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Archive for the ‘Concrete Contractor in Baltimore’ Category

Concrete Maintenance Services with PTG Enterprises

Thursday, March 31st, 2016
Repair concrete cracks

Don’t ignore trip fall hazards and breaks like this one! Concrete maintenance is essential to the health and beauty of your concrete. 

Concrete is a durable material that is a popular and effective choice for building sidewalks, curbs, dumpster pads, and similar structures. Concrete is incredibly durable against harsh elements, but can suffer from damage like cracks and breaks after an extended period of time or particularly harsh winter. At PTG Enterprises, our expert staff can repair or build concrete structures to ensure safety and aesthetic appeal. Learn more about our concrete maintenance services.
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Cement vs. Concrete: Is There a Difference?

Friday, January 15th, 2016
Mixing Concrete

Concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, rocks, ash and water.

Have you ever wondered about the difference between cement and concrete? People often use the terms cement and concrete interchangeably, which may have led you to believe that they were the same thing. However, they are actually different substances (though there is cement in concrete). Let’s talk about the difference between concrete and cement.

 

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Everything You Didn’t Know You Wanted to Know about Cinder Blocks

Friday, August 28th, 2015

Cinder BlocksCinder blocks play a big role in our lives. In many cases, they literally are your cornerstone – the rock that holds everything together. Cinder blocks are used, along with concrete columns, tie beams, and rebar, to create what is known as “concrete block structure” (CBS) construction. This building method is extremely common and used in all types of low-rise buildings – both residential and commercial. (more…)

The Benefits of Concrete Road Construction in Maryland

Friday, July 31st, 2015

Concrete Road Construction MarylandWe recently talked about the differences between concrete and asphalt parking lots and why asphalt just makes more sense for the bulk of the job. Asphalt is 35% cheaper to install than concrete and much easier to work with. Concrete is, however, more durable, which is why it is often used in high stress areas, such as entrances and exits, dumpster pads, and frames (curbing).

For these same reasons, most roads in Maryland – and across the country – are paved with asphalt, not concrete. Concrete road construction is a very in-depth and, thus, expensive process initially. However, in the long run, concrete tends to be the cheaper paving option. (more…)

What Makes Strong Concrete?

Friday, July 17th, 2015

Strong ConcreteWe walk, run and drive on it everyday, but have you ever though about how strong the concrete is beneath you?

Concrete strength boils down to the mix design, but what exactly makes the concrete strong and durable? Each mixture depends on its intended purpose, so different projects will require different strengths. Let’s take a look at the different strengths of concrete. (more…)

What is the Difference Between Cement and Concrete

Wednesday, June 24th, 2015

What is the difference between cement and concrete? Is it a cement mixer or a concrete mixer? Do they mean the same thing? In today’s blog, we will help clear up this confusion and learn the difference between these two substances.
Many people use the terms concrete and cement interchangeably, although they are not the same thing. When people say things like cement parking lot or cement walls, they are mistaking concrete for cement. Referring to concrete as cement is like referring to bread as flour or yeast.Mixing Concrete (more…)

Stamped Concrete and Colored Concrete Services in Baltimore, Maryland

Friday, May 8th, 2015

Stamped Concrete Baltimore Maryland

When you think concrete, what comes to mind? If you answered a dull, gray slab, then you are just like the majority of people out there. But PTG Enterprises is happy to tell you that concrete doesn’t have to be dull. Concrete doesn’t have to be boring. Concrete doesn’t even have to be gray!

Stamped Concrete and Colored Concrete: Injecting Excitement into Concrete

Concrete is durable. It is moldable. It has a long lifecycle. But it is also a little boring. That’s one of the many reasons business owners have shied away from concrete for parking lots, pool decks, and commercial patios. However, with a little magic – or what passes for magic in the concrete industry – we can take transform those once boring slabs into textured, colored surfaces that any business owner would be proud to own. (more…)

Concrete Flatwork in Baltimore: Sidewalks, Dumpster Pads, and More

Friday, April 17th, 2015

Concrete Flatwork Baltimore

Concrete is a durable material that’s excellent for sidewalks, dumpster pads, aprons, and similar flat surfaces, better known in the pavement industry as Flatwork. While flatwork may seem relatively simple and straightforward, it is still best to leave all flatwork installation, as well as maintenance and repairs, to the professionals, especially when it comes to commercial properties. This will ensure the project is not only aesthetically pleasing, but, perhaps most importantly, done according to code.

Concrete Flatwork Installation

When it comes to concrete, there is more to installation than simply mixing cement and water and pouring said mixture into a hole. This is why it is important to trust flatwork installation to a professional concrete contractor. This will help ensure that the concrete is installed properly, including reinforcements to increase strength and durability (thus longevity). (more…)

Combat Winter Pavement Damage: Concrete Repair throughout Maryland

Friday, February 20th, 2015

Concrete Repair MarylandConcrete is a durable material that’s excellent for sidewalks, curbs, dumpster pads, and similar structures: durable, but not indestructible. Concrete repair is in every business owner, facility manager, or home owner association’s future. That’s just the way it is.

Freeze-Thaw Damage

We probably sound like a broken record, but winter, snow, and ice can wreak havoc on your pavement. Period. With the help of our good ole friend the freeze-thaw cycle, water works its way into even the smallest cracks, freezes, expands, and widens cracks. And this happens countless times during the winter months here in Maryland where the temperature goes up and down more than a rollercoaster.

“Any time you have weather where it is 60 degrees one day and 20 degrees the next, you’re going to have a significant impact on the pavement,” warns Rob Morosi, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Snow Plow Damage

As helpful as snow plows may be, they can also be a nightmare on your concrete pavement. Because snow plow operators can’t always see what lies beneath that fresh coat of snow, they sometimes hit curbs, speed bumps, wheel stops, and signage.

De-icing Chemical Damage

De-icing chemicals can wreak havoc on concrete. These chemicals, while great for melting snow and ice, also “interact with concrete, resulting is cracking, strength loss, and eventually pavement failure,” according to a 2002 federal government-funded study. Click Here to learn more.

The Solution to It All: Concrete repair.

Concrete Repair throughout Maryland

At PTG Enterprises, we are experts at commercial concrete repair and our crews are extremely familiar with all types of concrete paving. Our knowledgeable estimators will inspect your pavement and make several suggestions to address the symptoms as well as the underlining problems.

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When concrete cracks there are several ways to address the problem:

  1. Crack repairs: When concrete cracks there are several ways to address the problem.
  2. Caulking During new construction, expansion joints are installed to allow shifting and movement of the concrete. Over time, the fill material rots and needs to be caulked. This helps prevent water intrusion.
  3. Trip Fall Hazards: As sidewalks settle or the ground beneath shirts, it sometimes creates what is known as trip and fall hazards.

To find out which form of Concrete Repair makes the most sense for you, please contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today! You can check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Prevent Concrete Damage, Remove De-Icing Chemicals after Snow and Ice Melt

Friday, February 6th, 2015

Concrete Damage De-Icing ChemicalsConcrete is a durable material that’s excellent for sidewalks, curbs, dumpster pads, and similar structures. Concrete is durable, but it’s not indestructible.  It requires regular maintenance and proper protection, especially during the winter months when the freeze-thaw cycle and de-icing chemicals can wreak havoc on concrete.

De-Icing Chemicals and Concrete Damage

If you have ever visited the My Pavement Guy blog before, you know owner Patrick T. Gillen III is strongly against the use of de-icing chemicals on concrete and asphalt surfaces. These chemicals, while great for melting snow and ice, also ““interact with concrete, resulting is cracking, strength loss, and eventually pavement failure,” according to a 2002 federal government-funded study.

“No de-icing chemicals are safe.” – Gillen.

Sand is a much safer and environmentally-conscious option. Still, if you want to use de-icing chemicals to melt away hazardous ice and snow (we understand. Slips, trips, and falls can be a liability), it is important to remove these chemicals when they are no longer necessary. Far too often, business owners and property managers who use de-icing chemicals fail to properly remove these chemicals when snow and ice have melted away.

Leaving clumps of de-icing chemicals, like salt, on your sidewalks, dumpster corals, and other concrete surfaces can lead to concrete damage, such as cracking or worse, total pavement failure. When concrete becomes cracked and broken, it not only detracts from the overall look of a property, it can become a safety hazard.

Concrete Repair from PTG Enterprises

The secret to great looking pavement is three-fold: initial construction, maintenance, and re-construction. And lucky for you, PTG Enterprises can handle all three phases. We are a commercial concrete contractor in the Baltimore area and our crews are extremely familiar with all types of concrete paving.

PTG Enterprises are experts with commercial concrete jobs.

According to the Federal Highway Administration Manual of Practice (FWHA Report Number FHWS-RD-99-147), “Crack sealing and filling are imperative preventative maintenance tools.”

If you have any further questions about Concrete Damage and Repair, please contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today! You can check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!