Wohlwend Concrete Blog

Today, we’re going to take a step back, and provide you with some basic information about concrete. How much do you really know about the finest building material on the market? If you live anywhere around the Twin Cities, like Minneapolis, concrete driveways are a solid choice for your home improvement project. Due to its ability to stand up to fluctuating temperatures and unmatched lifespan, it will be the perfect addition to your property.

What’s the Difference Between Cement & Concrete?

Many people use the terms “cement” and “concrete” interchangeably. You may be surprised to find out cement is actually an ingredient in concrete. Cement is a binding substance that can harden independently or be used to join other materials together. Some cement will harden underwater, while others react with the carbon dioxide in the air. It is an incredibly strong substance, which makes it good for mortar in masonry projects and as a key ingredient in concrete. Many construction projects today benefit greatly from the use of cement.

What is Concrete Made Of?

Concrete is a mixture of products. The two main components of concrete are aggregates and a binding substance. Some examples of aggregates include sand, crushed stone, gravel and other ground up materials. This mixed with cement, which binds the aggregates together, results in a sturdy building material that has been used since primitive times. Other admixtures can be added throughout the process to affect color, hydration time and shrink rate. When expertly blended, concrete makes the ideal building material.

What is Concrete Used For?

Concrete has many modern functions. It is used for everything from concrete driveways to the Hoover Dam. At Wohlwend Concrete, we use concrete for the following applications:

• Concrete Steps
• Concrete Driveways
• Concrete Sidewalks
• Concrete Walkways
• Concrete Patios

Need concrete installed on your Minneapolis property? Give us a call today at 651-426-2610 or request a free quote online.

We know it’s hard to believe with all the hot weather recently, but fall is quickly approaching. If you still have things leftover on your summer home improvement list, we don’t blame you. Summer always passes in the blink of an eye. If you need to install concrete this year, it’s important you get the project started soon. If you live anywhere around the Twin Cities, concrete steps, sidewalks and driveways can add curb appeal to your home. We can understand the desire for concrete elements; we just need to get started on your project before it’s too late!

Concrete at Low Temperatures

It is important to have your concrete projects completed while temperatures are still moderate. We recommend you schedule an appointment as soon as possible to have your concrete laid before fall ends. Cold temperatures have a variety of negative effects on a mixture of concrete.

It is possible, if you lay concrete when the temperature is too cold, for the mixture to freeze. This will cause the concrete to not set properly, thus weakening it. Overall, cold weather causes the concrete to harden slower and leaves it in a weakened state.

It is impossible to install concrete when the ground is frozen. When concrete is poured onto a frozen patch of earth, the earth it will eventually thaw and settle. This causes the concrete to shift, and it will most likely crack. For guaranteed results, it’s best to wait until the ground is thawed.

Install Concrete Now

Concrete is a beautiful addition to any Twin Cities homes. It’s durable and long lasting. If you’ve been thinking about installing concrete at your home, now is the time. If you want your home in pristine condition for the holiday season, call today. You can wow the family with whole new stairs, sidewalks and a driveway. Your home’s exterior will never look better.

Ready to install concrete stairs at your Twin Cities home? Give us a call today at 651-426-2610 or request a free quote online.

Concrete is all around you. Some of your neighbors probably have concrete driveways and most sidewalks are made of concrete. But, did you know there are many famous structures standing today that are made of concrete? Some of them are ancient, while others stand up to major stressors each day. Our team of Twin Cities concrete contractors would have loved to be a part of creating either of these structures. We take that same passion and apply it to our customers all around the Twin Cities. In this blog, we’re going to cover just a couple of the most notable famous concrete structures.

The Pantheon

The Pantheon that stands today was built in Rome around 126 AD. It was created as a temple to all the gods of ancient Rome. Today, the oldest, not reinforced concrete dome sits atop this historic structure. Talk about durability! The concrete on the Pantheon has stood the test of time. In this day and age, modern concrete contractors have many more tools at their disposal to expertly install concrete fixtures. You shouldn’t settle for anything less than concrete for your new driveway, stairs or walkway.

Hoover Dam

Fast forward to 1936 when the Hoover Dam was completed. It was built on the boarder of Arizona and Nevada to provide power, flood control, water storage and more to the surrounding states. While you probably don’t have several gallons of water passing through your property every second, concrete is a practical building material. Think about it: if it can stand up to the stresses of the Hoover Dam, it will serve you well for many years.

If you need durable, long-lasting concrete installed on your property, give our team of concrete contractors a call today at 651-426-2610 or contact us.

Are you installing a new driveway or walkway at your Twin Cities home? If so, you may be doing some research into concrete and asphalt. There are a couple of major things you’ll want to take into consideration with these two materials. As your local Twin Cities concrete contractors, we’ll cover the reasons why concrete is an optimal paving material.

1. Climate Considerations

Since we live in the Twin Cities, an area that is no stranger to fluctuations in temperature, concrete is the superior option. In areas that have warm summers, asphalt has a tendency to become soft and sticky. This can lead to deformations, in some cases. Also, in winter, snow, ice and salt can melt into divots in your driveway or walkway, creating an unwanted splotchy look. Concrete is able to stand up to conditions in both summer and winter.

2. Routine Maintenance

Concrete requires little routine maintenance. Once the concrete is poured by our concrete contractors, it can last for decades. Concrete driveways and walkways can be sealed by our concrete contractors for added protection, but it does not need to be resealed as often as asphalt does. Asphalt needs to be resealed about one year after it is installed and then about every 2-5 years after that. With proper maintenance by you or concrete contractors, concrete driveways and walkways have a longer life than asphalt.

3. Beauty

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but we think you’d probably agree with us on this one: Techniques can be performed on concrete to make it more aesthetically pleasing. You can choose a pattern to be stamped into your concrete, as well as have it dyed. These embellishments are impossible to create on an asphalt driveway or walkway. Concrete’s unique look is unmatchable.

With concrete’s ability to handle the weather, low annual maintenance and unparalleled beauty, it’s the clear choice for your next project.

To have our team of Twin Cities concrete contractors install concrete on your property, call Wohlwend Concrete today at 651-426-2610 or Request a Quote.