Different Types of Concrete

Did you know that there is more than one type of concrete? Concrete is a mix of sand, crushed stone, gravel, and cement. The different types vary in the ingredients, the kind of preparation, and their uses. Know more about the other types of concrete that you can use for different kinds of construction.

      1. Plain Concrete

Plain concrete is considered the most basic type of concrete. It is made from cement, aggregates, and water following a 1:2:4 proportion. Plain concrete is commonly used in pavements, sidewalks, and even buildings that do not require a very high tensile strength. This is also used in areas that are not prone to earthquakes and eruptions.

     2. Asphalt Concrete

Seen on the roads, asphalt concrete is made from asphalt and aggregates (i.e. stone, gravel, and sand). Asphalt cement requires high heat so that it can mix the aggregates and the asphalt.

     3. Normal-Strength Concrete

Normal strength concrete has similar ingredients with plain concrete. The only difference is

that its strength is between 10 MPa-40 MPa. This type of concrete can also be used for residential areas that are not near fault lines and volcanoes.

     4. High-Strength Concrete

High-strength concrete is made with similar ingredients as the other concrete types, but its strength can exceed 40 MPa. This is due to the decreased water-cement ratio.

     5. Rapid-Strength Concrete

Just like its name suggests, rapid-strength concrete acquires it strength after a few hours from preparation. This is an ideal type of concrete to use if you are repairing roads or walls that need to be fixed right away.

     6. Reinforced Concrete

As mentioned earlier, plain and normal-strength concrete does not have high tensile strength.If you are building an office, a bridge, and even a home that is near a fault line, reinforced concrete is the best type of concrete for you. It makes use of steel rods, fibers, meshes, and bars to ensure a high level of strength.

     7. Ready-Mix Concrete

Ready-mix concrete is mixed in a plant and delivered to the construction site. It no longer needs mixing when prepared on-site so it is recommended to be used when you are in a hurry to build a structure. However, when using ready-mix concrete, make sure to be mindful of the time spend on transportation as the mix hardens when it is not constructed.

     8. Stamped Concrete

Stamped concrete is a type of architectural concrete where you can create realistic patterns using a professional stamping pad. When the concrete is already converted to plastic, the stamping pad will be applied to the concrete. You can replicate patterns of granites, tiles, and even natural stones.

     9. Lightweight Concrete

Any type of concrete that has a density lower than 1920 kg/m³ is considered lightweight. Usually, a lightweight is a product of using lighter aggregates like perlites, scoria, and pumice. This type of concrete is used as an added protection for steel structures or bridge decks.

     10. Limecrete

Limecrete refers to concrete that uses lime instead of cement in its mix. The lime that is mixed makes this type of concrete renewable and safe for the environment. Common uses of this concrete are on vaults and floors.

     11. Glass Concrete

Did you know that you can use glass as an aggregate in concrete? This is what you call glass concrete. Although glass does not add to the strength of the concrete itself, it does give an aesthetic finish. They can also help in giving added thermal insulation on your floors.

As you can see, there are a lot of concrete types that you can use in building your home. If you don’t know what the best one for you is, consult with us at Extreme Epoxy. Call us today for a free quote for your next California concrete construction project!