The Great Big World of ConcreteThe Great Big World of Concrete


About Me

The Great Big World of Concrete

Think about how many things in the built environment are made from concrete. Even just in your home, you may have a concrete foundation or concrete basement walls. Maybe you have a concrete pad or patio out back, and you probably have a concrete sidewalk leading to and past your home. Then, there's your greater community. There are likely concrete barriers to restrict where people park. Large, concrete buildings serve as schools, court buildings, and other community structures. The list goes on, but the point is, concrete contractors create all sorts of different structures. We're excited to write articles about them here.

Categories

Archive

2 Things to Do Prior to Getting a Poured Concrete Patio

A patio in your backyard gives you a place to sit and enjoy your yard, set up a grill, or put in some flowers. If your yard doesn't already have a patio, you may decide that you want to have a poured cement patio installed in your backyard. The easiest way to do that is to hire a paving company to put your concrete patio in. If you are going to hire a paving company, there are some things that you should do beforehand.  

Decide Dimensions

You need to decide the dimensions of your patio. Knowing what dimensions you want ahead of time is important because it will influence how much concrete the paving company will need and how much substrate is necessary. When you talk to the paving company about getting a quote, you can tell them the dimensions you are looking for, and they will be able to give an idea of how much it will cost. Of course, they can't give you a better estimate until they check out where you want the patio, but you can at least get an idea of what your poured concrete patio will cost. 

Talk Access

When the paving company comes out to your house so that they can give you a quote to do the work, you should also talk to them about access. The contractor will have to get into the yard somehow, so they can clear the patio area and pour the concrete. You can show them where you want the patio, and the contractor can tell you what they will need to bring into the area to get the work done. For example, they will bring concrete, which means they can bring a small mixer and mix the concrete up onsite to pour it. That can be a good option for a small patio, but it can be difficult for something larger. In that case, they are going to need to have something like a concrete mixer truck. Luckily, some trucks can pump the concrete to the areas where it needs to be poured, so the truck won't have to get precisely next to your new patio. 

A poured concrete patio can give you a lot of freedom when adding new outdoor living space to your house and yard. Talk to a paving contractor such as Wyoming Asphalt Paving Co about getting a patio poured and start making plans to enjoy your new patio.