Concrete is the go-to construction material for many businesses and homeowners. In the US, the concrete construction industry employs about 12,808 people. They earn an average annual salary of up to $32.032. 92% of these workers are men, while 4.7% are women.
Besides these fascinating industry statistics, there are also different types of concrete. This explains why we have different types of concrete constructions. Concrete work goes beyond dumping wet cement from a construction track.
At the industry level, engineers do a lot of planning and testing before deciding how to mix the concrete. The oldest concrete mixture included hydrated lime and volcanic ash, used by the Romans. Since then, a lot of advancement came to pass.
This article highlights several types of concrete.
High Strength Concrete
High-strength concrete can resist an enormous amount of force without breaking. Thus, it offers more reliability than normal-strength concrete. Engineers usually add silica fume when mixing high-strength concrete.
This strengthens the adhesive properties holding the cement and the aggregate together. However, that means the cement hydrates faster and dries quicker.
Stamped Concrete
Stamped types of concrete are a go-to option for architectural projects. Contractors can build a mold on top of the concrete after laying it. Sometimes, they can stamp the hardening concrete to create natural stone impressions. Hence, the name stamped concrete.
After the surface hardens, contractors can add seals to enhance longevity. Stamped concrete is common in pavements, sidewalks, and parking lots.
Precast Types of Concrete
Precast concrete is prevalent in construction projects that require detailed design and stability. Engineers produce this concrete by casting it in a reusable mold.
The main advantage of this type of concrete is that its processing happens in a controlled environment. This makes it possible to test the product’s strength before delivering it to the site.
Engineers can make precast concrete to fit the needs of a specific concrete structure. For instance, precast polymer concrete has high-performance properties such as corrosion resistance. You can use it on buried infrastructure such as vaults and concrete manholes.
Limecrete Concrete
Engineers replace lime with cement when mixing Limecrete concrete. Limecrete is a go-to option if you want an eco-friendly construction project. For instance, it absorbs carbon dioxide. It also prevents natural reinforcement such as wood from decomposing.
Limecrete concrete is also safe health-wise. Unlike paints, it doesn’t cause air pollution because the lime plasters are non-toxic.
Reinforced Concrete
Reinforced concrete is common in large-scale construction projects such as dams, bridges, and stadiums. This type of concrete has a higher tensile strength due to the conjunction of other materials such as bars and fibers.
Another common material added to reinforced concrete is rebar. Rebar is more pliable than regular concrete.
Lightweight Concrete
As the name suggests, this is the best concrete for lightweight construction projects. Lightweight concrete work entails using pumice rock in the mixture instead of rock aggregate. For this reason, you can’t use this type of concrete for highly detailed structural projects.
Lightweight concrete is prevalent in fire-proofing and water pipe insulation. However, many contractors prefer lightweight concrete for protecting metallic building materials.
Choosing the Right Concrete for Your Project
The right option ideal for your concrete structure depends on budget and performance needs. Some types offer long-term structural stability in tall buildings while. Others are also ideal for paving.
Find more tips on choosing the best modern concrete for your project from other articles on this site.
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