Sidewalks, roadways, and any concrete surface for that matter, are only as strong as the concrete they are made from (and their reinforcement – when necessary). And concrete strength all comes down to mix design. There are numerous types, strengths, and compositions of concrete, each with its own unique set of characteristics that dictate performance.
Concrete Strength
Concrete strength is presented in Pounds per Square Inch, or PSI. Normal concrete typically ranges from 2,500 PSI to 5,000 PSI, while engineered design mixes can exceed 10,000 PSI. Weaker strengths are available for grouts.
- 2,500 PSI: At this strength, concrete is best suited for sidewalks, driveways, and graded floor slabs.
- 3,000 PSI: In many locations, 3,000 PSI is the standard strength for construction.
- 3,500 PSI: When significant loading is expected and surface spalling is unacceptable – curbs, building footings, floor slabs, etc. – 3,500 PSI is the strength you need.
- 4,000 PSI: This is where we start talking about roadways and heavy-use floor slabs.
- 5,000 PSI: This strength is typically reserved for special construction projects requiring high impact resistance and very low wear rates, or where extreme conditions are expected.
Additional factors that affect concrete include: pump mixes, exposed aggregate mixes, entrained air mixtures, and, of course, reinforcement (as we mentioned early on).
Concrete Construction in Baltimore
PTG Enterprises is a full service commercial pavement contractor in the Baltimore, Maryland area. Over the years, we have paved thousands of miles of asphalt and concrete surface: roads, parking lots, etc. throughout Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia. Our crews are highly skilled and extremely familiar with all types of concrete paving. You can be rest assured that the end result will look professional and last for years to come.
If you have any questions about Concrete Construction, please contact PTG Enterprises today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today! You can check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!
