General Information for
Concrete Performance
Color-Conditioned™ Concrete is high quality concrete. Your contractor and ready mix producer can provide you with specific information on the recommended concrete mixes for your project.
Cement Content
The mix design used for integrally colored concrete project should use a minimum of 470-lb cement/yd3 for horizontal applications a minimum of 564-lb cement/yd3 for vertical concrete.
Water Content
Minimizing the water content provides better color performance, increases concrete strength and durability, and reduces the potential for efflorescence. The use of water reducing admixtures decrease water content and increase concrete workability.
Freeze Protection
If you live in one of those parts of the country where freezing occurs during the winter, you should help protect your exposed concrete against the dangers of freeze/thaw cycles by requesting 4,000 psi concrete with an air entraining admixture. Air entraining admixtures create millions of tiny air bubbles in the concrete that allow room for the expansion of freezing water inside the concrete.
Cracking Protection
Using the largest practical maximum coarse aggregate size (1/3 of the slab thickness) will promote concrete economy and reduce the potential drying shrinkage cracking. And, the inclusion of synthetic fibers into your concrete can make good concrete even better. Fibermesh® Stealth® e3™ fibers are virtually invisible and inhibit shrinkage and settlement cracks in concrete’s plastic state, lower water migration and add a level of improved impact and abrasion resistance.
Concrete Curing
To develop its full strength and color potential, Color-Conditioned Concrete should be properly cured with compatible curing and sealing materials.
