The CFCAO represents the major concrete finishers across Ontario and we are here to help you !

Homeowners across Canada are incorporating architectural concrete pavements to their homes for driveways, pool decks and patios. Concrete pavements can be very durable when constructed properly. It is important for you to obtain references from your concrete contractor to ensure that they perform high quality work.

Here are some recommended requirements that you should consider to include when installing concrete work at your house or residential building:

• The granular base needs to be compacted uniformly without any soft spots.
• The slab thickness should be 4" for foot traffic, 5" for car parking and up to 8" for large truck parking.
• The slab should be reinforced with welded steel wire mesh to avoid vertical movement at sawcut joints (supported above the granular base).
• The concrete should be a CSA Class "C2" mix for slabs on ground (32 MPa, 0.45 w/c, 5-7% air entrainment and freeze thaw durable aggregates).
• The concrete should be sawcut into squares of approximately 6' to 10' on centre within 24 hours of slab casting (sawcut 1/3 the thickness of the slab without cutting the wire mesh reinforcing).
• Curing should commence as soon as possible and should be maintained for 7 days of possible (wet curing is ideal).
• Avoid applying too many coats of sealer which can make the surface slippery when wet.
• Clean out sawcuts of dirt and debris prior to winter (or fill with a flexible sealant in the fall).
• Allow for one month of air drying prior to freezing (if possible).
• Obtain a written guarantee on the finished work.

Please review on-line information on Polished Concrete and Coloured Pigmented Finishes.

There are many exciting opportunities to specify a variety of floor designs and architectural finishes for new concrete floors and we welcome your questions by e-mail or phone (905-582-9825).

We have some online presentations and technical issues which we welcome you to review.

We would sincerely appreciate your help in our efforts to improve quality by using "members of the Concrete Floor Contractors Association" for your work. Your specification of our membership will help us to improve the quality of work across Ontario.

Thank you for your interest in the CFCAO !

The Concrete Floor Contractors Association of Ontario 70 Leek Crescent, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, L4B 1H1 Tel: (905) 582-9825 Fax: (416) 981-3913