If there is one building material that can be considered king in today’s world, it would definitely be concrete. Concrete is used in buildings and other structures around the globe, and it is the only building material that can give you benefits such as weather protection and toughness while being affordable at the same time. Let’s take a look at some of the things that make concrete such a great building material.
Trusted for thousands of years
Concrete dates back thousands of years, with some of the greatest civilizations in history using the ingredients found in concrete to build their structures. The ancient Egyptians mixed together sand and gravel with cement-like binder and water to create a basic form of concrete that they used to build many of their structures. The Roman Empire revolutionized the use of concrete and used it to expand and build one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever seen. With a history like this, you know concrete has got to be good.
Durability
The biggest reason concrete is so popular around the world is that it is extremely durable. Concrete is weatherproof, meaning that it can withstand the elements in almost all capacities. It is also resistant to erosion, meaning that it will last longer than other building materials. In the event of a natural disaster, concrete stands the best chance of remaining intact, so it is commonly used in areas of the world that are prone to extreme weather such as hurricanes, flooding, and tornados.
Easy to make
Concrete is made largely of cement, and cement is made from limestone. Limestone is the most abundant mineral on earth, so there is no shortage of cement being made on a daily basis. Because it is made up of such plentiful materials, we are easily able to produce concrete on a mass level in short periods of time. Concrete can also be produced from waste by-products that come from power plants, steel mills, and other manufacturing facilities.
Good for the economy
Because there is so much concrete being produced each and every day, millions of jobs have been created in the concrete industry. Lots of concrete is locally produced and this just means that it provides steady jobs and stability for the residents of those areas.
Environmentally Friendly
Concrete is capable of being recycled into an aggregate that has many more uses. The recycling process consists of the concrete being crushed and recycled so it can be used in such things as new concrete pavement, road base, backfill, and of course, driveways!
Fireproof
One of the most important features of concrete is the fact that it does not burn. This is an extremely important safety feature, seeing as concrete can therefore offer much better protection in the event of a fire. For this reason, many residential buildings are built using concrete, creating an increased sense of safety for those that live in them.