When getting started on the ground floor, you can’t go wrong with concrete. From foundations to patios to walkways and more, concrete provides the strength needed to support structures, making it an excellent choice for home construction projects, big and small. With the popularity of do-it-yourself content on television and online, you may want to explore a DIY approach to concrete instead of hiring a foundation concrete contractor. Here are some reasons you should consider the professional approach.



Leveling Up

Before you can pour concrete or build the form or mold to hold it, you need to make sure you’re working with a level surface. For something small like a sidewalk, an uneven ground surface may not significantly impact the performance. For a patio or a foundation, an uneven surface can create uneven thicknesses in the concrete. First, this leads to uneven curing or hardening leading to gaps in the finished slab. A deck or slab that is uneven may also develop cracking that not only looks terrible but also impacts the strength performance. Professional contractors have the knowledge and tools, including construction equipment, to make sure that a larger section of ground is level before forming your slab.

Forming the Slab

The form is the mold or structure that gives the concrete slab its shape. Often built from wood, the form not only defines the shape of your foundation or patio but also keeps the liquid concrete from going in places that it shouldn’t go. As concrete cures, it exerts pressure on the form. A poorly constructed mold can fall apart as the concrete hardens, affecting the finish of your foundation or patio. Professional contractors usually include the cost of setting the form and procuring the materials. They can find the right form materials easily and dispose of them after the slab is cured.

Sizing Your Slab

Another critical element of concrete construction is the size and layout of the structure formed. Concrete is very strong in compression, but it is weak in tension. Any loads on your slab, including the dead weight of structural elements and the live load of people walking around, will cause the slab to flex along various points. A foundation concrete contractor or other construction professional knows where to include joints to control cracking as the concrete flexes, expands, and contracts.

Reinforcing Your Concrete

Because concrete is weak in tension, reinforcing steel is embedded in concrete to provide flexural strength. The downward weight of stationary and moving objects introduces tension in the bottom layers of finished concrete. Steel is very strong in tension. When concrete bonds to the surface of steel rods that have ribs or rivets, it gains flexural strength. Your contractor knows the amount of steel needed for a slab. regardless of its intended use. A driveway needs enough steel for the weight of stationary vehicles. A foundation needs to accommodate the weight of the building and the objects within it. A patio needs to support furniture and certain elements. The pros know the size of steel needed for strength, the size of steel needed in the perpendicular direction, and any finishing steel required to control cracking.

Using the Right Mix

When it comes to mixing concrete, proportions matter. From massive columns used for highway bridges to aesthetic concrete used in landscapes, concrete requires the correct proportion of cement, aggregates, and water to meet performance requirements. Too much water in a concrete mix can result in reduced strength, leading to shrinking and excessive cracking. Too little water in a mix affects the workability of your concrete. Pouring concrete that is too thick can lead to voids in the finished slab, also affecting the strength and performance of your slab. The pros know the exact volumes of components needed to produce the concrete mix for your slab.

The professional approach can save you a lot of time, money, and stress in your construction project. RTS Construction has been providing concrete construction services in Northern California for over three decades. From foundation work to patios to hardscapes, we bring professional knowledge, experience, and resources to successfully bring your concrete projects to completion. We offer project management services as well, helping you to manage scope, budget, and schedule. For more information on concrete foundations, patios, driveways, and more, contact us today to explore what’s possible with the right pros working for you.