Rich
02-28-2004, 04:39 PM
This is more an FYI - I've received quite a few emails from people since starting this site regarding concrete. It's amazing to me how many people called "poured in place concrete" - cement. Or bags of cement - concrete.
Cement (aka Portland Cement) is the binder for the aggregate (gravel), sand, and water. It's the portion that causes the chemical reaction for all these material to bond together. Take sand, gravel, and water mix it all together - pretty much sludgy water with rocks in it. Add Cement to this mixture and before too long you get heat and dehydration of the mixture - all this within a couple hours (depending on amount) it will begin to "cure". Curing of "concrete" is typically considered substantially cured after about 28 days. You can usually get 50% in about 7 days. And be able to walk on it in a couple hours.
Many of you may already know this - but for those who don't - I hope it explains a few things.
Cement (aka Portland Cement) is the binder for the aggregate (gravel), sand, and water. It's the portion that causes the chemical reaction for all these material to bond together. Take sand, gravel, and water mix it all together - pretty much sludgy water with rocks in it. Add Cement to this mixture and before too long you get heat and dehydration of the mixture - all this within a couple hours (depending on amount) it will begin to "cure". Curing of "concrete" is typically considered substantially cured after about 28 days. You can usually get 50% in about 7 days. And be able to walk on it in a couple hours.
Many of you may already know this - but for those who don't - I hope it explains a few things.