and properties of materials used, as well as the design and construction requirements, together with bridge requirements under relevant engineering standards.

DPWH specifications also define concrete quality through classification, material requirements, testing, and specified strength. The present Item 405 specification defines the classification of structural concrete with specified compressive strength, seven-day, fourteen-day, and twenty-eight-day.

For a project team, useful quality records can include:

• Manage batch content and batch info.
• Concrete test results
• Placement dates and locations are:
• Weather and site conditions.
• Inspection reports.
• Curing methods
• Records on repair and maintenance

 

Common Causes of Concrete Cracking

Any object can crack for several reasons, and not all cracks denote structural damage. Cracking occurs due to drying shrinkage, thermal movement, settlement, improper curing, restrained movement, bad positioning of joints, excessive loads, corrosion of reinforcement, and structural movement.

Step one is to fully understand the crack before selecting a repair process. Take note of the crack’s location, width, direction, depth, pattern, age, and whether it is increasing, known to be water leaking, settling, corroding, or moving. Small superficial cracks may be less significant than through cracks passing through structural members. 

 

Concrete Repair

Concrete repair should restore the compromised material and return the structure to its original condition, including surface patching, crack treatment, removal and replacement of deficient concrete, corrosion prevention, structural strengthening, waterproofing, and other specific works.

Surface preparation is a critical factor. Existing concrete that is degraded or loose may need to be removed, cleaned, reinforcement treated where appropriate, and the substrate prepared for the compatible repair system.

Structural applications: appropriately specified structural epoxy for crack repair may be acceptable when the repair needs a bonding or load-transfer system, and the product is suitable for the crack and substrate. Though, structural repairs should be based on an engineering evaluation rather than just filling a visible crack.

 

Concrete Leveling and Uneven Surfaces

Uneven concrete can also present a tripping hazard, silt up the drainage system, cause equipment operation problems, or hinder the installation of floor finishes. Determine whether the specific issue is only on the surface or results from settlement, erosion, inadequately prepared subgrade, moisture movement, or other problems.

The repair method should depend on the cause of movement, the anticipated loading, the level of the surrounds, the drainage requirements, and suitability with the existing material. Adding another layer on a failed base may be a short-term cure; because of this, the condition of support should be improved when appropriate.

 

Best Practices for Long-Lasting Concrete

Durability in concrete rarely comes from a single “wonder” product; it comes from many precautions, starting with a proper mix design and an appropriately prepared base. The right choices for reinforcement, joints, concrete placement, consolidation, finishing, curing, drainage, and protection from environmental degradation all contribute to durability.

Check the repaired areas after construction at regular intervals for new cracks, spalling, water penetration, corrosion staining, surface wear, settlement, and other changes in the concrete. 

 

Choosing Construction Protection Products

Choose construction chemicals based on the issue, substrate exposure, required performance standards, application method, and the manufacturer’s technical data rather than marketing claims. Calculate the minimum material quantity, check coverage, required preparation, curing-time compatibility, chemical resistance, sales conditions, and expected service conditions.

In addition, you should be able to get useful product data and technical assistance for waterproofing, structural bonding, industrial protection, repair, and other uses from a qualified supplier.

 

FAQs

How long does concrete take to set?

Concrete does not dry easily; over time, it continues to change as hydration and strength increase. Seven days is a commonly used tradition, but curing needs depend on the mixture, environment specifications, and performance.

Why does the concrete crack?

Concrete can crack due to drying shrinkage, temperature changes (thermal movement), settlement, insufficient curing, restrained movement, joint deterioration or poor joint design, overloading, corrosion of reinforcement, or other structural movement. Determine the cause, as repairing only the crack will not succeed if the condition persists.

What makes concrete more durable?

Use a suitable blend, ready, and tightly compacted support, erect reinforcement and joints to the design, place, and consolidate the mixture properly, apply adequate curing, and protect the exposed surfaces where required. Continuous checking and early repairs can also serve to reduce deterioration and ensure long service life.

 

Build Stronger From the Start with Sealbond

Sound concrete is not just a product or application but a result of good design, controlled construction practices, proper curing, suitable covering, and timely repair. When you know the basics, you will have a clearer picture of how best to prepare, place, waterproof, finish, inspect, and repair.

If you want the best protection of your concrete using construction chemicals, whether for protection, repair, flooring, structural bonding, or waterproofing, then take a look at Sealbond and its range of products and talk to our technical team about your project. Ultimately, selecting the right system that fits your substrate and exposure will protect your investment and ensure reliable long-term performance for years to come.

 

References:

American Concrete Institute. 2016. Retrieved from: https://www.concrete.org/portals/0/files/pdf/previews/308r_16_preview.pdf

Department of Public Works and Highways. ND. Retrieved from: https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/references/laws_codes_orders/national_law