Midland, Texas, is best known for its booming economy since it is the state’s extraction hub for oil and other natural gases. It is also expected that it’s logging, mining, and energy industries will have unprecedented growth for the years to come. Furthermore, the local government estimates that job creation will increase by 8.1% in the coming years. This being the case, many are migrating to this city, thus, creating demand for the housing market. Not surprisingly, companies dealing with Concrete in Midland, Texas, are on the rise as well.
Typically, there are two types of companies related to the concrete and cement businesses that are gaining momentum in Midland, Texas. One is the concrete supplier, while the other is the concrete contractor. What specialized services are offered by each one?
Concrete supplier
A concrete supplier has direct access to raw materials. Oftentimes, they are the ones who mine the raw products in Midland themselves. Since Midland, Texas is rich in natural materials used for concrete, clients can expect that suppliers can provide the best mix.
- Customized mixing – Aside from providing cheaper supplies, some prefer working with them instead of getting stuff from hardware stores because they can customize the product. A person doing construction can call the concrete supplier and request a unique mix of sand, gravel, limestone, and other raw materials.
- Ready-mix concrete – However, a downside to asking for their service is that you need to buy in bulk. Also, you need to be familiar with the science of concrete-making. Some of the considerations necessary in ensuring that you get a high-quality mix are its durability, reactivity, thermal mass, ability to retain stormwater, and waste production. If you know very little about these considerations and you are not embarking on a major project, then it is still sometimes best to buy ready-mix concrete products since they have been tried and tested.
Concrete contractor
Meanwhile, a contractor for Concrete in Midland, Texas, handles the construction itself. General contractors are not required by the state of Texas to have a license. However, Midland has a city ordinance that requires them to register and obtain a performance bond before operating. The city also needs all construction projects to have a plan submitted to the town and subdivision for review. As such, getting a legitimate contractor company is critical in having your application fast-tracked for approval.
Concrete contractors have four primary responsibilities when you avail of their services. These are preparation, feeding, compaction, and curing.
- Preparation – The first task of a concrete contractor specialist is to clear the area and level the ground. This process may include specialized types of machinery like bulldozers or backhoes that adds to the cost of hiring concrete contractors. However, without their aid, manual work would be labor-intensive and time-consuming.
Once the materials arrive, they prepare the frames and mix the subgrades for the foundation. Mix preparation is carried out using a concrete plant, which can process 5-240 cubic of concrete per hour. The cyclical action of this mixer ensures that the cement and other aggregates are well-incorporated to one another.
- Feeding – After mixing the concrete and other aggregates, the product is now poured on the framework. A concrete contractor with a fully automated process typically uses pumps, hoists, chutes, pneumatic blowers, and belt conveyors in the building’s framework. On the other hand, a company that does not have these types of machinery can simply pour, level, and spread the mixed cement using simple tools like trowels.
- Compaction – Once all the needed areas are filled up, the compaction process begins. At this stage, the specialist ensures that the rods have been reinforced. The impermeability of the whole structure to frost and water are also checked. If needed, a concrete-finishing machine may be used to level the surface.
- Curing – Concrete may take two days before it dries up. Once everything solidifies, part of their regular job order is to apply the sealants and remove the frames that guided the concrete. The curing process then begins. Depending on the amount of concrete used, curing can last up to 28 days. Curing is a method that allows concrete to minimize its risk of discoloration, curling, and cracking. A well-cured house is a reliable and durable house.
Constructing a concrete foundation is a messy job. It is not something that a hobbyist can easily do since there is a science behind it. Looking for suppliers and dependable contractors is a necessary task when building a home. They have professionals who are knowledgeable about the products and the processes involved in your project. Because Midland has a booming industry in construction, it would not be difficult to find a suitable company that can cater to your needs.
