Before making the decision to purchase any product it is important to know what you are looking for. Concrete mixers are a complicated topic especially if you are in the process of starting your own construction company or if you have simply never bought one before.
While you are looking for the gear and tools you will need to make your business successful it is vital that you know and understand how these tools work. You will need to work out how much of each thing you need, for example, how many hard hats will you need?
Start Your Own Construction Company with the Help of Concrete Mixers
Have you been looking into starting your own construction company but are unsure about the best way to start? There are many tips that can help you create a successful business. You need to know what tools you will need, for example, concrete mixers.
When purchasing a mixer companies need to know what types of projects they will be working on. For example, will they be focusing on smaller projects or larger projects? If a company only works on smaller projects a 60-litre mixer may be a perfect size for mixing concrete.
However, for companies working on a larger scale, they may need a 250-litre mixer. This will all depend on what the needs of the company are. A larger mixer will also work well for companies that require concrete every day on their construction sites. This will ensure that there is a constant flow of concrete and you won’t be concerned about potentially running low.
Purchasing a mixer for concrete will greatly benefit your company. Having one at your disposal means that you will be able to mix concrete on site whenever necessary and you won’t need to have concrete delivered to your site.
Starting your own construction company can be tricky but with these few things to look out for the process will be easier. B&S Commercial Power is an amazing company and has a variety of products you will need to help your construction sites run smoothly.
Starting a construction business can be daunting especially when it comes to which tools you need to buy and potentially purchasing equipment that you won’t really need can be frustrating and a waste of money and space however with B&S Commercial Power this won’t happen.
Concrete Mixers: Tools and Materials that Concrete Contractors Need to Purchase
Getting started with purchasing products for your construction company, the safety gear and tools that your employees will need is an important step. Start off with purchasing concrete mixers and the materials needed to make concrete.
The materials needed to make concrete include cement, water, mineral admixtures, chemical admixtures, coarse aggregate and fine aggregate. Aggregate is made up of crushed rock, gravel and sand. Sand is used in fine aggregate while gravel is used in coarse aggregate.
Wheelbarrows are essential for transporting concrete and other materials around construction sites. Vapour barriers are also important tools to buy in order to increase the durability of concrete. They are used to prevent the loss of water in concrete and can be placed before pouring concrete so that other materials don’t drain water.
Moreover, vibrators are used to remove excess water and any air that is trapped in concrete. These tools are often used when building railways and roads. Finishing tools are also helpful to have on-site for when the project is drawing to a close.
These tools include saws, grinders, edgers and hand sprayers. Finishing tools are used to finalise the last touches on construction projects. These tools neaten up the construction project and create an overall great finished product.
Additional tools that should be purchased for your construction site include:
- Shovels for moving around concrete or to remove excess concrete.
- Buckets work well to pour water on the concrete to make it manageable on hot days.
- Floats are used to create a smoother concrete finish.
There are many different types of tools needed on a construction sight. This can make things feel daunting. However, with the materials and tools mentioned you will know exactly what to buy for your construction site.
Concrete Mixers: How to Avoid Concrete Hazards
There are many hazards that may occur on a construction site. However, companies can do their best to equip their employees by providing them with the necessary safety tools and by having safety protocols in place to reduce hazards.
Employees should wear hard hats, protective glasses and face masks while they are working on construction sites. This will protect them from things potentially falling on their heads or into their eyes, and from breathing in harsh chemicals while working with concrete.
Rubber gloves should be worn by all employees who handle concrete. Concrete contains chemicals that can affect the skin and cause discomfort, due to concrete absorbing moisture from the skin. This will damage the skin over a long period of time.
When working with concrete the clothes that you wear is important. Wearing long sleeve tops, pants that are full-length and waterproof boots will help prevent concrete from touching your skin.
Additionally, when using machinery such as power tools like power saws, power mixers, and plate compactors it is important that employees wear soundproofing gear that will protect their ears from the loud noise these tools make.
Furthermore, employees that operate these tools need to have training in how to properly and safely operate them. This will also reduce the likelihood of accidents happening on the construction site. Having well-trained employees benefits businesses.
Another way to help reduce concrete hazards is by having an area on construction sites where employees can wash their skin or eyes in case they get into direct contact with concrete. This will help prevent severe damage.
Concrete Mixers: How to Reinforce Concrete
Now that your company knows which tools and equipment should be purchased the next step is to know how to reinforce concrete. Ensuring that concrete is strong will reduce structural issues such as cracks.
There are a few ways to reinforce concrete by altering the concrete mixture. This includes:
- Changing the ratio of cement to sand.
- Add an additive to prevent cracking during colder weather seasons.
- Using a shrinkage-reducing admixture and a corrosion inhibiting admixture.
Changing the ratio of cement to water can be done by increasing the amount of cement in the mixture in relation to the sand and other materials used. The stronger your concrete mixture is the less likely there will be cracks or other damage after a project is completed.
Adding an additive such as air entrainment will prevent cracks during colder times of the year. Air entrainment additives produce microscopic air bubbles in the concrete. This can be added when the concrete is in the process of being mixed.
Another extra step would be to add a shrinkage-reducing admixture to concrete. This is done to prevent water loss in concrete. It is natural for concrete to lose water but this will cause shrinkage resulting in the concrete becoming weaker.
Shrinkage-reducing admixtures are often used for aesthetically pleasing projects such as sculptures or buildings. Furthermore, corrosion-inhibiting admixtures are often used in buildings built near the ocean.
This admixture reduces the effects that chlorides have on steel. Adding this to concrete mixtures is a vital step to reinforce concrete that is exposed to chlorides often. Parking garages, highway bridges as well as marine buildings will benefit from this.
Additionally, there are other ways to reinforce concrete. Which includes:
- Placing steel rebars in the centre of the concrete moulds and then pouring the concrete evenly over the rebars.
- The same method used for steel rebars can be used with steel mesh instead.
Concrete Mixers: How are Concrete Sculptures Made?
Artists are finding many different ways to express themselves. An artist named Rick True has worked with many different materials such as steel, wood, bronze and latex. However, True became concerned with the environmental impact using wood had.
True began using concrete. His sculptures attempt to capture vitality through the human body. He uses a plaster mould that has been made from a live model, this technique is known as lifecasting.
The model’s skin is protected by a layer of petroleum jelly, this also helps remove the mould easily from the skin. Layers of plaster are then layered over the petroleum jelly. This is left on for 20 minutes or until it has hardened. The mould is then removed in order to air dry.
Once the mould is dry True then covers the different sections of the mould in his concrete mixture. He does two layers of the concrete mixture to ensure that his sculptures are durable and flexible.
The concrete mixture he uses contains two parts each of cement and sand, one part acrylic adhesive, a bonding agent, and water. True is still working on the perfect concrete mixture that will work best for his sculptures.
The sculpture then needs to cure for a week then the different sections of the sculpture are fixed together using steel armature to form the final piece. The different sections are stuck together with mesh and sealed with an acrylic adhesive and polymer bonding mixture.
Lastly, True uses a pumice stone to achieve the texture he would like. He prefers a more rough finish for his sculptures. There are so many different creative things that can be done with concrete. Making sculptures is just one example.
About B&S Commercial Power
B&S Commercial Power provides clients with a variety of high-performance equipment that is used for construction. This company has experienced staff that understand the needs of their clients. They are prepared to give clients advice on what equipment is best suited to their needs.
B&S Commercial Power is located in Okavango Park in Cape Town and they have an online store. They have made their construction equipment easy to access and provide great customer service. They will soon become your number one supplier for residential or commercial construction products.
Furthermore, if you are specifically interested in concrete mixers B&S Commercial Power has three for you to choose from. Their drum volume ranges from 360 litres to 500 litres. You will be able to select one that is ideally suited for the needs of your business.
However, if you are unsure about what will be best suited for your business’s needs one of B&S Commercial Power’s excellent employees will be able to recommend the best options for you. This will make the selection process easier and less frustrating.
Furthermore, once you visit their physical or online store, you will be amazed by the number of high-performance equipment they have available that can be used for various industries from construction to forestry.