The total value of all homes in the United States stood at $31.8 trillion in the year 2018.
This growth is commendable, considering the endless processes that go into the completion of a home.
Previously, most of the construction projects relied on mortar to build a house, but with the changing trends, concrete is now a central ingredient in construction.
Concrete introduces a wide range of benefits to the construction process. This option not only presents an aspect of flexibility but is also highly versatile.
Are you planning on undertaking a construction project soon? There are different types of concrete you need to be aware of before beginning the process.
Understanding these different options will ensure that you settle for an option that suits your needs.
What Is Concrete?
Concrete refers to the mixture of cement, water, sand, or stone used to serve a broad range of purposes in the construction sector.
From large commercial projects to your small mundane undertakings at home, you can rely on this versatile mixture for a strong foundation and structure.
The type of concrete you settle for has a direct impact on the outcome of the project, but most people tend to be oblivious to this fact.
Different types of concrete have varying merits.
Types of Concrete
Here are some of the ordinary and not so common types of concrete at your disposal.
The two broad approaches to concrete preparation refer to the onsite and the offsite concrete preparation processes. As such, you may opt for ready-mix concrete or volumetric concrete.
Ready-Mix Concrete
Ready-mix concrete refers to the kind of concrete where the manufacturing and preparation happen in a factory. The concrete is then delivered to your construction sites using on-transit-mixers –fitted trucks.
Most modern contractors are considering this option as a less strenuous alternative.
You only need to make the order for the mixture, and then these sophisticated vehicles will deliver the in-transit mixed concrete at the site.
This option significantly reduces work-site confusion that is common during concrete mixing. You only get to receive a concrete mix that is of high quality.
However, preservation may be needed in case the mixture is unused beyond 210 minutes after preparation.
One of the main downsides to this option is that you don’t have control over the preparation process.
Volumetric Concrete
Well, there are contractors who would prefer to oversee the process of mixing concrete at the site. With this option, you can utilize the usefulness of mobile mixers.
These portable mixers carry the concrete ingredients and water to your construction site. You can, therefore, oversee the mixing process.
This option also reduces the risk of having to cure the concrete in case the distance between the construction site and the factory is longer.
Now that you understand the two main types of concrete when mixing, here are various options you’ve at your disposal.
1. Plain Concrete
This is the simplest form of concrete, which does not require reinforcement.
With plain concrete, you only need cement aggregates and water to achieve the mix required. Most times, plain concrete has a density of 2200 and 2500 kg/cubicle meters.
You can use plain concrete when constructing pavements, footpaths, or other structures that don’t require tensile sturdiness.
2. Normal-Strength Concrete
This option is closely similar to the plan concrete mix, considering that you will use the same ingredients. However, you need to have an initial setting type of up to 90 minutes with this option.
For normal-strength concrete, you only need between 10 MPa and 40 MPa to prepare a versatile mix.
Normal-strength concrete is useful in the mundane construction and repair processes.
3. High-Strength Concrete
You can also consider the use of high-strength concrete when undertaking various construction processes. This option involves decreasing the water ratio to below 0.35 compared to the cement ratio.
With this mix, you have a guarantee exceeding the 40 MPa level of strength.
However, this option isn’t useful in high-density projects because it’s considered to have a lower level of strength.
4. Rapid Strength Concrete
With this option, the concrete acquires the maximum needed levels of strength within a few hours after the initial preparation.
Most of the major construction projects depend on this option due to the level of result-oriented outcomes it offers.
5. Roll Compacted Concrete
You may have instances where you want to reduce the overall amount of cement used during the construction process. Roll compacted concrete is your answer in such cases.
This option requires less concrete comparatively but produces reliable results.
6. Asphalt Concrete
The process of construction may, in some cases, consider other alternatives to cement. Asphalt may be a feasible option in such cases.
This option utilizes asphalt and aggregates to produce a highly versatile component.
The high density produced by this mix makes it suitable for use in the significant construction embankments.
7. Stamped Concrete
There are times when you need to consider the aesthetic appearance during the construction process. Stamped concrete can be a useful option in such cases.
The architectural superiority enshrined in this option makes it worth the cost you must incur.
The concrete is treated in various ways to enhance its aesthetic appeal around walkways and drive-ins.
8. Reinforced Concrete
The process of preparing concrete may, in some cases, require reinforcement. This option ensures that there’s a balance between strength and tensile stress. It also enhances the outcomes of finesse when it comes to compression.
One of the critical benefits of using reinforced concrete is the ability to enhance a high compression rate.
9. Polymer Concrete
This is the aggregate mixture used in the construction sites to cure and harden specific places.
The primary ingredients in the preparation of polymer concrete are gravel, water, and sand. You can utilize advanced technologies such as pot lift in the course of concrete lifting to achieve that desired level of a hardened surface.
Your Options Are Endless When It Comes to the Types of Concrete During Construction
There are endless types of concrete, and there are more types of finishes. Various parts of your construction may require different types and various finishes.
Exposed aggregate for the driveway, and polished concrete for your foundation, and a brushed finish for the pool.
Nothing beats a proper preparation process when undertaking a construction process.
Concrete mixing is a vital phase in the entire course. However, information is limited on this process, something that tends to affect the success rate.
When you’ve a proper understanding of the types of concrete, you have a guarantee that you’ll achieve the needed strength, density, and durability.
Please explore our site for more on the construction sector.
