Does concrete dry faster in heat or cold?

• <div><p>Concrete dries faster in the heat than in the cold, but when concrete cures too fast, it can cause weak concrete. It’s best to pour concrete when temperatures are between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, watering it five to 10 times per day for seven days (unless you pour concrete in the winter). Slower cure times, such as when <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/pouring-concrete-in-cold-weather.htm">pouring concrete in cold weather</a>, can cause strong concrete, but you need to monitor the temperature drop and moisture levels. Avoid pouring concrete when temperatures are below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.</p></div>

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Q: What are the main ingredients to make concrete?

• <div><p>The main ingredients to make concrete are cement, water, air, and aggregate for proper formation. Mixing concrete occurs just before use to ensure proper curing after it is combined with water. Cement, however, is the key ingredient to concrete, and includes a collection of natural binding elements and sand, clay, and limestone. </p></div>

Q: Does a paved driveway add value to a home?

• <div><p>A paved driveway adds <b>$5,000 to $7,000</b> to the value of your home. That&rsquo;s because it increases your curb appeal and the functionality of your outdoor space, which appeals to potential buyers.</p></div>

Q: Do you need a special drill bit for concrete?

• <div><p>Yes, it's best to use a carbide-tipped masonry bit when drilling into concrete. These bits are harder and more durable than standard bits, so they're designed for drilling into tough surfaces like concrete. A different bit is likely to break and pose a safety hazard so you'll definitely want to stick with one that's specially designed for concrete. </p></div>

Q: How much weight does a 4-inch concrete slab support?

• <div><p>A 4-inch-thick concrete slab can support around 4,000 pounds per square foot if a contractor reinforces the slab with rebar, while that same slab without reinforcements will support closer to 1,000 pounds. For the purposes of a patio, 4 inches in thickness without reinforcement should suffice unless you&rsquo;re installing heavy kitchen equipment or a hot tub on it. In those cases, reinforcing your slab and sticking with 4 inches of thickness should provide plenty of strength.</p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Decorative Concrete Service pros in Stronghurst, IL

*The Angi rating for Decorative Concrete Service companies in Stronghurst, IL is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Decorative Concrete Service needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Decorative Concrete Service companies in Stronghurst, IL is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Decorative Concrete Service needs.

Last update on November 19, 2025

Reviewed in October 2023
Great local concrete company! They tore out the existing driveway and concrete step and installed a new concrete driveway and step. The work was completed very timely. The company responds very quickly and kept me updated on the project. The driveway turned out great! I would recommend this...
Pristine Concrete Solutions
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Reviewed in October 2019
I highly recommend using Proficient Painting and Decorating. Mike did an excellent job prepping and staining our deck this fall. Mike does high quality work with excellent attention to detail. Mike and Robin provided professional service and communication throughout the process.
Proficient Painting & Decorating Inc
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Reviewed in August 2018
John and Robert, who tore out the old patio & retaining walls, were really diligent, hard workers, who didnt complain at all about the extra work they ended up having to do, because of the thickness and quality of the previous concrete. John, who did the finishing work, stayed right with me,...
The Other Guys Construction
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Reviewed in May 2016
Project overall went very well. They had to get re-registered with my village for permit reasons, this took them virtually no time at all to complete with the village. Cost of the project was within my budget where as others were out of my budget. The quality of work and how the shed pad came...
LANDSCRETE INC
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Reviewed in May 2016
We hired Varela's to remove existing sealer and reseal stamped concrete patio. They charged us $300 and instead of removing existing sealer they just put new sealer on the top of the old one . Now the pation look worst than it did before their service( white spots of tick sealer all over the...
Varela's Concrete
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Reviewed in March 2015
Emiliano installed pad & carpet in a basement office to cover the concrete floor. He came out once for an estimate and to determine the type of carpet to install and then again to perform the installation. He was punctual and called ahead to let me know when to expect him. Installation went...
Flores Floors
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Reviewed in May 2012
Six months later we are still picking up cigarette butts, they damaged the irrigation and never bothered to tell us. Used silver screws on a black fence, dumped concrete leftovers in grass area leaving many damaged areas where we still haven't gotten the grass to grow back. For the price and...
Hohulin Fence Company
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Reviewed in July 2011
My concrete is now peeling up all over and it is absolutely horrible. They had a reasonable price and seemed to work very hard but this work just wasn’t worth the money. It also isn’t flat so water pools in it. I saw that it wasn’t very good right at the beginning and told them not to...
TRIZZINO CONSTRUCTION
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Get matched with top decorative concrete pros in Stronghurst, IL

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Concrete Driveways & Floors Installation

Concrete Patios, Walks & Steps Installation

Concrete Flatwork Repair & Resurface

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Gilmour Construction LLC

Gilmour Construction LLC

Melloneys LLC

Melloneys LLC

Hiatt Repair and Maintenance

Hiatt Repair and Maintenance

Vincent's Concrete & Masonry

Vincent's Concrete & Masonry

Bryans concrete

Bryans concrete

Collins Concrete

Collins Concrete

GC Designs

GC Designs

Campbell Construction

Campbell Construction

Ronnie's Construction

Ronnie's Construction

Solo Construction Inc.

Solo Construction Inc.

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