Shaw & Sons ’ 10 Rules of Architectural Concrete
206
Creating quality architectural concrete takes the combined efforts of the project designer , concrete contractor , concrete mix engineer and concrete batch plant . The following checklist touches on some of the basic principles that Shaw & Sons implements to produce quality architectural concrete paving . We believe that the thoroughness of these rules that we follow is what sets Shaw & Sons apart .
RULE 1
THE STATEMENT OF MIX DESIGN
The most important document when planning an architectural concrete paving installation is the project Statement of Mix Design ( see facsimile below ). This document describes the ingredients of every cubic yard of concrete used on a project . Shaw & Sons ensures that the following process is adhered to and included in each mix when securing a concrete mix design :
A . Batch plant supplying the concrete . B . Project address . C . Date of report . D . Owner to whom concrete is being supplied . E . Mix design number . F . PSI strength at 28 days .
G . 3 / 8-inch or 1-inch coarse aggregate identified .
H . Slump with +/ - range indicated ( typically 4 inch to 5 inch , +/ - 1 inch ).
I . Fine and coarse aggregate supplier .
J . Gradation chart for aggregates .
K . Cement type and brand with sacks / CY of concrete .
L . Batch weights per 1 CY for cement , fine and coarse aggregate , water and admixtures . M . Method for testing used . N . Water / cement ratio . O . For what paving type ( per architects drawing ) is each individual mix design . P . Signed stamp and date from engineer . Q . Typical strength results per local building code . R . Signed by concrete lab . S . Signed and checked by two Shaw & Sons officers .
RULE 2
Concrete :
CONCRETE , ADMIXTURES AND CONCRETE MATERIAL SOURCING
Cement aggregates and sand ; note color range of materials .
ALWAYS SPECIFY SOLE-SOURCE MATERIALS . Concrete is a mixture of cement , water and aggregates ( fine and coarse ). Cement and water combine to make a paste , which binds the aggregates into a rock-like mass , and this paste then hardens under a chemical process called hydration . Freshly mixed concrete is made of five basic ingredients