FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Please reach us at info@bestconcreteco.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
What is concrete?
Concrete consists of a mix of ingredients including portland cement, pozzolans, water, coarse aggregates, fine aggregates, and additives. When fresh, concrete can be molded hours after it’s produced. Once the initial set time is reached the concrete continues to gain strength.
Are there quality standards for concrete?
Yes, concrete must comply with local building codes, American Concrete Institute (ACI), and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards.
Is it normal for concrete to crack?
Yes, it is normal for concrete to crack. Concrete has to crack because it contracts during the drying/hardening process. The best way to prevent unsightly cracking is to direct these cracks into weakened plane contraction joints spaced at regular intervals (for example: a 4-inch slab should have a joint every 10-12 feet). Cracks can also be caused by uneven shifting of the sub grade. This would be considered a structural failure from improper site/soil preparation. This is why it is important to hire a contractor that understands all aspects of concrete installation.
How much does concrete cost?
This depends on several factors like complexity of the project, market conditions for material cost, and labor costs to complete the project. The easiest way to answer this is to fill out our instant quote to get an estimated range for your project.
What should I look for in a contractor?
- First and foremost are they licensed – you can search that at (ROC Search). If they aren’t licensed to do the work, then they don’t have the proper insurance that protects you as the owner from damages or errors & omissions. AZ requires contractors to be licensed; it’s against the law to work without one.
- Second is experience. The cheapest price isn’t always the best deal – “Cheap work is not good and good work is not cheap”. The savings of hiring an inexperienced contractor that will cut corners isn’t worth the savings if it negatively impacts the service life of your concrete project.
- Last is professionalism. Do they answer the phone or call back? Do they arrive on time for quotes? Are they available to answer questions? Did they have a professional appearance?
How is concrete measured?
Concrete is measured by the cubic yard. An example of a cubic yard would be 3′ by 3′ by 3′ = 27 cubic feet or 1 cubic yard. If you’re doing this measurement yourself at home, you’ll want to measure the length (in feet) multiplied by the width (in feet) multiplied by the depth (in feet) this will give your cubic footage, then divide that number by 27 and that will give you the cubic yardage needed for your project.