2019-The-Process

water for placement and for the hydration
and curing process. As the concrete cures
and excess water leaves the slab, the concrete
actually will shrink in size. When this
happens, concrete with its great compressive
strength won’t just shrink in itself - it’s too
strong for that. It will actually curl up on the
ends - also called concrete curling. When
several large slabs are poured next to each
other, this can create a peak in floor flatness.
In typical construction this will happen over
several months as the concrete cures. So,
you could actually polish the floor and have
a nice, smooth surface. Wait a few months,
and you could have a joint that opens back
up to create a lip or bump that may catch
on wheels or be felt when walking over the
surface.
PATIENCE
Smith Brothers, being part of several large
expansions in their business life, had seen
this happen and put together a construction
schedule to accomodate this process. Instead
of rushing to get us in the space to polish -
there was a full 6-month cure time allowed
before we even started our processes. This
meant that the concrete had completed its
shrinkage and curling, allowing us to grind
this out of the floor and provide a smoother
and flatter floor than in other projects - and
with less or no additional work later on.
THE JOB
The project as a whole was a two-story construction
facility with 60,000 SF of floor on
the first floor and a Second Story that housed
an additional 40,000 SF.
DETAILS
The entire building’s details were thought out and
created an aura of ‘well-done’ and quality. The
lighting, paint, and floor blended well to create an
open, spacious feeling. In a facility that prides itself
on quality of work - it was equally as important
to follow that in their own construction, and
create that environment for their team members.
“Smith Brothers set
out intentionally
to execute on good
design and good
craftsmanship”
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