FAQS
Frequently asked questions?
Searching for concreters on the Gold Coast? Look no further! Gold Coast Decorative Concrete is here!
Want to know more about the services we offer? How much do our services cost? Want to understand concreting? The answers to these questions (and more) can be found below.
ABOUT US
Gold Coast Decorative Concrete is a much beloved, home-grown business that services the Gold Coast and Greater Brisbane area.
We offer an extensive portfolio of concreting services that range from aesthetic to practical applications such as concrete cleaning and resealing to decorative stenciling and more!
Reach out to us for a quote! Simply fill out the contact form on our website, shoot us an email at chad@decorativeconcreteseq.com.au, or call us at 0473 146 366.
GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CONCRETING
We often use the terms cement and concrete interchangeably but cement is an actual ingredient of concrete. It’s made from raw materials such as limestone, clay, chalk, marl and has been turned into a very fine powder similar to flour.
The ideal mix is to have a water-cement ratio of .50 with aggregate of not going over an inch. This mix must have 5-6 inches in thickness in order to obtain a psi of at least 3500.
PSI or psi is a unit of measurement that stands for “pound-force per square inch.” It gauges the amount of stress forces that affect concrete. Simply put, it asks if the concrete is able to handle such loads or pressure. Driveways and concrete slabs typically require 3500 -4000 psi and it can go up depending on the application.
Megapascal or MPa is the metric equivalent of psi and measures the compressive strength of concrete. The stronger the material will be and the less likely it is to fail if it has a higher MPa. For applications such as in home construction, the MPa range is from 17.5 – 50 and increases over a 28-day period. For driveways, pathways, and footings, we typically use a MPa of 20-25.
Concrete platforms and structures need to have reinforcements to help reduce cracking and prevent architectural or even structural failure. Steel reinforcements – steel bars or rebar or mesh – help absorb tensile, compressive, and shear pressure forces in the concrete structure.
While rebar is a common reinforcement used in constructing concrete driveways, we like to make use of SL72 steel reinforcing (reo) mesh as it is quite ideal and versatile.
Exposed aggregate (sometimes called decorative pebble) is a favourite among home and business owners to use when it comes to their driveways and pathways. This is done by removing the concrete surface via a pressure washer or scrubbing/brushing and exposing the decorative coarse aggregate beneath.
Stencilled concrete is a decorative concrete application and takes a two-step process of drawing patterns over a concrete surface. When done correctly, it can last at a minimum of 5 years while stencilled concrete in areas with low foot traffic and are regularly maintained can last for decades.
Just like stencilled concrete, it is another decorative concrete application. It is sometimes called patterned, textured, and imprinted concrete as a pattern is stamped (using quality moulds) on the surface to resemble brick, stone, and even wood.
CONCRETE DRIVEWAY CARE (AND MORE)
Regular wear and tear and environmental factors (extreme weather conditions, tree roots, a fault line) can cause damage to any structure and concrete driveways are not an exemption. Check our blog https://www.concreters-goldcoast.com.au/how-to-protect-your-new-concrete-driveway/ to know more about the common concrete driveway problems and what caused them.
Concrete sealing is a process that “seals in” your concrete to protect it from surface damage, corrosion, and staining. This process is done ideally every 2 years to increase the concrete’s lifespan. The sealants are applied by low-pressure spray. Concrete sealants come in 2 main categories – topical and penetrating. Stamped and stencilled concrete surfaces can highly benefit from this process and you can even add an anti-slip component to prevent any accidents, especially in high foot traffic areas.
Sealant should be applied after 28 days (or recommended) to ensure that new concrete has completely cured. Likewise, it should also be applied under dry conditions (concrete is completely dry) and in temperatures 50°F or above during the application period and 24 hours after. Never apply sealant to wet or damp concrete as it can cause loss of adhesion.
After repair or construction of your concrete driveway, you can walk on its surface after no less than 12 hours while you can only drive and park on it after 7 days to let the concrete reach its full strength potential. Any sooner can lead to cracks and further damage.