Heidelberg Materials Concrete technical department
Heidelberg Materials Concrete operates regional technical teams across the North, Central and South of the UK. Our experienced, mobile quality control Technicians visit sites to obtain test samples for our rigorous internal quality control system and are always on hand to offer professional advice.
Follow this step-by-step guide for all you need to know about laying a concrete slab. Steps include preparing the ground, how to frame the slab area, how much concrete is needed, pouring the concrete and curing the concrete afterwards for a perfect result.
Concrete is perfect for creating a solid, hard-wearing base for your garden shed. The first step is mark out the area where the concrete will be laid, adding an extra 100mm to the width and length of the finished shed to allow a small edge around the base.
Fresh concrete must be protected whilst in its early life from the detrimental effects of hot sun, dry air, drying winds and frost. In order to achieve the required durability and strength of any concrete, care must be given to curing.
The European standard for concrete EN 206, and its complimentary British Standard BS 8500, requires that concrete must be supplied at a minimum temperature of 5°C at the point of discharge and this temperature must be maintained on site using insulation.
We often get customers who insist we add more water to the concrete on site, so before we do we advise them on it and if they insist we get them to sign for more water.
The basic constituents of concrete are cement, water and aggregate. Other constituents such as admixtures, pigments, fibres, polymers and reinforcement, can be incorporated to modify the properties of the plastic or hardened concrete.
Concrete is an engineering material that simulates the properties of rock and is a combination of particles closely bound together. It is simply a blend of aggregates, normally natural sand and gravel or crushed rock. These are bound together by a hydraulic binder e.g. Portland Cement and activated by water to form a dense semi homogenous mass.
Polished concrete is becoming increasingly popular due to its minimalist, practical, sleek and contemporary look. It also comes in a range of colours and finishes, is easy to look after and perfect if you are using underfloor heating.
The key to a successful outcome is basement waterproofing, which will protect against water entering the structure and allow you to create additional living space, leisure facilities or car parking. Without waterproofing your basement, you risk water getting in and causing damp-related and structural issues.
Even though foundations aren’t visible when your project is complete, they are still one of the most important elements of the build. It is vital that you choose the right type of foundation – for the soil type and application – as errors could have serious ramifications and even involve a completed project being demolished.
Concrete is a mixture of materials, the variability of which can influence the colour of the finished concrete. However, if the same sources of materials are maintained throughout a contract, these inherent variations should not alter the final colour significantly.
It doesn’t matter how big or small your concrete pour is, the first step is to prepare the ground. This involves excavating to the required depth: for strip footings this is generally to undisturbed ground, while for pad foundations and floor slabs you will need to allow enough depth for your sub base and damp-proof membrane (dpm) as well as the concrete.
Heidelberg Materials Concrete has a proven history in the field of special concretes and industry award winning bespoke mix formulations to meet challenging engineering requirements that can often save valuable time and help deliver demanding deadline.
Regen is Ground Granulated Blast furnace Slag, commonly known as ‘GGBS’. It is a cement substitute, manufactured from a by-product of the iron-making industry.
Concrete, is the complementary British Standard to BS EN 206 – 1 and was first published in March 2002. It provides substantial national provisions not covered in BS EN 206 – 1.
A fully loaded 6m3 truck will weigh approximately 26 tonnes and a fully loaded 8m3 truck will weigh approximately 33 tonnes depending on the type of concrete.
