Not to make you feel as if you’ve been hoodwinked, but we’re here to tell you that everything you know about concrete may be false! After chatting with our friends and neighbors, we quickly learned that many people are truly confused about what concrete truly is. Here are five of the top concrete myths we’ve heard and what’s actually is the truth:
Concrete is impenetrable
We’d like to say that concrete is nearly indestructible, but this isn’t the case. In fact, concrete still absorbs water and moisture depending on whether it was sealed or not. This is what leads to concrete cracking of concrete and uneven surfaces forming. A common symptom of water seeping into concrete and causing destruction is freeze-thaw damage. This condition often happens during the winter months and can be blamed on improper clearing of your concrete surfaces or runoff.
Cement versus concrete
Have you’ve been using cement and concrete interchangeably for years? Well, you’ve committed a big oopsie. Cement is actually an ingredient in concrete used for paving. Cement is made of calcium and silica minerals found in limestone and clay deposits. These minerals give allow concrete to become a cohesive mixture and bind together.
There are corpses buried in the Hoover Dam
Rumors began to stir after the construction of the Hoover Dam in the 1930s when numerous works died during construction. Rumors said that corpses were buried within Hoover Dam’s walls because the pouring of the concrete couldn’t be stopped. Roughly a thousand cubic yards of concrete would be poured at one time. Thanks to Snopes, we now know this isn’t the case because it was revealed that if workers did indeed slip they could easily be saved from the freshly poured concrete.
Stepping on cracks breaks your mama’s back
You remember the childish chant, “Step on a crack and you’ll break your mama’s back!” We’d like to say that you’re safe from stepping on cracks, but we know that cracks are a telltale sign that a deeper problem lies below the concrete’s surface. So, Mama is safe from this myth, but you should get those cracks in your concrete diagnosed ASAP.
Concrete will last forever
The harsh reality is that concrete requires maintenance, but compared to other building materials, the maintenance is minimal. In fact, by making sure that your concrete surfaces remain clear throughout the year is one of the biggest ways to prevent wear and tear. Another habit concrete owners should utilize is avoiding deicing chemicals which impacts the concrete’s overall integrity.
Even with all the concrete rumors milling about, we still believe that concrete is the ideal material for your driveway and outdoor services. To make sure that your concrete lives up to all the hype, contact your local concrete professionals to schedule a maintenance check today.