FAQs

Cement is one ingredient, and concrete is the finished material. A typical mix is about 10% to 15% cement by volume, with sand and gravel making up 60% to 75% and water most of the rest, so cement acts as the glue.

Flatwork covers horizontal surfaces people walk or drive on, such as driveways, patios, and sidewalks. Structural concrete carries building or soil loads, including foundations, footings, and retaining walls, so it follows engineered reinforcement and code requirements for strength and placement.

Decorative concrete is any concrete finished for appearance as well as strength. Stamping, integral color, stains, exposed or seeded aggregate, salt finishes, and custom joint patterns all turn a plain gray slab into a surface that complements the architecture around it.

For most projects, yes. Ready-mix arrives batched to a specified strength and poured continuously, while an 80-pound bag yields only about 0.6 cubic feet, meaning roughly 45 bags per cubic yard. Bagged mix makes sense for post holes and small repairs.

Concrete is ordered by the cubic yard, which equals 27 cubic feet. One cubic yard covers about 81 square feet at 4 inches thick, so a contractor measures length, width, and depth, then adds a small margin for uneven subgrade and spillage.

Not well. Loose topsoil, roots, and organic material compress and shift, which leads to cracking and sinking. Good practice removes that soft layer, compacts the native soil, and places a gravel or road base beneath the slab to spread loads and help drainage.

Yes, with planning. Heat speeds the chemical reaction, which can cost strength and cause early cracking, so Southern California contractors often pour early in the morning, dampen the base, shade or mist fresh concrete, and begin curing right after finishing.

Concrete reaches most of its design strength in about 28 days, although it keeps hardening slowly for years afterward. Foot traffic is usually fine after 24 to 48 hours, and passenger cars can typically park on a new driveway after about 7 days.

Keep it moist and protected. Concrete kept moist for 7 days can be about 50% stronger than concrete left to dry out, so gentle watering or curing covers help. Keep vehicles, heavy furniture, and sharp impacts off the surface until it gains strength.

No. Synthetic fibers mixed into concrete help control small shrinkage cracks while the surface is young, but they do not carry structural loads. Rebar or welded wire still does that work in driveways, foundations, footings, and retaining walls where loads demand it.

Properly reinforced concrete performs well in earthquakes. After the 1971 San Fernando earthquake, California codes called for more steel to confine concrete, and INFINITE CONCRETE CREATIONS, INC. builds structural work around San Fernando, CA, with reinforcement placed exactly where the design calls for it.

Concrete is poured as a liquid into forms and hardens as one continuous piece. Masonry is built from individual units, such as brick, stone, or concrete block, bonded with mortar, and often reinforced with steel and grout in California's seismic zones.

Concrete generally lasts longer, stays cooler, and accepts decorative finishes like stamping and color. Asphalt softens in summer heat and needs regular sealcoating. In a hot, sunny climate, concrete is often the lower-maintenance choice for a driveway that must look good for years.

Clear vehicles, furniture, and planters from the work area, and let neighbors know about truck access. At INFINITE CONCRETE CREATIONS, INC., our team in San Fernando, CA, walks the site with you beforehand, marking sprinkler lines, gates, and anything that needs protecting.

A concrete contractor plans, forms, reinforces, places, finishes, and cures concrete. That covers site preparation and grading, setting forms and steel, coordinating delivery or pumping, finishing the surface to the chosen texture, and guiding the owner through early care.