When scheduling a new concrete project for your property, it’s a good idea to work with a professional Melbourne concreter.
Though most property owners make sure to hire a licensed and experienced concreter, they’re not aware of the process.
To help you prepare for an upcoming concrete project, here’s what you should expect from the process.
Initial Consultation
Every expert concreter starts the process with an initial consultation. This gives you the opportunity to discuss your project’s needs and what you can expect. You can talk about your budget, while your concreter discusses an expected timeline for the project. The initial consultation is also when you discuss the requirements for your project.
Detailed Quote
The next step is an inspection of your property and giving you a detailed quote. The quote is an estimate outlining the cost of labour, materials, and other tasks like removing old concrete. Remember that a professional concreter will do their best to explain each item on the quote.
Removing Old Concrete
Once you set a date for the project, your concreter will take the first step by removing your old driveway. They’ll use specialised equipment like a skid steer to break the concrete into pieces and load it onto trucks before disposing of it.
Site Preparation
Preparing the site is an important step in ensuring long-lasting concrete projects. Expert concreters like Galcon Contractors check the ground to make sure it’s properly levelled and compacted. This is where it helps to hire a professional concreter who can assess the site and make relevant changes for smoother installation.
Placing Forms
To ensure that the concrete maintains a consistent shape, concreters place forms around the edges of your driveway, slab, or walkway. Then, they’ll install a stainless steel grid to improve the concrete’s strength. Lastly, they’ll take final measurements as to the amount of concrete needed to complete your project.
Mixing and Pouring Concrete
After setting up the site and placing a grid with forms, your concreter will order cement and other materials so they arrive on the day of the project. They’ll mix the concrete based on current weather conditions, including other additives to improve its strength. Experienced local concreters, like Galcon Contractors, use specialised equipment to pour concrete, such as a pump. They also start levelling the concrete while it’s still wet.
Finishing The Concrete
Because concrete starts setting very quickly, the finishing process needs to start right away. Expert concreters have effective hand tools. Depending on what kind of finish you’re looking for, it may take extra time to finish your project.
You can choose from different finishes, like exposed aggregate, broom finish, or stamped, colour concrete.
Curing The Concrete
The final step of the process involves letting the concrete cure. After your concrete supplier pours and finishes the layer of concrete, they’ll add a curing agent to the surface. This step slows down water loss over a 30-day period, strengthening your concrete. Remember that most concrete installations need 7 to 10 days to cure before they can be used.
Maintenance and Aftercare
As a property owner, you need to take relevant steps to safeguard your investment. This includes taking aftercare and maintenance seriously. Your concreter will lay out specific steps to take care of your new concrete driveway or patio. This includes telling you what to watch out for.
Schedule Professional Concrete Services in Melbourne
When you hire an expert concreter in Melbourne to handle your project, you can expect quality results and customer service. With their process, you’ll get an initial consultation, removal of old concrete, site preparation, concrete pouring, and concrete finishing. At Falcon Contractors, we specialise in all kinds of commercial and civil concreting projects. Our comprehensive process ensures that you get reliable results that meet your needs. Get in touch with us today for a free quote on our services.
