The Importance of Concrete in Buildings

Concrete is the single most widely used material in the world. It is made by mixing aggregate, cement, small stones, sand, gravel, and water together - creating a sticky mixture that binds and hardens. In Oklahoma, the material is used for curbing, gutters, paving, earthwork, and can even be used as a repair tool for certain structures. When it comes to concrete construction, approximately 10 billion tons of concrete are produced every year to keep up with the huge demand. But, what makes concrete so important when it comes to building construction?

The Importance of Concrete in Buildings

Concrete Oklahoma City

Concrete is the single most widely used material in the world. It is made by mixing aggregate, cement, small stones, sand, gravel, and water together - creating a sticky mixture that binds and hardens. In Oklahoma, the material is used for curbing, gutters, paving, earthwork, and can even be used as a repair tool for certain structures. When it comes to concrete construction, approximately 10 billion tons of concrete are produced every year to keep up with the huge demand. But, what makes concrete so important when it comes to building construction?

Concrete in construction

Types
There are many types of concrete used within commercial concrete construction OKC. The top three kinds used in building and construction are reinforced, pervious, and asphalt concrete. Pervious concrete is mostly used to build roads and pavements, as it is designed to deal with excess water and flooding. The mixture has no sand in it, which allows water to pass through the layers easily. Reinforced concrete is widely used in commercial construction in Oklahoma due to its enhanced strength. Steel rods, beams, and cables are added to the concrete to help resist tensile and compressive forces. Many buildings, bridges, and roadways rely on reinforced concrete. Asphalt concrete is a darker mixture of concrete frequently used for all kinds of pavement work. It is widely used in paving, due to its durability, skid resistance, and fatigue resistance.


Uses
Concrete is hailed as the most used material in the world and is often chosen over other building materials due to its versatility. It can be used for roads, buildings, driveways, highways, pathways, garages, patios, and much more. This versatility is down to the multiple mixing methods, ingredients, and types of aggregates within each mix. A fine aggregate such as sand can give a smoother finish, however, its structure will be weaker than large aggregate mixtures used in commercial concrete construction OKC. You can lay foundations of concrete as a base for buildings to create stability and reduce potential sinking. Concrete can also be used outside the home to make steps, ramps, and fencing posts.


Advantages
The advantages of using concrete in construction are vast. Most industrial concrete can withstand natural disasters and the long-lasting effects of the environment - rotting, weathering, and even erosion cannot impact concrete’s durability. Commercial concrete construction in Oklahoma is a big hit due to its ability to reflect heat. OKC weather can be especially humid in the summer months, so you can save money and energy in concrete buildings as you will not need to use as much air conditioning compared to other buildings. Known for its strength, concrete can be mixed to make the perfect consistency for any construction and building job. Remarkably, concrete actually strengthens over time; the cement components within concrete can form bonds with surrounding moisture particles which go on to add strength over the years.

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