Stamped Concrete Forum - How can I prevent concrete from cracking? - Answers from Professionals

Stamped Concrete Forum - How can I prevent concrete from cracking? - Answers from Professionals - Question:
Fin-1: I pour concrete driveways, patios and foundations for a living and on
each job just about the concrete eventually cracks. I've tried everything I can
think of but each time the concrete always ends up developing hairline cracks.
I've tried everything from cure-seal to increasing the cement to sand ratio and
nothing seems to work. My competitors concrete slabs on the other hand are
virtually flawless in every respect and apparently crack free from what I've seen
of his work over the years...What is he doing that I'm not?


Answer:
Tech101: Fin-1, Concrete crack prevention from driveways and sidewalks to
pool decks and patios require today’s construction projects to include more
concrete features than ever. For these premature cracking prevention
applications you must optimize your concrete mixes with a Fiber mesh solution
which provides a reinforced concrete mix that stops the cracks before they ever
get started. Unlike traditional steel methods, Fiber mesh fibers are uniformly
distributed throughout the concrete mix and are always positioned positively so
as to become an integral part of the concrete composite slab. The use of Fiber
mesh fibers reduces the formation of plastic shrinkage and settlement cracks
by discouraging the segregation of the concrete ingredients while adding
tensile strain capacity to plastic concrete. This reduction or elimination of plastic
cracks or surface cracks enables the concrete to develop its optimum long-term
structural integrity. The Fiber mesh network of molecular reinforcement
reaches every cubic inch of the concrete section for uniform reinforcement that
minimizes early age cracking, reduces water migration, increases impact,
abrasion and shatter resistance. It also provides residual strength and crack
protection throughout the slab composite.
Proper placement of full depth expansion joints and properly formatted control
joints also play an integral role in the prevention of cracks....good luck!