Concrete is the building material of choice for many businesses and homeowners. In the United States, the concrete construction industry employs approximately 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.
ContentsHigh-strength concreteStamped concreteTypes of precast concreteLime concreteReinforced concreteLightweight concreteChoosing the right concrete for your projectBesides 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 pouring wet cement from a construction track.
At the industry level, engineers do a lot of planning and testing before deciding how to mix concrete. The earliest concrete mix included hydrated lime and volcanic ash, used by the Romans. Since then, a lot of progress has been made.
This article highlights several types of concrete.
High strength concrete can withstand tremendous force without breaking. Thus, it offers more reliability than normal strength concrete. Engineers usually add silica fume when mixing high strength concrete.
This reinforces the adhesive properties that hold the cement and aggregate together. However, this means the cement hydrates faster and dries faster.
Stamped concrete types are a go-to option for architectural projects. Contractors can build a mold on the concrete after laying it. Sometimes they can dab the hardening concrete to create natural stone impressions. Hence the name stamped concrete.
Once the surface has cured, contractors can add seams to improve longevity. Stamped concrete is common in sidewalks, sidewalks and parking lots.
Precast concrete is prevalent in construction projects that require detailed design and stability. Engineers produce this concrete by pouring it into a reusable mould.
The main advantage of this type of concrete is that its processing takes place in a controlled environment. This allows the resistance of the product to be tested before delivering it to the site.
Engineers can fabricate precast concrete to meet the needs of a specific concrete structure. For example, precast polymer concrete has high performance properties such as corrosion resistance. You can use it on buried infrastructure such as vaults and concrete manholes.
Engineers replace lime with cement when mixing Limecrete concrete. Limecrete is a go-to option if you want an eco-friendly construction project. For example, it absorbs carbon dioxide. It also prevents natural reinforcements such as wood from decaying.
Lime concrete is also harmless to health. Unlike paints, it does not pollute the air because lime plasters are non-toxic.
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 flexible than ordinary concrete.
As the name suggests, it is the best concrete for lightweight construction projects. Lightweight concrete jobs involve using pumice in the mix instead of rock aggregate. For this reason, you cannot use this type of concrete for very detailed structural projects.
Lightweight concrete is prevalent in fireproofing and water pipe insulation. However, many contractors prefer lightweight concrete to protect metal building materials.
The right ideal option for your concrete structure depends on budget and performance needs. Some types provide long-term structural stability in high-rise buildings. Others are also ideal for paving.
Find more tips on choosing the best modern concrete for your project from other articles on this site.
