​The first step in preventing concrete from cracking is to recognize that the material has a reaction to water. Because of the water contained within, a chemical reaction occurs within the concrete, causing it to harden.

In spite of appearances, drying concrete takes at least seven days to cure and several weeks to properly dry, despite the common misconception that it is dry after it has become lighter in color and has a firm surface.

Curing concrete requires moisture to develop strength and surface wear resistance. Otherwise, shrinkage and cracking are likely to develop if the concrete dries out too quickly.

When concrete is cured properly, its strength can increase by as much as 100% compared to uncured concrete. The curing process for concrete needs to be consistent if it is to enhance the material's strength. There will be future floor issues if the concrete gets too wet or too dry, leading to cracks.

In other words, if you try to cure concrete on a hot, sunny day, the chemical reactions within the concrete will cease after enough moisture has evaporated, leaving the concrete weak. For this reason, it's important to keep the concrete safe from the elements.

To maximize hydration, maintain a temperature of 23 degrees Celsius. As curing takes place, it is ideal to maintain a temperature very near to that mark.

A membrane can be used to retain moisture and so slow down the drying process.
However, there are a wide variety of membranes available, so it's important to choose one that's suitable for the flooring material you intend to use.

Chemical and liquid membranes are becoming increasingly common in today's industry. They come in four different types of bases (chlorinated-rubber, resin, water, and PVA) and may be simply applied by hand or with a power sprayer.

Waterproof construction paper or plastic film is another option for preventing moisture loss. Plastic sheeting may be easily molded to cover intricate designs. Checking on the curing concrete is easy to do thanks to the plastic covering, which can be rapidly rolled back.

To further prepare the concrete for the plastic sheeting, you may also use a spray atomizer to apply water to the surface. The use of a finer mist spray, similar to fog, is also highly effective.

Retaining water with an absorptive media, such as sand or canvas, is another viable option.

To sum up, the best atmosphere should be made for the concrete to cure in after it is poured. Your concrete will shrink as it hardens and loses water.

Taking precautions and being proactive during curing will result in concrete that is robust and will not fracture, allowing for a problem-free installation.

The benefits of a climate- and humidity-controlled setup are substantial enough to warrant no dismissal.

​Resurfacing concrete is a technique used to fix cracked or discolored concrete slabs. Unfortunately, this is inevitable; however, resurfacing the concrete may make the area seem like new again. Additionally, there is a practice called decorative concrete resurfacing, which, like the former, restores the concrete's appearance but also gives it a new, more aesthetically pleasing one. This can involve any number of colors and patterns, some of which may be rather complex. Incredibly high aesthetic value may be achieved in some restoration efforts. The cost of concrete resurfacing will depend on the scope of the work you need done and the level of detail you need in the finished product. However, the price per square foot might vary widely from the low three dollars to the high seven dollars.

Concrete resurfacing begins with a thorough cleaning of the area to be repaired. Typically, a pressure washer is used for this purpose. After that, there are a few methods for fixing any fractures in the concrete. Crack repair material is used after the cracks have been primed. After that, a fabric reinforcement is added, and a base coat is painted on top. Once the polymer concrete has dried, it is crushed down until the surface is level and free of any cracks. Epoxy mortar will be used to plug any holes in the concrete once the fractures have been fixed. The concrete resurfacing may now begin after extensive repairs have been made.

After patching up any damage, the next step is to apply a prime coat and granule broadcast. The next step is to apply a texture coat. You must first combine the ingredients as directed on the packaging. After the mixture has been prepared, it will be sprayed using a specialized spray gun. When finished, a trowel should be used to smooth out the surface and guarantee uniformity. Start from the top and work your way down the space to accomplish this. The following step is to apply the color coat, which is where you'll add the paint of your desired hue. The process is completed by applying a sealant.

As far back as the Babylonians and their Hanging Gardens, fountains have been a staple of urban park design. Historic park visitors may fill up their horses' and people's water troughs from the park's fountains. Without an enclosed sewage system, this exacerbated the already high risk of illness. The Romans were the first civilization to use concrete for public water features. They used phosphorous and bitumen found in volcanic ash to create a material similar to Portland cement, making them the first known civilization to do so.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the idea of a decorative fountain acquired popularity again during the Renaissance. While marble and other hard stones were commonly used in the creation of fountains, concrete fountains eventually became more common. The concept that city parks should serve more as leisure spaces rather than practical amenity spaces emerged throughout the Renaissance. 

After the 1840s, when the industrial revolution made it possible to pump water throughout cities instead of relying on gravity falls from aqueducts, decorative fountains became a standard feature of urban park planning. Cement fountains in city parks became a regular design piece for urban planners to work around with the introduction of real "Portland cement" in the 1870s.

The Beginning of the 20th Century

However, some "modernist" styled wall fountains, particularly in Chicago, New York, and St. Louis, made their way into park design across the country. It was common practice to utilize wall fountains to create separate sections of parks. It's possible that this also involved landscaping and a focus on creating a sense of harmony between the many parts of a park's aesthetic, as advocated by pioneering urban designers like Leigh Bridge and John Nolan in the early twentieth century.

Many American cities (and American corporations) began erecting fountains in city centers and city parks, including wall fountains and decorative concrete varieties, after Globe War II, when American output was at an all-time high relative to the rest of the world. The majority of the water features were designed to seem like they were from the Renaissance era.

Some of these concrete water features have subsonic sound systems, while others feature abstract geometric forms or integrated lights. Most of the buildings were composed of waterproof concrete. Low-maintenance and simple to care for, sealed concrete fountains are a great focal point for any park. They provide a great place to relax, socialize, feed your hunger, read the paper, play chess, or just watch the world go by in the park.

Use of Concrete Fountains in the Present Day

Many more city planners are beginning to embrace the use of fountains in park design as a result of the public exhibition of monuments such as the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The fountain in Kirby Plaza was featured in the series finale of the successful NBC program Heroes, while the fountain outside of Soldier Field began to run during the opening credits of the now-defunct sitcom Married With Children. Don't forget to check at wall fountains, since they are also quite enjoyable, but a nice concrete fountain is a strong addition for municipal park planning.