Common Terms Not familiar with concrete or its repair? The following terms are used frequently in this site:
Concrete: A man-made mix of cement, stone, sand and water that is installed wet and chemically hardens. Most concrete is relatively smooth and grey, but it can also be stained and textured with nearly no limits.
Cedar: Wood whose natural oils make it very resistant to rot and insect damage. Excellent replacement material for expansion joints.
Expansion Joint: A joint between two adjacent pieces of concrete or other structure, such as a wall, that allows for expansion and contraction of a slab during changes in temperature. Joints may be filled with wood, caulk, press board (black fiberous material), or left open.
Exposed Aggregate: Concrete that is treated at installation with a curing retardent that allows the rocks (pea gravel, granite chips, river stones, etc) to be exposed on the surface, giving a textured, course look.
Footer: A structural piece of concrete that has a wall (typically concrete or concrete block) or other structure sitting on top.
Settlement: Downward movement of soil or a structure.
Slab: A flat piece of concrete, which may have non-structural things, such as a non-load bearing framed interior walls or steps, sitting on top.
Teeter-tottering: Elevation of a portion of a slab resulting from settlement in other portions of the same slab.
Void: An air pocket under a concrete slab or footer.
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