Residential Construction: Understanding Common Forms of Concrete
If you are thinking about building your family a new house or extending your existing one, it is important to understand the numerous construction materials on the market. This knowledge will help you select ideal building supplies depending on the desired outcome in your project. Ideally, the supplies should fulfill both your functional and aesthetic requirements. One of the most advantageous materials to consider for your residential building or improvement project is concrete. The primary benefits include high tensile strength, durability, diverse customisation options and relatively low costs. Here are the common forms of concrete to consider purchasing and incorporating into your building.
Lightweight Concrete
Conventional concrete is ideal for normal construction of pavements, driveways and floors. However, this material is heavy, making it an inconvenient choice for building a storeyed structure. In simple terms, if you will utilise concrete in building the walls of a tall structure, you will need to reinforce the foundation to support them. This choice can increase the project costs significantly. Lightweight concrete is designed to eliminate the detriments of the weight of normal concrete.
The reduced mass of this concrete type is achieved by replacing the regular crushed stone, sand and gravel aggregates with lighter alternatives. Common lightweight alternatives include pumice, rice husks and sawdust. Gas or air bubbles are also included into the concrete mixture to reduce the density of the material. These changes will reduce the total costs of building the foundation. In addition, lightweight cement performs well with regard to thermal insulation and general resilience.
Ready-Mix Concrete
The process of mixing concrete can be time consuming and labour intensive, especially when you're building a sizable building. You can limit these disadvantages by acquiring ready-mix concrete for your project. Basically, this type of cement mixture is prepared in offsite locations within specialised plants. The concrete is delivered using in-transit mixers, and the material can be used immediately after delivery. This method is ideal for reducing confusion in your worksite, and the plant personnel have the equipment to ensure that the ingredients are precisely measured. Unfortunately, this might not be a viable choice if your home is in a remote location.
Polymer Concrete
The primary weakness of concrete structures is the porosity. Water and general moisture can easily seep into the voids of the material, decreasing the strength of your newly constructed features. In addition, this can be highly detrimental if your building experiences freezing and thawing cycles. Polymer concrete incorporates plastic materials, reducing the general porosity and reinforcing your building's strength.