Concrete Lincoln, NE | C&C Contractors

Concrete Lincoln, NE | C&C Contractors

UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CEMENT AND CONCRETE

WHAT EXACTLY IS CEMENT?

A binding agent that can be used to bind together different building materials is cement. Portland cement and asphalt cement are the most commonly used types in the construction industry. Portland cement is one of the essential components of concrete. It can be dry powdery before water is added, or it can be a paste that hardens and binds to whatever it's touching.

Portland cement is composed of a few primary substances: limestone, sand or clay, bauxite, and iron ore. Shells, chalk, marl, shale, slag, and slate may also be present. In cement processing plants, these various components are mixed and heated to form clinker, a rock-hard substance. The clinker is then ground into a powder that can be mixed with water to form a paste.

WHAT EXACTLY IS CONCRETE?

Concrete is a durable building material that includes cement as one of its components. There are four main ingredients in concrete: cement, sand, stone, and water. The less water added to a concrete mix, the stronger the mixture.

When water is added to concrete, it activates the cement, which acts as a binding agent. The cement binds the coarse and fine aggregates in the mix. Larger aggregate mixes are generally stronger than finer aggregate mixes.

QUALITIES OF GOOD CONCRETE

Good concrete should have a few qualities that set it apart. First and foremost, the mix must be workable enough to be properly placed and consolidated. Yes, less water makes concrete stronger, but too-dry concrete will not hold together.

Once hardened, concrete may also need to meet certain specifications. Good concrete should be resistant to freezing, deicing, and thawing chemicals, as well as watertight, wear-resistant, and strong. With all of these requirements in mind, the focus should be on the concrete mix design.

CONCRETE MIX DESIGN

The process of determining how to create this optimized concrete is known as mix design. When creating a mixed design, concrete workers must consider five primary components: workability, durability, strength, density, and appearance.

Workability is the ability to place the previously mentioned concrete with minimal effort, and it may also include factors for whether the concrete will be pumped into place. The durability of the concrete determines how long it will last, and strength is especially important for structural concrete. Density can help with strength and durability, and appearance is essential in decorative concrete applications.

BUILDING WITH CONCRETE

Concrete is a popular building material due to its durability and strength. It includes everything from the drainage culverts beneath our streets to the modern home's walls. It makes up the sidewalks we walk on daily and forms the core of many of our skyscrapers.

Due to its versatility, construction workers can pour concrete into any desired shape and install it without bending, cutting, or welding the pieces. Architects value concrete's energy efficiency and the sense of safety it provides to a space.

INSULATED CONCRETE FORMS VS. WOOD FRAMES

In the past, homes were framed with wood, but in recent years, architects have begun to reconsider using concrete. Termites, moisture damage, rot, fire, and various other types of damage and destruction can all occur in wood. To address these issues, architects have begun to use insulated concrete forms for building envelopes.

Large blocks of a Styrofoam-like material are used to create insulated concrete forms. These blocks, similar to cinderblocks, have channels cut through the middle and are easy to stack. Builders use these blocks to frame a wall, then drive rebar through the channels and pour them full with concrete.

Houses built with these insulated concrete forms are incredibly well-insulated and long-lasting. They are virtually waterproof and provide excellent soundproofing. These are popular in coastal areas where the threat of hurricanes necessitates builders to find creative ways to construct durable homes.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CEMENT AND CONCRETE

Contact C&C Concrete Contractors today if you want to use concrete in your next building project. We provide our concrete services throughout Eastern Nebraska, including Lincoln and Omaha, and have completed hundreds of successful projects in the past years.