Concrete is nothing short of a wonder
material. If we did not have a construction material that can take on nearly
any shape or form, our modern life would look very different. Not only is
concrete able to be molded, it has an immense compressive strength which allows
it to support even the tallest buildings. The other remaining element that
makes it truly a wonder material is that its components are extremely plentiful
- cement, water, and aggregate. This combination of a flowable material that
hardens to have an extreme compressive force, all with materials that are
widely available, has completely changed the world we live in today. It’s
this amazing combination that allows concrete
contractors, like The Conco
Companies, to offer services to create impressive buildings throughout the
western U.S.
Cement itself has been used in
construction for hundreds of years. First cultivated widely by the Romans,
cement is the combination of sand, clay, and limestone. Limestone is one of the
most ubiquitous rocks throughout the world. Today’s most popular cement, known
as Portland Cement, is named after cliffs in the Isle of Portland in Dorset,
England where it was first developed in the 1800s. According to the Portland
Cement Association, cement is a “controlled chemical combination of calcium,
silicon, aluminum, iron and other ingredients. Common materials used to
manufacture cement include limestone, shells, and chalk or marl combined with
shale, clay, slate, blast furnace slag, silica sand, and iron ore.”
Aggregate
Aggregate is generally an inert filler
in concrete that constitutes a major part of its volume and weight. Aggregate
is either coarse or fine gravel, sand crushed stone, or even recycled concrete.
For effective bonding, the aggregate should be hard, clean, and free of any
chemicals and coatings that may react with the concrete. With aggregate having
so many sources including the ability to recycle existing concrete, it is a
widely available resource for concrete building
design and construction.
Water
The final component of concrete is
water. Water is a resource that is a key component to
industrial development. Water management allocates a percentage of water to
industrial uses, ensuring that there is water available for construction and
other industries while not compromising long term water availability.
Conco’s goal is to be the top supplier
of concrete services in the Western U.S. and to bring our expertise and
professionalism to each project. We continue to upgrade and expand our
facilities to better serve the growing market for commercial, industrial,
educational, parking structure projects and other development. For the best
value and quality, trust your project to one of the area’s leading lightweight
concrete contractors.
