When experienced concrete contractors
go to work on a large construction project, they work closely with architects,
engineers, and their customers to ensure their portion of the project utilizes
the best cost- and time-saving methods, all while delivering a strong and
lasting final product. With these goals in mind, concrete
contractors in Portland such as The Conco Companies have incorporated shotcrete into
their wheelhouses.
In standard concrete construction,
there are several basic steps most projects can anticipate in their schedule:
mixing, formwork, placing, floating, curing, and finishing. Each of these steps
can vary in duration depending on the type and scale of the project at hand,
but in particular, building the formwork and placing the concrete can take a
good deal of time with more traditional methods of pouring concrete. Shotcrete is a different option that employs a particular concrete
mixture that is pumped through a hose and propelled through a nozzle at high
velocity using an air compressor. Shotcrete has a few variations in its
application process and is commonly used for floor slabs, pools, walls, or
overhead or curved surfaces.
The differences in process
Shotcrete can save time on projects due
to some of the differences in the application of this type of concrete.
Shotcrete’s specific mixture is engineered to be fluid enough to be piped
through the hose and nozzle, but solid enough to avoid slump as it is applied
to surfaces, particularly vertical or overhead surfaces. This means that for
many projects, little to no formwork is needed. Shotcrete goes on like a stiff
paste, and requires only one-sided formwork or none at all if applied to
compacted soil. This saves on the time and labor consuming step of creating
sound formwork, which requires particular materials and techniques so the
formwork doesn’t bulge, balk, or leak with the weight of poured concrete. The
high velocity application of shotcrete that results from the compressed air
propelling the mixture from the nozzle also means that vibration or compaction
isn’t required after each layer is placed. Additionally, for curved or
irregularly shaped surfaces – such as shotcrete tunnels, domes, or pools – that would take difficult and
painstaking formwork, shotcrete is an ideal time saving option as it can be
applied evenly to nearly any surface.
At The Conco Companies, we are one of
the leading concrete contractors in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of
quality services and products. Our experience includes providing services for
commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as
public works projects. Please contact us for more information about our full
range of premium Portland area concrete services including shotcrete.
