Concrete Blog

The Many Uses for Concrete

According to Wikipedia, "Concrete is one of the most frequently used building materials. Its usage worldwide, ton for ton, is twice that of steel, wood, plastics, and aluminum combined." 
 
This really gives you a lot to think about.  Almost every skyscraper and many other buildings contain steel as a foundation for their structure, but even so, concrete is used much more often.  Concrete has so many uses, both in residential and commercial settings. 

Before we start to discuss those applications, when is the last time you walked on a sidewalk?  Probably within the last few hours.  Thanks to concrete.  The material is easy and affordable to produce and malleable for various uses.  Wikipedia adds "Globally, the ready-mix concrete industry, the largest segment of the concrete market, is projected to exceed $600 billion in revenue by 2025."  $600 billion.  Concrete is not only here to stay, but is expanding its presence.

Now, let's go back to you and me, the average homeowners.  Personally, I had an asphalt driveway a few years ago.  It was starting to sink in some places, holding water and looking subpar.  A new concrete driveway (with optional heated coils) was a perfect replacement.  There is zero maintenance.

The outdoor uses for concrete, including concrete walls, is long.  Walkways, gardens, driveways, and more.  Let's move indoors. 

Have you ever seen a polished concrete floor?  These were first popular in the 1950s and have made their way from commercial buildings to residential homes.  You have the choice of adding color or leaving it natural.  With a protective coating, it is not only beautiful, but virtually indestructible.  And don't forget to add the heat coils.
Let's talk a little about Ready Mix Concrete.  Last Summer, we replaced the fence in the backyard.  The toughest part was removing the old posts from the concrete that they were placed in.  Due to the physical nature of the material, we used jackhammers to break up the concrete and moved it to trucks in the front with wheelbarrows.  Concrete sure is dense and heavy!  As it served it purpose well for almost twenty years, the new posts were put into a ready mix concrete base as well.  Sitting overnight, the posts were solidly in place.  I won't drone on about cutting the boards and such. 

What is your next project where concrete might be a component?  Please call or complete the contact form on this page if we can be of service and thanks for reading our blog.

Concrete Services of Bend, Oregon is not a contractor, but a referral services company that provides buyers with qualified licensed contractors that have the skill set to perform all the work in a superior fashion.

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