Concrete Work Materials From Which to Choose

For the best concrete work, Springfield, Illinois homeowners can choose from many different options. As a result, it is critical to understand the myriad of choices that a homeowner can make in this situation. That’s because there are many types of concrete on the market, each of which provides different benefits that make them useful for your paving needs.

Normal Strength Concrete – A Very Common Choice

Although there are many types of concrete work from which a person can choose, many prefer to go with regular strength concrete to get the best results. Typically, this type of concrete is the most common type that you’ll find on the market and provides many benefits that are hard to top. Understanding how it works is essential for getting good results from your projects.

This concrete is made by mixing cement, water, and aggregate in ratio decided upon by your concrete contractors. The exact level will vary, depending on your project. You usually have a reasonably quick setting time for this concrete – often as little as 30 minutes – which helps to make it an excellent choice for those who want their pouring projects done reasonably quickly and without a lot of excessive fuss about it.

This type of concrete should not be confused with plain concrete. This material has no other reinforcements in it and is mixed at a 1:2:4 ratio with cement, aggregates, and water. You usually see this type of concrete in the construction of roads and buildings, often where less tensile strength is needed to keep them secure. Most of your projects can probably use this type of concrete.

Reinforced Concrete – A Much Tougher Option

Reinforced concrete work is interesting because they are often very close to other types of concrete in general construction. For example, they usually use the same 1:2:4 ratio that you see in plain concrete and used the same types of aggregate materials. However, projects that use this type of concrete add different reinforcing elements that help to make it stronger and more resilient.

For example, large building projects often utilize steel rods that go up through the pavement’s structure to provide it with extra strength. These rods help to add to the tensile strength of the concrete and make it easier for it to bear a large load. As a result, you typically see this type of addition to concrete that is used to build large structures, such as skyscrapers and stadiums.

Reinforcement can also take the form of bars, meshes, and other types of fibers that are spread throughout the concrete for extra strength and support. Meshes help to produce a new form for the concrete to make it easier to lay, as well. Typically, though, the reinforced structure is built first – such as long steel rods – and the concrete is then poured around them for maximum effect. Prestressed concrete may fall under this heading, as well.

Precast Concrete – Helps Make Jobs Go Quicker

Precast concrete work consists of products that are typically made in a factory and then brought to the site before being used. For example, concrete blocks and bricks are precast concrete and have been carefully tested to have a high level of strength that makes them useful for a myriad of different construction situations. And they have many benefits that make them very useful for those completing many types of projects.

For example, precast concrete stairs allow a builder to lay down a path to home more quickly than it would take to craft these stairs individually at the time of the construction. Also, concrete blocks can be used to create many types of buildings because, while they do take a lot of physical labor and skill to handle, they are often more reliable and more resilient than other types of poured concrete.

That higher level of physical labor is the only downside of these types of precast concrete. For example, you’ll have to pay for extra transportation, which must be done very carefully to avoid damaging these items. And you’ll then need additional workers to take them off the truck and lay them down. However, the quick speed of installation makes this issue one that is easy to ignore.

Density Variations – A Surprising Range of Choices

Lastly, there are many types of concrete work that you can consider based on their weight and density. For example, lightweight concrete is designed to use lighter aggregates that are still strong but capable of heavily decreasing the weight and density of this concrete. Typically, you’ll find aggregates like pumice, perlites, and scoria that help to make concrete surprisingly easy to handle and lay.

Typically, you’ll find this type of concrete in building blocks – which makes them easier to lay – and in large bridges that must balance their weight carefully. On the other end of the spectrum, it is possible to find high-density concrete that provides benefits beyond lightweight options. Understanding this type is vital for those who want diverse options from which to choose.

For example, high-density concrete uses crushed rocks – such as Barytes – to make concrete that is heavier, less prone to damage, and resistant to many types of damage. Where do you find this type of concrete? Often, areas that deal with radiation – such as nuclear power plants – use this type of concrete because it can hold back radiation and create a safer environment for workers.

What Type of Concrete Do You Want?

As you can see, the best concrete work in Springfield, Illinois is diverse enough to meet your needs without much difficulty. As a result, it is vital to reach out to a professional who has your best needs in mind when it comes to these items. Thankfully, we at The Road Doctor can help you here. We have years of experience in this field and will do what we can to help you get the best concrete possible.