Construction materials are used in construction buildings. Cement, Concrete, steel, tiles etc. all are used in making the best buildings which look good, feel good and are really good. Contractors, architects and all the professionals involved in the construction industry and projects understand the importance of using top-notch materials.
They too understand why it’s important not to compromise on quality of materials. If construction companies compromise on construction materials then their projects will fall apart.
What is cement?
Cement is an important building material. It works as a binding agent used for binding together different kinds of building materials. Two kinds of cement are used namely Asphalt and Portland Cement. Portland cement is most preferred as it is one of the most important ingredients in concrete. It can be found either in dry powdery form before water is added to it.
Alternatively the paste (mortar) which hardens and binds to any building materials it is applied to.Portland cement is made using limestone, sand (or clay), bauxite plus iron ore. It can also have shells, chalk, slag, marl, shale and slate.
These components are mixed and heated in cement manufacturing and processing factories to form a rock hard substance known as clinker. It is then ground into fine powdered form, which upon mixing with water makes a paste.
Concrete – what is it and is it stronger than cement?
Concrete is a robust and durable building material using cement as one of its key components. It has four key primary ingredients namely cement, sand, stone, and water. Adding less water to a concrete mixture makes it much stronger.
The water used in concrete activates the cement which binds materials together. Both coarse and fine aggregates are present which are then bound together thanks to the cement. Mixes using larger aggregates are stronger than those containing fine aggregates.
What makes good concrete?
Top-notch concrete should have certain specific qualities setting it apart from the others. First, the mix should be workable so it can be placed and consolidated properly. Least amount of water in concrete makes it strong because large amounts of water dilute it. However, dry concrete hardly works.
Concrete should also be able to meet certain requirements once it hardens. Good quality concrete must resist freezing, thawing and deicing chemicals, should be watertight, should also be wear resistant and robust in quality.
Keeping all these requirements in mind, attention should be given to the concrete’s mix design.The design of concrete mixThe process of determining how to make optimized concrete is known as mix design.
There are five key primary components concrete workers should consider when making a mix design i.e. the strength, workability, density, appearance and of course, durability.
The concrete’s workability allows it to be applied with ease. It also paves way for concrete to be pumped in places where composite frames are put in place for concrete to be set with rebar and steel as foundation. Strength is important in terms of structural concrete.
Durability reveals how long it will last in a certain structure. Density is a contributing factor to both durability and strength. Appearance counts when it comes to decorative applications of concrete.
Building using concrete
Due to its durability and robust strength, concrete is not only popular but a worldwide favorite. According to quantum analysis UAE experts, concrete is used in making everything ranging from the drainage pipes beneath the streets to the walls of modern day homes and buildings. It is the core of most skyscrapers and is also used in making sidewalks people walk upon each day.
Due to its versatile nature, construction workers can easily pour concrete into any shape they desire using various molds. They can in fact install those concrete shapes without having to bend them, cut them or even weld those pieces together. A lot of architects find concrete to be energy efficient and much more safe than other materials.
Comparing wood frames and insulated concrete formsIn old times, homes were framed using wood. Within the last few years however, architects have started observing concrete deeply. Unfortunately, wood as a material is both vulnerable and undesirable.
It is susceptible to termites, moisture induced damage, rot, fire and other forms of damage and destruction. Insulated concrete outperforms and outguns wood in numerous ways, and has been used in building envelopes.
Insulated concrete forms are made with large blocks made out of a styro foam like material. These blocks have channels which are cut through the middle and are like cinder blocks. They are easily stackable. Then the builders frame a wall up using these blocks, then drive rebar down through those channels and then pour concrete in them.
Durability
Homes built using these forms of insulated concrete are quite well insulated and have higher levels of durability. They even provide a greater degree of soundproofing.
Plus they are quite waterproof too. Forms of insulated concrete have become quite popular in coastal areas, especially where threats of hurricanes force construction companies to look for creative ways in making durable homes.