Read the answers to our most frequently
asked questions.
| How
long will it take to pour a basement? |
Generally, footers can be formed and poured
on day one. Foundation walls are set and poured
on day two. On day three, the forms are stripped.
Larger jobs might take more than one pour day. |
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| Is
a concrete pump necessary? |
Though not always necessary, pumps provide many
advantages. They allow for a more efficient pouring
process, helping to reduce the slump of concrete
poured into the wall. Lower slump equals higher
strength. If no pump is used, earthen ramps have
to be built in order for the concrete trucks to
get high enough to empty the concrete into the
forms. This often costs more than a pump. Using
a pump is much safer, as the concrete trucks do
not have to maneuver around the site. |
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| What
is slump? |
Slump is the term used to describe how wet or
dry the concrete mix is. The wetter the concrete,
the higher the slump. Slump is measured in inches.
It ranges from 0 to 10 inches with the normal
slump for a wall being 6 to 7 inches. |
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| Is
concrete waterproof? |
Concrete in and of itself, is virtually watertight.
But once you build a wall, you are likely to get
shrinkage cracks which may allow water to penetrate
the wall. Therefore, we strongly recommend any
below grade wall to be waterproofed. Contact either Valley Waterproofing at 540-433-9338 for
Rub-R-Wall
or Central Virginia Waterproofing at 434-973-9730 for Tuff-n-Dri.
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| What
is the difference between waterproofing and dampproofing? |
Dampproofing is not elastic enough to stretch
over a crack. The material coats the wall, but
if and when the wall cracks, the dampproofing
cracks too. Usually dampproofing is done with
an asphalt spray or tar. Waterproofing products
are elastic and are able to span shrinkage cracks.
We recommend Rub-R-Wall products. |
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| How
do concrete foundations compare to block in price? |
The typical 8' concrete basement wall is virtually
the same as its block counterpart. The long term
advantages of strength, safety, durability, moisture
resistance and maintenance-free care, provide
long term savings. |
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| Can
you pour concrete in the winter? |
| Yes. We typically pour all winter long, even
when the temperatures reach into the single digits. |
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| Will
a concrete foundation increase the value of my
structure? |
Absolutely. Concrete walls are dryer and stronger,
adding lower-level living space. All these things
increase the value at resale. |
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| My
block retaining wall has fallen. Now what? |
 We
have replaced many fallen block retaining walls.
Properly engineered and installed concrete retaining
walls do not fail. |
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| Will
concrete crack? |
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Yes. Cracks in concrete walls
and slabs are a common occurrence. They appear
in floors, driveways, walks, structural beams,
and walls. Cracking can not be prevented but
it can be significantly reduced or controlled
when the causes are taken into account and preventative
steps are taken. Most cracks should not be a
cause for alarm.
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Causes of Cracks: Cracking can be
the result of one or a combination of factors
such as drying shrinkage, which occurs
as water used to place the concrete evaporates;
thermal contraction due to temperature
change; restraint to shortening; sub-grade
settlement resulting from poor soil conditions;
and, applied stress caused by forces
such as building loads, earth, hydrostatic
pressure, or heavy equipment operated too
close to the foundation wall.
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Types of Cracks: Cracks in walls
appear in several forms. Nearly vertical cracks
are usually caused by shrinkage or temperature
change. A newly poured concrete wall has the
greatest volume it will ever have. Tremendous
force can build up inside a wall as moisture
evaporates or when the wall is exposed to
temperature change. Temperature and shrinkage
cracks may appear before the structure is
occupied to several years after the structure
is occupied. A vertical crack that is significantly
wider at the top or bottom could signify heaving
or settlement.
Diagonal cracks which emanate from the corners
of windows, openings, or other changes in
the shape of a wall (or slab) are called reentrant
cracks and are another form of shrinkage crack.
Horizontal cracks in walls are usually caused
by applied load against the wall.
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