Questions To Ask When Pouring Concrete
Questions To Ask When Pouring Concrete
If you’re looking for a concrete contractor to pour your driveway, sidewalk or other project, you’ll want to ask the right questions. Here are some of the most important ones.
1. Why Concrete?
Concrete is a strong and durable material used for everything from roads and sidewalks to flooring and building foundations. It’s also easy to use and pour into a variety of shapes. The amount of concrete you need depends on the size of your slab, the location of your jobsite and the forms you plan to use. Using an overly generous amount can lead to delays and schedule problems. Ready-mix concrete is an especially popular option for large-scale projects.
2. What Kind Of Machinery Do I Need?
When pouring concrete, you need the right machinery to get the job done. These include concrete mixers, shovels and wheelbarrows. These are essential pieces of equipment that allow you to mix and pour concrete quickly and accurately. They also lessen physical labor demands on your crew. You can also use concrete pumps to move large amounts of concrete around the site quickly. They come in two varieties – boom and line pumps. Both are great options for pouring in tight spaces.
3. What Kind Of Safety Precautions Do I Need To Take?
When pouring concrete, it’s important to use appropriate safety precautions. This includes wearing gloves, boots and protective eye wear. This can help prevent burns caused by the alkaline properties of wet concrete, as well as chemicals from cement that can irritate your eyes. And in addition to proper PPE, workers should also take steps to control dust from mixing and pouring concrete. This can help reduce the risk of breathing problems and other health conditions such as silicosis.
4. How Do I Stay Organized?
A concrete pour can be a long and arduous process. It can take a lot of planning, coordination and communication to keep everyone happy and safe. It’s important to have a plan of attack before starting any job. This will prevent you from making the wrong decisions and missing out on major milestones. Additionally, this will also help ensure your work is done right the first time around.
5. How Do I Keep My Coworkers Safe?
Keeping your coworkers safe while you pour concrete is a big responsibility. You need to make sure they know what the risks are and how to avoid them. Workers need to be aware of all of the possible hazards in this area of construction, including falls from great heights, confined spaces, sharp objects and chemical burns.
6. How Do I Perform Under Pressure?
A lot of time and effort goes into creating the perfect concrete mix. This means that it’s important to know how to perform your job properly, so you can produce a quality product. Using the right tools can make all the difference when it comes to producing quality concrete. It’s also important to have experience working with different types of concrete. This will help you learn the ins and outs of the concrete industry and give you a leg up on competing applicants.
7. What Concrete Should I Use?
The most basic type of concrete is plain or normal strength concrete. This is made from a mixture of cement, aggregates, and water in a 1:2:4 ratio. This is used for pavements and buildings that do not need high tensile strength. It also serves as a good base for smaller dams and other structures that do not need very high durability or stability.
8. What Kind Of Warranty Do I Get?
If you’re pouring concrete, you’ll want to make sure that your company offers a warranty. Whether it’s a five-year or a lifetime warranty, you should be sure that you’re covered if anything goes wrong during the process. Many contractors offer a warranty for a specific time period and it can, at times, be misleading. If you’re ever unsure about the length of your warranty, you can always ask for a quote from the contractor to get a better idea of how much it will cost.
Categorised in: Concrete Services