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CONCRETE DIVISION |
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DRIVERS AVERAGE 10 YEARS OF
READY MIX EXPERIENCE
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A FLEET OF 45 RADIO EQUIPPED
CONCRETE TRUCKS TO SERVE YOU
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COLD WEATHER CONCRETE
FURTHER ENHANCED BY THE
AVAILABILITY OF AGGREGATE
MATERIALS STORED UNDERGROUND
AT 60 DEGREES.
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COMPUTERIZED BATCH PLANTS
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UNDERGROUND MINING FROM THE
SAME SEAMS OF ROCK PRODUCES
OUR PROVEN AGGREGATE
CONSISTENCY
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ONLY AREA PROVIDER OF
EXPOSED AGGREGATE
CONCRETE MATERIALS
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3269 State Hwy
248
Branson, MO 65616
DISPATCH: 417-334-2165
FAX: 417-334-2198 |
Stonebridge Center
Kimberling City, MO 65686
DISPATCH: 417-739-2684
FAX: 417-739-2006 |
Hwy CC at US65
P. O. Box 666
Ozark MO 65721
DISPATCH: 417-581-5420
FAX: 417-581-5367 |
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What is Concrete |
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In its simplest form,
concrete is a mixture of paste and
aggregates. The paste,
 composed of portland
cement and water, coats the surface of the
fine and coarse aggregates. Through a
chemical reaction called hydration, the
paste hardens and gains strength to form the
rock-like mass known as concrete.
Within this process lies the key to a
remarkable trait of concrete: it's plastic
and malleable when newly mixed, strong and
durable when hardened. These qualities
explain why one material, concrete, can
build skyscrapers, bridges, sidewalks and
superhighways, houses and dams.
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Proportioning |
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The key to achieving a
strong, durable concrete rests in the
careful proportioning and mixing of the
ingredients. A concrete mixture that does
not have enough paste to fill all the voids
between the aggregates will be difficult to
place and will produce rough, honeycombed
surfaces and porous concrete. A mixture with
an excess of cement paste will be easy to
place and will produce a smooth surface;
however, the resulting concrete is likely to
shrink more and be uneconomical.
A properly designed concrete mixture will
possess the desired workability for the
fresh concrete and the required durability
and strength for the hardened concrete.
Typically, a mix is about 10 to 15 percent
cement, 60 to 75 percent aggregate and 15 to
20 percent water. Entrained air in many
concrete mixes may also take up another 5 to
8 percent.
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Portland Cement |
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Portland cement's chemistry comes to life in the presence of
water. Cement and water form a paste that
coats each particle of stone and sand.
Through a chemical reaction called
hydration, the cement paste hardens and
gains strength. The character of the
concrete is determined by quality of the
paste. The strength of the paste, in turn,
depends on the ratio of water to cement. The
water-cement ratio is the weight of the
mixing water divided by the weight of the
cement. High-quality concrete is produced by
lowering the water-cement ratio as much as
possible without sacrificing the workability
of fresh concrete. Generally, using less
water produces a higher quality concrete
provided the concrete is properly placed,
consolidated, and cured.
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Other Ingredients |
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Although most drinking water is suitable for use in
concrete, aggregates are chosen carefully.
Aggregates comprise 60 to 75 percent of the
total volume of concrete. The type and size
of the aggregate mixture depends on the
thickness and purpose of the final concrete
product. Almost any natural water that is
drinkable and has no pronounced taste or
odor may be used as mixing water for
concrete. However, some waters that are not
fit for drinking may be suitable for
concrete.
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Excessive Impurities in |
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Excessive impurities in mixing water not only may affect
setting time and concrete strength, but also
may cause efflorescence, staining, corrosion
of reinforcement, volume instability, and
reduced durability. Specifications usually
set limits on chlorides, sulfates, alkalis,
and solids in mixing water unless tests can
be performed to determine the effect the
impurity has on various properties.
Relatively thin building sections call for
small coarse aggregate, though aggregates up
to six inches (150 mm) in diameter have been
used in large dams. A continuous gradation
of particle sizes is desirable for efficient
use of the paste. In addition, aggregates
should be clean and free from any matter
that might affect the quality of the
concrete.
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Hydration Begins
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Soon after the aggregates, water, and the cement are
combined, the mixture starts to harden. All
Portland cements are hydraulic cements that
set and harden through a chemical reaction
with water. During this reaction, called
hydration, a node forms on the surface of
each cement particle. The node grows and
expands until it links up with nodes from
other cement particles or adheres to
adjacent aggregates.
The building up process results in
progressive stiffening, hardening, and
strength development. Once the concrete is
thoroughly mixed and workable it should be
placed in forms before the mixture becomes
too stiff.
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During placement |
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During placement, the concrete is consolidated to compact
it within the forms and to
 eliminate
potential flaws, such as honeycombs and air
pockets. For slabs, concrete is left to
stand until the surface moisture film
disappears. After the film disappears from
the surface, a wood or metal hand float is
used to smooth off the concrete. Floating
produces a relatively even, but slightly
rough, texture that has good slip resistance
and is frequently used as a final finish for
exterior slabs. If a smooth, hard, dense
surface is required, floating is followed by
steel troweling.
Curing begins after the exposed surfaces of
the concrete have hardened sufficiently to
resist marring. Curing ensures the continued
hydration of the cement and the strength
gain of the concrete. Concrete surfaces are
cured by sprinkling with water fog, or by
using moisture-retaining fabrics such as
burlap or cotton mats. Other curing methods
prevent evaporation of the water by sealing
the surface with plastic or special sprays
(curing compounds).
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Special techniques |
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Special techniques are used for curing concrete during
extremely cold or hot weather to protect the
concrete. The longer the concrete is kept
moist, the stronger and more durable it will
become. The rate of hardening depends upon
the composition and fineness of the cement,
the mix proportions, and the moisture and
temperature conditions. Most of the
hydration and strength gain take place
within the first month of concrete's life
cycle, but hydration continues at a slower
rate for many years. Concrete continues to
get stronger as it gets older.
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The Forms of Concrete |
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Concrete is produced in four basic forms, each with
unique applications and properties. Ready
mixed concrete, by far the most common form,
accounts for nearly three-fourths of all
concrete. It's batched at local plants for
delivery in the familiar trucks with
revolving drums. Precast concrete products
are cast in a factory setting. These
products benefit from tight quality control
achievable at a production plant. Precast
products range from concrete bricks and
paving stones to bridge girders, structural
components, and panels for cladding. |
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Concrete masonry |
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Concrete masonry, another
type of manufactured concrete, may be best
known for its conventional 8 x 8 x 16-inch
block. Today's masonry units can be molded
into a wealth of shapes, configurations,
colors, and textures to serve an infinite
spectrum of building applications and
architectural needs. Cement-based materials
represent products that defy the label of
"concrete," yet share many of its qualities.
Conventional materials in this category
include mortar, grout, and terrazzo.
Soil-cement and roller-compacted
concrete-"cousins" of concrete-are used for
pavements and dams. Other products in this
category include flowable fill and
cement-treated bases. A new generation of
advanced products incorporates fibers and
special aggregate to create roofing tiles,
shake shingles, lap siding, and countertops.
And an emerging market is the use of cement
to treat and stabilize waste.
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Decorative Concrete |
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Decorative Concrete is a rapidly
growing market, stamped concrete and
overlays are becoming ever more popular
while acid staining has quickly become the
finish of choice for many commercial
projects. We at Tablerock Asphalt. are
confident you will be satisfied with our
products, and our customer support.
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Pool decks
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Porches
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and Entries
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Patios
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Driveway
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Stamped Concrete is the
process of adding texture and color
to concrete to make it resemble
natural stone, brick , slate, and
other natural products found in
nature including wood, fossils,
shells and many more. This limitless
array of possibilities combined with
great durability and lower cost than
natural products makes Stamped
Concrete an easy choice for new
construction and renovation
projects. |
 Stamped concrete can be part
of a stunning entry way to a
residence. In some cases
the
entry
or front porch is built larger than
normal to create places to sit or
gather to talk. Steps can be stamped
concrete and raised flowerbeds can
be tooled to match the flatworks
stamped pattern.
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Stamped concrete is concrete
that is patterned to resemble brick,
slate, flagstone, stone, tile- and
even wood. In this section you will
see how stamped concrete can be used
to beautify pool decks, driveways,
entries and courtyards, and patios.
Due to the wide array of patterns
and colors available, and the cost
of stamped concrete in relation to
the materials stamped concrete is a
substitute for, the choice of
stamped concrete is becoming more
popular and frequent. |
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stamped concrete are often chosen to
blend with other stone or tile
elements at the residence. Complex
designs incorporating steps,
courtyards, and fountains can be
achieved. Stamped concrete can also
be blended with other decorative
concrete elements such as exposed
aggregate finishes and acid-etch
staining |
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History of Colored Concrete
In the early 1950’s, the F.D. Davis
Company introduced contractors in
Southern California to the idea of
adding synthetic iron oxide, at the
time a waste product from chemical
manufacturing, to their gray
concrete mix. By adding this colored
powder to traditional gray concrete,
it became possible to achieve a wide
range of earth tone colors.
Fast-forward fifty years, where in
2004 more than 204 million pounds of
synthetic iron oxide were used to
color cement-based products in North
America alone. While we may not
repeat that kind of growth over the
next fifty years, decorative
concrete is forecasted to continue
to lead all other segments of
concrete construction in growth well
into the future. Since iron oxide
pigments are used in most every
decorative concrete product, and
integrally colored concrete is in
itself the largest decorative
concrete market segment, doesn’t it
make sense to take some time to
understand this popular and key
building block of our industry? |
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