Aggregate is an Important Element in Concrete

At The Conco Companies, we have been offering a wide range of concrete services for more than fifty years.  Our premium services include concrete formwork, reinforcing, place and finish, and shotcrete.  Furthermore, we own and operate the Reliable Trucking Company as well as one of the largest pumping companies in the United States.  During our decades in the industry, we have encountered and successfully dealt with all types of concrete mixes.   

Concrete is made up of a mix of aggregate, cement, water, and at times, additives.  The size or type of stone used as the aggregate can influence the strength, durability, workability, hardening, and ultimately cost of the concrete.  As an inert material, aggregate accounts for up to 60 to 75% of the volume and 70 to 85% of the weight.  It is made up of sand, gravel or crushed stones and is prepared by crushing, washing and grading it.  The grading process is used to determine the paste requirements and how much cement, which is the most costly part of concrete, will need to be added to the mix.   

Generally fine aggregate is defined as a mix of natural sand or crushed stones with a majority of particles smaller than 3/16^th of an inch or 5mm (although some define it as less than 4.75mm).  For coarse aggregate, the crushed stones or gravel particles are usually larger than 3/16^th of an inch or 5mm (or as some define it as larger than 4.75mm).  

In most concrete mixes, the aggregate comes from natural sand or gravel pits, rivers, seas or lake beds, hard-rock quarries, or underground mines.  The type of aggregate used affects the concrete more while it is wet than once it has cured.  If the gravel used in an aggregate is exceptionally rough or irregularly shaped, it will require more water in the mix along with more cement in order to give it the proper consistency. 

The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western U.S.  We got our start in the Bay Area in 1959 by offering clients the best value on a wide range of concrete services and products.  Since that time, we have taken a leading role as one of the top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and Colorado.