Factors That Can Affect the Performance of the Concrete Floor

Concrete is a highly dependable solution for flooring. There are several other materials that are popular for flooring. However, there is no match for durability, workability and versatility of the concrete. There are numerous design options. It is hardly affected by the environment. If you have visited a manufacturing plant in which chemicals are used, you will notice that the floor is made from concrete.

The performance and appearance of the concrete floor greatly depend on concrete mix, installation and the way it is cured.  If the mixture, installation and curing are not up to par, the concrete floor will lack strength, stability and durability.

Concrete is a mixture that consists of a binder, aggregate and water. A mixture of cement and water is called cement paste, a mixture of cement paste and sand in called mortar, and a mixture of mortar and aggregate in called concrete.

Following Are the Factors Affecting Concrete

Strength, hardness and quality of the concrete floor or any other concrete surface depend on following factors:

Binder

The most commonly used binder is cement. Pozzolans can also be a substitute for cement. Pozzolans undergo primary and secondary hydrations to produce a gel. This gel can fill voids between cement particles. Apart from making concrete less porous, it also reduces the absorption of moisture and chemicals that can damage the floor.

 Aggregates  

Weight, strength, size, texture, reactive properties of the aggregates and the ability to absorb vary. This variation also has effects on the properties of the concrete.       

Water

The amount of water used in the mixture also affects concrete. If you look at the water-cement ratio, 25% water is required for hydration. However, the amount of water is increased up to 45% for improving workmanship. If you increase the quantity of water, concrete becomes more porous as water evaporates leaving behind capillary voids.     

Mix Design

Materials, proportion of materials, order in which materials are mixed, method of mixing and length of time also affect the quality of concrete. Any mistake can lead to early-age cracks, chips and other problems.

Environment

Conditions in which you are mixing, placing, finishing and curing concrete also affect the performance and appearance of the concrete surface. These conditions include wind speed, cloud cover, temperature and the surface on which you are installing the concrete floor.

After the floor is installed, you should hire professional services for concrete coating in Perth. The concrete coating protects the concrete floor from the external factors that can take a toll on its performance and appearance. In the next blog, we will explain the effects of workmanship on the quality of the concrete floor and common concrete floor defects.