Frequently Asked Questions

A high quality Printed concrete installation should last 30+ years. Its lifespan is directly proportional to the quality of installation. A poorly installed slab of concrete and an expertly installed one may look the same when installed but as time goes on the poorly installed job will start to show its faults. Hence we must stress the importance of hiring an experienced and reliable concrete contractor for your installation.

We are very used to working in bad weather conditions, however if the conditions prevent us from continuing for a day or two we will keep you informed of any new schedules. We are able to cope with most conditions, however severe cold/frost and rain will interrupt proceedings. Please note that on printing day if there is heavy rain or hard frost forecast we will not print on that day. An alternative day will be arranged.

On a domestic driveway, a minimum of 100 mm of fiber reinforced, air entrained concrete is laid, a minimum of 90mm on patios & footpaths. Commercial installations and driveways with very heavy vehicles can require 150 mm.

Nothing is totally maintenance free but as far as paving is concerned but Printed Concrete is as good as it gets. The colour hardener makes the surface of the concrete extremely tough. The solvent based acrylic sealer does not allow the growth of moss or algae and it also prevents the ingress of dirt and stains. It can be power-washed, however the occasional sweep off or rinse with a detergent is the most it will require. The key to keeping your printed concrete in good condition is to get it cleaned and resealed occasionally. The frequency of this depends mainly on the type of use it gets but as an average anywhere between 2 and 3 years is the norm for a printed concrete driveway. Patios and footpaths usually don’t need to be done as often.

The printed concrete will be set sufficiently to walk on the next morning. For a driveway it needs 5 days curing time to take the weight of a car, all going well with weather we should have the driveway sealed in this time too.

All necessary drainage requirements are assessed at the initial design stage and again during construction. All drainage will comply with regulations and also take into account possible effects of severe rainfall.

If the surface is starting to get some algae growing or is starting to look a bit pale (but the colour looks fine when wet) then it could do with a clean and reseal. If in doubt give us a call on 0879602628 and we can call and assess it for you.

Movement joints are cut in at regular intervals as recommended to try to control cracking. They are cut to a depth of 25% of the thickness of the slab using a saw equipped with a diamond blade, this creates a weak point in the slab for the concrete to crack as concrete by nature will want to contract and crack during the curing process. Where possible the joints are disguised within the pattern to minimise their appearance.

Mainly there is no downtime but if there needs to be any downtime this will be discussed and we will try to work around a time that suits best to complete the work.

We offer all types of commercial flatwork concrete and groundworks, car parks, farmyards, silage slabs, shed floors, cubicle beds etc.