These two words are commonly mistakenly interchanged in everyday use, but they actually refer to different things. First, let us define what concrete is. Concrete is an composite substance made up mainly of aggregate material that is held together by a binding substance. For concrete, the binding substance used mainly is cement. This means that for concrete to be produced, there must be cement present in the mixture. Hence, cement refers to a very valuable part of concrete. But the hard, rock-like gray material that we see in driveways, walls, sidewalks, roads and lots of other structures is what concrete is.

Yes, concrete does come in many forms and variants. These various kinds of concrete may be needed in certain types of projects especially those that require special qualities of the concrete. For instance, a structure expected to sustain heavy loads for prolonged periods should be harder, while an artful piece such as those made into various shapes like fountains should be more flexible. The variations can be achieved by the careful science of altering the proportions of the components of the concrete so that the ideal quality is achieved. Other types of concrete include the various eco-friendly kinds of concrete.

In our experience, it is true that a concrete contractor should be present in almost any kind of concrete project. There is a lot more to concrete work that just the act of mixing and pouring of concrete. To be sure that mistakes are avoided, it is important to be adequately versed on the principles behind what is done as well as the rationale behind every step. The truth of the matter is that concrete work is an endeavor that can tolerate only very little mistakes. It is important for everything to be planned well and for the execution to be accomplished by capable hands.

Concrete setting in the rain is a situation that must be avoided at all costs as much as possible. The rain can be detrimental to the overall quality of the concrete, and therefore, the final outcome of the project. Water is one of the important components of concrete. It is the substance the activates the cement to begins its function as a binding material. The mixture is sensitive the alterations in the volume of water. This amount can increase when the wet concrete is rained on. Ultimately, weaker concrete can result, and this structure will easily crack, so this must be avoided.

Yes, it can be painted. As time goes by, there are more newer methods that are developed to improve the look of concrete and make it aesthetically pleasing. But at the end of the day, one can never go wrong with something as classic as painting the surface of it. But there will be certain considerations. The most important by far is the kind of paint to use. Be sure to check the label and ask for elastomeric or masonry paint. This kind of paint is especially designed for concrete such that it adheres well even under the changing environmental conditions. 

In most cases, it will not be easy to pinpoint the exact reason why concrete cracks. This is due to the fact that more often than not, there is more than one culprit as to why this is happening. For people without much background on the principles of using concrete, the environmental stresses like heavy loads or forces may be on your mind as the main reason. However, the most significant ones can often be traced back to how the concrete was mixed. Any error in the amount of each of the proportional parts of concrete can be detrimental to its durability.

Concrete must undergo a careful process of curing before it can be fully used. This principle is very important when installing a driveway. All too often, the property owner may be too excited to finally use the new driveway. However, to be safe, one must wait for at least seven days, and up to ten days before starting to drive over the surface. For parking, a whole month since the pouring must pass first. Alterations can occur within the concrete if disturbed early on, so the curing process must be respected aptly before the driveway is put into full use.

As the name would suggest, a concrete sealer is a substance that is designed to seal concrete. Since it seals form the surface, it can prevent some superficial damage from getting through it. This material is cheap and easy to apply. You will not even need professional assistance. Sealers comes in various forms, but they have the common ingredient of a penetrating resin, such as acrylic, epoxy, or polyurethane. When applied, they can offer surface protection for up to 5 years or so. Hence, reapplying the sealer just every 2 to 5 years is often good enough to add some protection.

Like many things, concrete is also susceptible to change in the environmental conditions, and that includes the weather situation. This is most significant when concrete is being poured, about to be poured, or just after pouring. In terms of temperature, the winter is not ideal for pouring concrete since it can make the mixture freeze. Remember, the concrete contains water, and when this water freezes before being poured, the mixture is no longer viable. Rain is also something that is avoided since it can alter the proportions of the composition of the concrete. All these must be accounted for during pouring.