4 Factors That Affect The Durability Of Residential Concrete

4 Factors That Affect The Durability Of Residential Concrete

16 December 2022
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog


The goal of residential concrete construction is to achieve great durability. Homeowners and contractors both need to be aware of the factors that affect how durable concrete is likely to be. You and a contractor should discuss these four issues before starting residential concrete work.

Preparation of the Site

One of the most critical factors is the level of site preparation. Many sites have issues with soil stability, for example. If unaddressed, unstable soil can loosen underneath finished concrete. After years of pressure on the concrete, cracks can form. The cracks usually appear in the spots where the soil is providing the least support.

Weather

Concrete will behave very differently depending on the conditions during the day of mixing and pouring. It also will have performance issues if the weather isn't ideal in the days after. Especially in low-humidity environments, the curing process can be challenging. Likewise, extreme moisture in the soil requires a concrete mixture that won't promote excess absorption. A contractor will have to calibrate the mixture to the conditions, and this often requires last-minute changes if the weather is uncooperative.

Ineffective or Inefficient Structural Design

Most residential concrete work provides support to the entire structure of a house. Bear in mind, though, that the concrete contractor doesn't have a lot of say in what goes on top of their work after they're done. Consequently, it's a good idea to loop the contractor into the discussions about the structure.

Architects and engineers should communicate with the residential concrete construction team to make sure the mixture will meet the structure's needs. If the structure and the base don't interface well, the concrete could fail. Notably, these failures might not appear for years or even decades.

Quality Control

Mixing concrete is a tricky process that requires a strong commitment to quality control. Experience contractors will make it look easy, and many projects aren't too demanding. However, the structural requirements of the building can create demands on the concrete mixture. If you plan to install a large garage in a spot where significant concrete will be necessary for the floor, for example, the mixture needs to be right to provide support for multiple vehicles.

Quality control also becomes very important in extreme environments. Suppose you're going to build in an area with significant groundwater issues. A residential concrete construction company can create a mixture for that purpose. However, you'll need to take soil samples and run tests. The engineers planning the construction will then need to provide specifications for the concrete based on the data.