Quality Concrete for Driveways, Patios and Sidewalks
Like our competitors, Hengel provides uniform, precision-batched concrete, Saturday delivery and a concrete pump truck. But, because we’re the only locally-owned and operated provider in town, we also offer a home-town touch you just don’t find everywhere else.
Select a Good Masonry Contractor
Purchasing concrete from an experienced manufacturer like Hengel is a good start, but selecting a quality contractor to place and finish your concrete is equally as important. Need a recommendation? Hengel can provide you with a list of skilled masons.
Calculate How Much Concrete You’ll Need
While you can use our calculator to help you estimate the amount of concrete you’ll need, you’ll want to work with your mason to determine the exact amount. If you’re a do-it-your-selfer, our staff can help you calculate the correct amount, too. Make sure to allow extra for uneven sub grades and spillage, and then round up to the closest 1/2 yard.
Our trucks haul approximately ten (10) cubic yards per delivery when fully loaded, so remember that smaller loads often have extra delivery charges. As a result, it is usually cheaper to order just a little extra rather than run the risk of running short and having to pay additional delivery charges for the balance load. Minimum load fees may also apply.
Prepare the Job Site
Our trucks often weigh up to 80,000 lbs, when fully loaded. Work with your contractor to determine how trucks will be able to access the job. Overhead wires, trees and narrow driveways can make the process very difficult. Soft terrain and landscaped yards can also be problematic. If you’re concerned about accessibility, talk with your contractor about renting our 32-meter concrete pump truck. Pump trucks can provide faster, easier concrete placement, and they are a good option when soft ground or obstructions create accessibility concerns.
Consider the Weather
Cold weather pours can be challenging, and they require that additional chemicals be added. Again, working with Hengel and an experienced contractor will help you ensure a quality end product.
And Remember
Each spring, throughout Minnesota, roads are posted with weight limits due to the spring thaw. Posted roads may force us to haul smaller loads that may require additional delivery charges. And in some cases, delivery may not even be possible.
FAQS
Q: Does Hengel sell other products that I may need for my pour?
A: Yes. Hengel provides all of the ancillary products that you or contractor might consider to optimize the concrete’s workability and performance. These products include accelerators like calcium chloride, fiber mesh and rebar and heat.
Hengel can also provide a pump truck for areas that are not easily accessible by truck.
Q: What makes good quality concrete?
A: There are several basic requirements for good quality concrete:
- Good materials (cement, aggregate admixtures and water)
- Proper proportioning of these materials (see below)
- Thorough mixing
- Skillful placing and finishing
- Proper curing
Proportioning is simply deciding how much of each ingredient will be put in the concrete. A temptation to use too much water generally results from an effort to make placing operations easier for the contractor. Overly wet concrete flows into the forms more readily and is easier to compact and strike off. Everything about overly wet concrete is easier—except the maintenance problems that will begin to appear on a surface that could just as easily have been trouble-free for many years.
Q: How is curing accomplished?
A: The newly placed concrete should be covered or sprayed with a material that will retain the moisture within the mix. Membrane-curing compounds sprayed on the surface are most commonly used. They must be applied immediately after the concrete is given its final finish and care must be taken to apply them thoroughly and uniformly.
Q: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE CONCRETE TO CURE?
A: Proper curing greatly increases concrete strength and durability. Concrete hardens as a result of hydration, which is the chemical reaction between cement and water. However, hydration only occurs if little to no water is lost during the early stages of this chemical reaction and if the concrete’s temperature stays within a suitable range. Although concrete can generally be put into light-duty service 7-10 days after placement, complete curing requires about 28 days. Annual sealing (by the homeowner) is also critical to maintaining the quality of the slab.
Q: How can I make my concrete driveway less prone to damage from freezing weather?
A: When ordering concrete for outdoor applications (driveways, patios, etc.), always request air-entrained concrete. Entrained air is air that is purposely incorporated into a concrete mix, primarily to make the concrete resistant to deterioration caused by freezing and thawing and the use of de-icing salts. These air pockets relieve internal pressure on the concrete by providing tiny chambers for water to expand into when it freezes without damaging the integrity of the structure. As the owner, you can also help prevent damage by reducing or eliminating the use of de-icing agents on exterior slabs. These agents contain chemicals that result in an increased number of freeze-thaw cycles. This process opens capillaries in the concrete which impacts the intregrity of the slab and causes scaling. Sand is a better alternate for dealing with slippery surfaces.
Q: What makes concrete crack?
A: Concrete "shrinks" slightly as it hardens. A normal shrinkage rate is approximately 1/8" per 100 linear feet. This shrinkage is caused by loss of excess water from the mix. The "wetter" the mix, the higher the shrinkage rate.