How Is Concrete Used in Building Construction?
Have you ever wondered how concrete is used in construction? Most people assume it’s only used for the floor or the foundation, but concrete is a very versatile material that can be used for much more than that. If you’re in need of an expert in concrete construction, Amarillo does have many contractors available.
However, not all of these contractors understand how to make full use out of concrete, especially when it comes to using concrete for projects that are a little different from the norm. Let’s take a look at how concrete is used in construction and what you can do with it.
What Exactly is Concrete?
Before understanding how it’s used, it helps to know what concrete is. First, while concrete and cement are at times used interchangeably, they aren’t the same.
Concrete is a mixture of different ingredients, including cement, water, gravel, crushed stone, and sand. When the water and cement mix together and harden, it binds the gravel, sand, and other aggregates together to create concrete.
Once created, concrete is poured, added between stones, among other uses. Over time, it hardens and becomes strong enough to support buildings, walls, cars, etc.
Why Use Concrete?
There are many reasons to use concrete in construction. It has a wide number of advantages due to how different it is from other materials.
While some of these advantages, such as durability and strength, are fairly obvious, there are a number of benefits to concrete that you may not immediately recognize.
First, it is economical. Concrete costs very little to make. The materials are not costly, and the process of creating concrete doesn’t require expensive equipment.
It’s widely available, too. Aggregates, water, and cement can be found across the globe in large quantities, so concrete is an option regardless of your location.
Second, concrete doesn’t require any specific temperature, light, or other triggers to harden. It does need to be above freezing, but that is about the only condition.
Concrete will set at regular temperature, and weather conditions do not typically affect it.
Another reason concrete is so useful is because it resists fire, moisture, and high temperatures. You can use it in many different environments without worrying about the concrete losing durability.
While cracked concrete can be an issue in areas where it freezes if water works its way into the cracks, this is only a concern if the material is damaged. As long as it remains uncracked, water won’t cause any issues.
Once you have a concrete wall, floor, or other space completed, there’s nothing else you have to do.
Concrete doesn’t need to be sealed or coated with anything. Once it sets, it’s done and ready for use. This saves time and money both right away and in the long run.
Steel and other materials not only require coating when installed, they may also require that coating be replaced regularly. Concrete doesn’t.
Types of Concrete Construction
While all concrete is made in a similar way, not all concrete is the same. Some of it is stronger, while other types are more durable. It all depends on what is mixed with the cement and water. Here are some of the most common concrete construction types and what makes them useful in construction.
In many places, you’ll see basic concrete. This is often used for sidewalks, concrete floors, and other areas that won’t necessarily be subjected to very heavy objects or will need to support a lot of weight.
Reinforced concrete, on the other hand, is often used in construction. Instead of simply being a mixture of cement, water, and aggregates, reinforced concrete includes steel rods, wires, or cables. These cables are ran through the wet concrete, adding strength to it when it sets. Once that is done, the steel and the concrete essentially become one solid material. That is why it is perhaps the most widely used construction material in building large buildings, parking garages, and other areas that will hold a large amount of weight.
Precast concrete is another type of concrete often used in construction. This concrete is actually poured and hardened off-site and then transported to the building’s locations. This allows for the creation of more concrete units at a time, plus the concrete can be done in a controlled space where the weather cannot affect it.
While not always a type of concrete used for construction, decorative concrete is often brought in after the structures are complete to add some aesthetic elements to the space. It can be dyed various colors, etched or polished as needed, and even molded into unique shapes.
Finally, the concrete of the future, smart concrete, is becoming more and more visible. It makes use of carbon fibers for reinforcement. This allows experts to measure the electrical resistance of the material when it is under stress, allowing them to detect issues with the structure before damage is done. It’s not widely used just yet, but many are seeing its benefits, especially in areas prone to earthquakes.
Concrete Uses in Construction
There are many different ways that concrete is used in construction. It can be found in everything from small houses to large, multistory buildings.
Concrete is even used in infrastructure projects such as bridges and highways. Here are some of the most common projects that make use of concrete.
Foundations
For most buildings, including residential houses, concrete serves as the foundation. If your home sits on a slab, that slab is made from concrete.
The reason concrete is typically used is because of its durability and the fact that it withstands many of the factors that destroyed wooden foundations. For example, concrete will not burn, nor can it be destroyed by termites.
Concrete can also be used to create footings. These footings hold the structures of tall buildings in place. Again, concrete is useful here because of its strength.
Basements
Basements are often made out of concrete in order to provide protection from storms and other disasters.
The concrete also helps insulate the basement from the ground around it, although it won’t provide as much insulation as other insulating materials such as fiberglass.
The walls of basements are typically made out of reinforced concrete in order to prevent collapse. Once completed, a basement can provide a large amount of extra storage, workspace, or even living space.
Walls
Concrete call be used for more than just floors and basement walls. It can actually be used for any wall, although typically multi-story buildings don’t have concrete walls for every floor due to the weight.
Instead, concrete walls are ideal for the first floor because of the strength they provide. They are also good in areas where hurricanes, tornadoes, and high winds often occur. Concrete walls must be poured using special forms or molds.
Concrete is also ideal for retaining walls, outdoor dividing walls, and garden walls.
Parking Lots and Garages
Of course, most people are familiar with concrete parking garages or parking lots. This is one of the most common ways of using concrete in construction.
While streets are typically made from asphalt, parking garages and lots are typically made from concrete because of the aesthetics.
Concrete also reflects lights better than asphalt, making the lots safer and reducing the number of lights needed.
Highways and Bridges
That’s not to say that streets cannot be made from concrete. Highways are often made from concrete because of its reflective properties. This also makes it ideal for streets that are not lit by streetlights.
Bridges, too, are made from concrete because of its durability and the fact that it can hold a large amount of weight.
Sidewalks
Sidewalks, of course, are also often made out of concrete. Again, the durability of concrete makes it perfect for this use.
While sidewalks typically don’t need to support the same amount of weight that streets do, they still need to be made from a material that will last for years. Concrete is that material.
Decorative Planters, Benches, Etc.
One of the last parts of a construction project is adding the decorative touches and other items. This is another place where you see concrete construction use.
Concrete forms can be used to create planters, bowls, benches, and much more. When many people think of concrete, they think of flat surfaces or rectangular structures, but by using forms, concrete can be poured into any shape.
Stenciling, dying, and other techniques can be used to add designs and color to the concrete, adding aesthetic touches to a project.
Using Concrete in Your Next Construction Project
If you’re preparing for a construction project, chances are concrete will be used in that project in some way.
Now that you understand a bit more about the types of concrete, its advantages, and how it can be used, you can begin using it in more creative ways.
There are very few limits to what you can do with concrete, so keep all of this information in mind the next time you have a construction project.
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