Everything You Should Know about Concrete’s Properties for Your Building Project
All building contractors and engineers will already have a good idea of the excellent properties and qualities of concrete, and it’s one resource that is exceedingly abundant around the world. It’s an appealing product due to its versatility, and it is comprised of various materials with the addition of cement. The durability of concrete also makes it a viable material for use in building and construction, and it’s advantageous due to its low maintenance and low repair expenses. As a result, you can utilise concrete almost everywhere – from bridges to walls to buildings, roads, and more. Everyone can agree that it can sustain simple and more complex structures and add to their aesthetic and safety. But what else should you be aware of when it comes to concrete? Here’s everything you should know about concrete’s properties for your building project.
Inherent strength
Concrete is known to get stronger over time. It allows you to save on your resources for the mere fact that it retains its quality even over a long period without any need for maintenance or reconstruction. It is an incredibly durable material that can readily resist burning, rotting, and corrosion. This provides you with a safe and stable foundation, particularly if you are constructing a high-rise structure. Concrete has twice the lifespan compared to other materials like wood, which allows you to use it for the long term.
Low maintenance requirements
Not only is concrete quite durable – it has low maintenance requirements as well. As already mentioned, it is a material that has many applications. It can easily resist wear and tear – this is why it is used in road-building, resulting in more substantial roads with less likelihood of potholes. Maintenance is almost unnecessary for concrete, and it’s a sustainable material for the simple reason that it is durable and long-lasting.
Aesthetically-pleasing
Concrete, particularly precast concrete, can be made to be more aesthetically pleasing, and you can have it finished or painted to your requirements. You can even have it embossed or embedded with other materials, like stone. So if you have a wall project and opt for a king post retaining wall made from precast concrete, for instance, you can seamlessly blend it in with the surrounding environment, and it will not lose any of its integrity, either.
Safe and resistant to the elements
Concrete is one of the safest materials you can ever use, and it is resistant to the elements like wind, rain, and snow. Furthermore, it is resistant to fires, inhibiting the spread of fire due to its natural density. It is also a more stable component than other building materials if there is an earthquake, flood, or other disaster. Unlike wood, the material will never rot or warp, and it will not get easily damaged, like brick.
Thermally efficient
Another plus to this material is its thermal efficiency. Concrete is a natural insulator, keeping your structure cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. And because of its innate thermal efficiency, you can have reduced utility bills as well.
It is easy to produce concrete, as its material (limestone) is abundant and is an almost limitless resource. You can also opt for precast concrete produced in a controlled and secure facility, thereby making the concrete more robust and of higher quality.
