Are you new to countertops? Are you confused about what the term "wet-cast" means? Here’s a look at fluid concrete mixes for wet-casting as compared to stiff mixes for hand-packing, which is also known as "the Buddy Rhodes method."
Tag: Science of Concrete
Why the Formula Approach for Polished Concrete Hurts Our Industry
The weak economy does not have to make our industry buckle under price pressures. We’ve forgotten that polished concrete is already the best bargain in the flooring industry, and what’s more, we’ve allowed the formulaic installation to become entrenched in specifications.
The Case for CSA Cements for Concrete Countertops
According to Jeffrey Girard, P.E., founder of The Concrete Countertop Institute, concrete with calcium sulphoaluminate (CSA) is the way to go for countertops.
"When I first used CSA instead of portland cement, I recognized that it offers a technological advantage," he says.
A concrete solution to climate change?
A better understanding of how carbon dioxide is absorbed by concrete.
The Science of Concrete Mixes
Using a little bit of research, a dash of cunning and a lot of experimentation, developing your own mix designs can save you from many decorative concrete pitfalls.
Fly Ash instead of Cement
Fly Ash is a coal waste products that acts a lot like cement in the right recipe.
Calcium Carbonate Spots Under Sealed Concrete
As new concrete hydrates, it creates calcium hydroxide. When the calcium hydroxide comes in contact with carbon dioxide in the air, it creates calcium carbonate (free salts).
A Primer on Pozzolans
Portland cement consists primarily of calcium silicates. When mixed with water, a chemical reaction known as hydration creates calcium silicate hydrate (CSH). Needle-like crystals of CSH interlock to hold concrete together, almost like a glue.
Testing Slump in Your Concrete Mix and Why It Is Important
However you define slump, the bottom line remains the same: Slump is a test for the rigidity of uncured concrete. Lower slump concrete is very stiff, and higher slump concrete is more fluid.
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Whiskey Themed Kitchen with Barrels and a Concrete Countertop