You will never see a crack running through a paver patio or across a paver walk, and of course pavers offer more design diversity. Back to top

Yes. The AMVIC forms are used to allow builders to pour a solid concrete wall. However, upon completion, the forms are designed to provide insulation, nailing surfaces, and a vapor barrier, all in one step.

A - Concrete must have water to gain strength and hydrating membranes are an essential part of concrete construction. When ICF is used, the concrete achieves a higher strength than specifications because of this ability to keep moisture in the mix. Eventually, all the water is converted to concrete crystals. Top

When cured, the concrete in AMVIC walls is 50% stronger and use 30% less concrete than traditionally poured walls. While the cost of a bare block or poured wall is less, AMVIC provides insulation and furring strips, and is ready to finish, making it a cost effective and less labor-intensive choice. AMVIC also is far less labor intensive to use where there are frequent openings and/or popouts as are frequently the case in residential construction.

Yes. The AMVIC forms are used to allow builders to pour a solid concrete wall. However, upon completion, the forms are designed to provide insulation, nailing surfaces, and a vapor barrier, all in one step.

Yes. ICF forms are used to allow builders a solid concrete wall. Also, the A-One Form brackets (webs) run the full height of the form so much less bracing is needed during pouring. The majority of ICF's on the market require major bracing because their forms cannot support the weight of the concrete.

StreetPrint? can be installed very quickly with relatively little disruption, so it is usually much less costly and disruptive than concrete alternatives. StreetPrint? uses asphalt as its base. Asphalt is a flexible surface that is more likely to accept shifting due to weather extremes and can resist cracking commonly associated with other paving systems. Vehicle braking/accelerating and steering will not shift or break StreetPrint?, as often happens with brick pavers.

Concrete is an inexpensive and durable option, but it will crack. Pavers are more expensive but last longer, provide more of an interest from a design perspective, and are easily repaired if earth shifting occurs. Stone creates a beautiful and natural look but is the most expensive option. Many stone applications can be sandset, which is flexible to ground shifting. Occasionally stone requires a mortar setting, which is less tolerant of ground shifting.

In Europe, they have seen pavers last over 50 years. This is much longer than other pavements under normal residential use.

There is no way that we can prevent oil from dripping on concrete pavers. Yet, because pavers are more dense than regular poured concrete, they will be easier to clean if the stain is cleaned soon after it happens. If you are working around your paver patio, walkway, or driveway with paint, cement, or mortar and should accidentally spill this on your paver surface, you should clean it off right away before it has a chance to dry. Otherwise, it will stain your pavers.

The joints between pavers eliminate cracking that is normal to conventional asphalt and concrete pavements. Yes, if necessary. That is an item we will discuss with you when we come out to give you an estimate.

Concrete pavers offer more design options (more colors and sizes), whereas clay pavers offer less maintenance. The cost is about the same. Concrete pavers tend to lay a bit snugger, making tighter joints and a more consistently flat surface. Clay pavers however hold their color much the use of chemical sealers. Although the concrete is died straight through the paver, the die still has a tendency to wash off the top over time.

Sealing is not essential in many applications but it offers some benefits like making spills and stains easier to remove. Liquid sealers are applied after the pavers are installed and are cleaned. Once applied, the sealers soak into the concrete and into the joints. The sealers in the joints help keep the joint sand in place and prevent weeds and ants, and sealers are essential for areas around swimming pools.

For non-vehicular applications such as embankment stabilization, the maximum slope is determined by the angle of repose of the bedding sand, typically around 35 to 38 degrees. For vehicular traffic, the highest slope in use is 18% (about 10 degrees) in a street in Colma, California. Special consideration is given to the drainage of the bedding sand at the bottom of the slope.

A - When cured, the concrete in AMVIC walls is 50% stronger and use 30% less concrete than traditionally poured walls. While the cost of a bare block or poured wall is less, AMVIC provides insulation and furring strips, and is ready to finish, making it a cost effective and less labor-intensive choice. AMVIC also is far less labor intensive to use where there are frequent openings and/or popouts as are frequently the case in residential construction.

SMOOTHCRETE prefers to pour the concrete countertops on-site. By doing so, it saves on time in making the template and forming as well as avoiding seams in your concrete countertop.

Yes, the standard sets a minimum limit of 3 cm. In residential systems the thickness of the concrete is approximately 4,5 cm.

Depending on several things like temperature and humidity, with few exceptions, stains and sealers require a 30 to 45 day cure time. Concrete hydrates during cure. As it cures moisture dissipates from the slab. If it is sealed too soon the water vapors may build up and push the stain and sealer off. How soon a pattern can be engraved or cut also depends on several things like temperature, humidity, aggregate type, and the type of cut. You should wait at least 7 days before decorative engraving.

Yes, however extreme cold & extreme heat present additional challenges with concrete. Additives will be placed into the concrete to compensate for these conditions. During the wintertime we use heated mixing water and accelerating chemicals in the concrete mixture. Placement of concrete can be done safely as low as 15 degrees at the time of placement. The use of such additives may cause an additional expense.