There’s no doubt that building customers hearing a lot of myths about concrete work— and often time from the concrete contractors they interview.  As such Donald Rushing Construction tends to spend a fair amount of time educating people about concrete.

If any concrete contractor you speak to says any of the following things, you might want to take a step back and look for someone who knows more about the topic like our Donald Rushing Construction team.

Skilled Concrete Contractors Debunk Common Concrete Myths

Myth One:  Concrete is totally impermeable.

The truth:  There’s no such thing as 100% impermeable concrete.  Even the densest mixes will be somewhat porous.  However, it is possible to get concrete that is so dense that it can take literally months for even gas to make it through the slab. 

Myth Two:  The strength of concrete determines its durability.

We touched on this in a recent blog about concrete durability research.  Compressive strength is an important feature to consider in concrete, but it has little to do with the long-term durability of the work.  Factors such as adverse weather, water erosion, and chemical reactions can all reduce durability regardless of core strength.

Myth Three: Concrete can be poured on frozen ground without issue.

This is based on a misunderstanding of how concrete cools and hardens.  Concrete curing is exothermic – it gives off heat for most of the process.  This can actually melt frozen ground, causing the concrete bed to become uneven or unfit to support the resulting structure.  In most cases, pre-melting the ground is required to ensure a safe concrete pour.

Myth Four:  “X” is a failsafe indicator for when concrete is finished.

You might hear about the “footprint test” or some other quick-and-dirty method for deciding when concrete is fully finished.  There’s no 100% accurate shortcut.  It takes expert know-how to recognize when curing is finished, and the time that takes will vary substantially depending on the concrete mix used.  

Myth Five: Reinforced concrete cannot crack.

Reinforcement adds to concrete’s strength and durability, but it can still crack.  In particular, volume changes can easily lead to even a reinforced slab cracking.  Proper safeguards still need to be in place.

At Donald Rushing Construction, We Know Concrete

From single slabs to full-building construction, we can handle it all.  Contact us today to learn more.