Concrete is one of the most important
technologies of the modern world, and it is the result of an ever innovating
industry. Two hundred years ago, concrete use was limited. Innovations in
strength, placement, additives, and operations have transformed concrete the
world over. As concrete has become more specialized in its capabilities, it is
more important than ever to work with a great concrete contractor to ensure
that your project is done right. Knowledge, experience, and organizational
capacity are three key characteristics to look for in a great concrete contractor.
Concrete is part of the movement
towards more environmentally sustainable built environments. As cities and
urban centers grew throughout the 20th century and environmental impacts of the
built environment became better understood, sustainable building practices have
become a focus of industries and states across the country. Documented by the
U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Certification, sustainable building
practices include concrete as a major building material. Concrete’s capacity to
recycle materials, its thermal properties, and other characteristics make it a
sustainable choice for many building projects, including concrete contractor projects in Portland.
At The Lumber Baron, we tell our
customers that one of the advantages of using reclaimed lumber is that it has
already stood the test of time. Because of that, it is not as susceptible to
rot, insects, or mildew as new growth lumber would be. With that said, there
are still some best practices that should be used to ensure that your reclaimed
lumber continues to be durable and look good for years to come. Additionally,
sealing exposed exterior lumber helps prevent mildew and mold from growing on
horizontal surfaces, keeping things like decks safer for the whole family to
use.
Improving
your home can be both fun and rewarding. It is exciting to plan a home
remodeling project and imagining new functional spaces for your changing needs
and updating the design of your home. However, depending on your project, it
may be better to work with a general contractor rather than do the whole
project by yourself. Here are a few things to keep in mind to know when you
should consider calling a general contractor in your area.
Decorative concrete is an easy to install, long lasting, and
sustainable flooring material. It is also extremely versatile and is an
aesthetically-pleasing surfacing that can be customized to work with nearly any
environment. With so many benefits, why is decorative concrete still
under-utilized, even in cities like Portland’s
concrete projects?
Modern cities have come to be defined in part by their skyline.
From the Space Needle in Seattle to the new Salesforce Tower in San Francisco
to the iconic Empire State Building in New York City, skyscrapers and the
innovation of concrete
construction techniques have become part of our cities'
identities.
Concrete is a
uniquely versatile building material because of its readily available
components, its ability to be placed as a liquid, and its high compression
strength that allows it to support the tremendous weights required in
construction. Despite these qualities, concrete alone does have a few
drawbacks. Concrete can be brittle and weak against lateral forces like
bending. Many techniques have been developed to improve concrete's performance
in certain situations, such as post-tensioning. Post-tensioning is a technique
used to reinforce concrete over unstable surfaces and across spans. It is a
very safe concrete strengthening technique that has gained popularity in the
last few decades as the technique has been perfected, with trainings and
certifications standardized. In any project that calls for reinforced concrete,
it is important to utilize a skilled concrete contracting team like The Conco
Companies, the leading steel reinforcing concrete contractor in Portland.
