Frequently Asked Concrete Questions

What’s the difference between cement and concrete?
Why does concrete crack?
When can I drive on my new driveway?
How do I select a Contractor?
What is curing concrete?
How big is a cubic yard?
What is air-entrained concrete?
How thick should the concrete be?
Do I need reinforcement wire?
Can I use salt on my driveway and sidewalk?
What is a safe Deicer?
What is concrete sealers?
Why must I worry about eaves trough placement around my driveway?

Please e-mail us if you have different questions.

Cement is an ingredient in concrete, much like flour is an ingredient in bread. Dry, powdered (Portland) cement is blended with sand, stone and water to produce concrete.  (go back to top)

Concrete, like all construction materials, contracts and expands under various conditions of moisture and/or temperature. Cracks may be caused by movement of the ground, or heavy loads (like trucks). The lack of proper curing and control joints will contribute to random cracking.  (go back to top)

As a rule of thumb, in the summer, a new concrete driveway may be opened to cars (not trucks) after seven days (WE RECOMMEND 2 WEEKS). In cool weather, wait an additional seven days.   We suggest concrete driveways not be constructed in the winter, unless EXTREME protective measures are taken to prevent damage. The best time of year in Southeastern Michigan to construct a driveway is after April 15^th and until October 31^st each year.  (go back to top)

Selecting an experienced and qualified contractor is one of the most important steps in assuring a long service life for ready mixed concrete. A good source of information on contractors is your local concrete producer (Black River Concrete, Port Huron Building Supply, Thuet Products, etc..). The producer will have had contact with dozens of contractors and will be glad to give you a list of the most qualified for a specific type of job. Be sure to ask prospective bidders for a reference list of both recently completed jobs and projects completed in years past. When checking a contractor’s references, ask if the work was completed on schedule, within budget, was of good quality, and if the customer would use the contractor again  (go back to top)

Curing means maintaining satisfactory moisture content in concrete for a long enough time during its early stages so that its desired properties develop. Adequate curing provides additional strength and durability. Concrete cured for three days will have only 66% of the strength of concrete cured for 28 days.  (go back to top)

A cubic yard of concrete measures three feet by three feet by three feet, or 27 cubic feet. It will weigh about 4000 pounds. It will cover an area of 81 square feet when placed four inches thick.  (go back to top)

When we want our concrete to be watertight and durable while being exposed to freezing and thawing, we add a small amount (6%) of microscopic air bubbles into the mixture. These bubbles provide expansion space for water that may saturate the concrete, freeze and expand. Air-entrained concrete should be specified for exposed (outside) concrete.  (go back to top)

A minimum of four inches is generally enough for a residential driveway or garage floor that will be used by cars and light trucks only.  If a parking area will be used by both cars and medium to heavy trucks, the slab should be six inches thick. Frequent use by heavy trucks may require a slab six to eight inches deep.  (go back to top)

Do I need reinforcement wire?

Since all concrete cracks, the wire mesh can be placed in your slab to prevent heaving concrete if the ground surface below shifts or settles unevenly.  (go back to top)

Owners should not use salt during the first winter, especially if the concrete was placed after September 15^th and not sealed.  We suggest the use of sand instead.  Don’t allow snow and ice to accumulate on the slab during the first year.  (go back to top)

Deicers containing salt and/or calcium chloride should be generally safe for use on quality concrete pavement after the first winter. Never use any deicer that contains either ammonium sulphate or ammonium nitrate. Anyone who buys a deicer under a brand name should read the label to see what it contains.  (go back to top)

Water repellent coatings and sealers can help prevent damage from freeze/thaw cycles and the intrusion of deicing salts. They keep water from getting into the surface pores. Just as we regularly paint homes and buildings, we should seal concrete routinely to protect it from moisture and prolong its life. Your Tuttle's Contracting Inc.  sales representative can suggest a concrete sealer which will meet the requirements of your project.  (go back to top)