Glossary

182 concrete terms defined in plain language, with what each one means on a jobsite.

2

28-day strength — The conventional age at which concrete strength is measured for acceptance. It…

A

Abrasion resistance — A concrete surface's ability to withstand wear from traffic, equipment, and sc…
Accelerator — An admixture that speeds up setting and early strength gain, used mainly to sh…
Acid stain (reactive stain) — A solution of metallic salts in a mild acid that reacts chemically with lime i…
Acrylic sealer — A topical film-forming sealer that sits on the surface, adds gloss, and enhanc…
Admixture — A chemical added in small doses to change how concrete behaves: reducing water…
Aggregate — The sand and stone that make up roughly three quarters of concrete by volume. …
Aggregate gradation — The distribution of particle sizes in the sand and stone. Good gradation packs…
Air content test — A field measurement of the percentage of air in fresh concrete, used to verify…
Air entrainment — Deliberately creating billions of microscopic air bubbles in concrete so that …
Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) — A slow chemical reaction between alkalis in cement and reactive silica in cert…

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I

J

Joint sealant — A flexible material installed in a joint to keep water, salt, and debris out w…

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M

O

OSHA silica rule (Table 1) — The federal construction standard for respirable crystalline silica, whose Tab…

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V

Vapor retarder — A plastic sheet installed under a slab on grade to block ground moisture vapor…

W

Y

Yield — The actual volume of concrete a batch produces, checked by comparing the deliv…