Concrete is prone to cracking, shrinking, and staining; it has a low thermal coefficient of expansion, which makes it susceptible to weather changes. Worse yet, the cement used in concrete production contributes about 8 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions.
But advances in chemistry and materials science are making concrete more flexible and resilient than ever before. Here are seven ways concrete is getting more hip:
1. Self-healing concrete.
2. Concrete that can mold itself into any shape.
3. Concrete that is stronger than steel-reinforced concrete.
4. Gumdrop-shaped “breathing” bricks that cool buildings naturally.
5. Superhydrophobic concrete that repels water (and protects steel reinforcements).
6. Concrete that is 3D-printed into virtually any shape you like.
7. Glowing concretes made with recycled glass
What’s better than concrete? Bagged concrete.
Concrete is the most used material on the planet, and it has a big carbon footprint because it’s so energy intensive to manufacture. To make one ton of cement, you need to heat up about a ton of limestone to 1,500 degrees centigrade — and that takes a lot of energy. But now there’s bagged concrete.
Bipped Bagged Concrete comes in a bag that weighs half as much as regular concrete bags, which means you use less fuel to transport it. Plus, they’re made from recycled materials, which means they’ll take up less space in landfills when you’re done with them — and their lighter weight means you’ll save money on fuel costs when you’re transporting them to the landfill. What’s not to love?
Forget about the bagged concrete thing for a second, though. There are some other innovations going on in the world of concrete that are worth mentioning. Here are seven ways concrete is getting more hip:
1. Smart Bricks
2. Duct Tape for Buildings
3. Bagged Concrete
4. Self-Healing Concrete
5. Concrete That Can Fix Itself
6. Transparent Concrete
For decades, concrete has been one of the most common building materials in the world. It’s used to build bridges and skyscrapers. It’s used to pave roads and highways. And it’s even used to build sidewalks, homes and apartment buildings.
But concrete is changing. Old-school concrete is being used less often today than newer, more technologically advanced concrete products, like “bagged” concrete.
Bagged concrete is a type of dry concrete mix that can be mixed with water at home and poured into a mold or form to make whatever shape you want. Most bagged concretes are made to set up quickly so you don’t have to wait long after adding water to pour it into a mold. Bagged concretes also come in many different colors, so you’re not limited to plain gray like you are with old-school concrete mixtures.
Bagged concrete can be used for many different projects around your home or business. Here are seven examples:
1. Fence posts
2. Driveway pavers
3. Patio pavers
4. Step stones
5. Poured walls
6. Concrete countertops
7. Concrete sinks
The design possibilities with concrete have become endless. From the look of reclaimed wood to the feel of leather, concrete has the ability to mimic anything. New techniques are being developed all the time, enabling concrete to be used for more complex and interesting projects.
Concrete is becoming more commonly used for floors and countertops, even in high-end homes. The appearance of concrete is constantly improving; new techniques and technologies give concrete a beautiful finish that can be made to look like marble or granite. The natural look of polished concrete makes it a popular choice in modern homes; it provides a sleek aesthetic that works well with contemporary architecture.
Stamped concrete is one of the most popular ways to enhance a space. It gives you the opportunity to create unique patterns on your floor or countertop that make your design stand out from the rest. Stamped concrete can mimic stone, brick, tile, and many other materials. A stamped surface can also be stained or dyed to complement the design.
Stenciled concrete is another way to add decorative touches to your floor or countertop. You can stencil images or patterns onto your surface using shapes that have been cut out of rubber or plastic. This technique can be used over a large area as an alternative to carpeting or tile
Dyed concrete is nothing new, but the use of color has come a long way since the old days of gray concrete. Now, it’s possible to add color that matches your home or landscaping.
Concrete can be colored in several ways:
Mix-in pigments are used just like dry shakes. They are mixed in with the wet concrete and create a uniform color throughout the mix.
Color hardeners are used during the finishing process, spread over fresh concrete while it is still wet.
Stains can be applied to give concrete a mottled, antique look.
Concrete Countertops: With the advent of decorative concrete countertops, you can have a countertop that looks like granite or marble, but at a fraction of the cost. You can choose from a wide array of colors, designs and textures as well as edge treatments for your kitchen or bathroom countertop.
The most interesting thing about concrete is not its ubiquity, but the fact that it is getting better. Concrete is one of those rare products whose performance increases with age. The Romans used concrete in their buildings and roads and aqueducts and harbors, and some of them are still around.
The average house built today has a shorter life expectancy than a Roman house did, because we have forgotten how to build them out of durable materials. But the reason concrete is so common today is that we have learned how to make it better.
Today’s concrete has better aggregate (crushed rock), more sand, and less gravel than Roman concrete did; it also contains air bubbles that make it lighter and stronger. It cures slowly at room temperature instead of rapidly at high heat, which reduces cracking. In short, all the things we like about modern life—cheap energy, new materials—have made concrete both cheaper and better.
Bagged concrete has many advantages over ready-mix. It’s cheaper, you control the mix, and it’s always fresh. The bags are easy to transport and store. There are a few different types of bagged concrete. For example, Rapid Set® Cement is a brand of cement that sets very quickly when mixed with water. Rapid Set® does not require any admixtures or special additives to set in 20 to 40 minutes (depending on the mix). You can find bagged concrete at your local hardware store or Home Depot.
Bagged concrete can be used in almost any type of project. It is commonly used as an alternative to expensive ready-mix concrete used for fencing posts, deck footings, small slabs, and many other uses. Concrete remains the most popular building material on earth because of its durability and versatility. To enhance its performance even further, additives can be added to the mix during or after the mixing process to improve performance or reduce cost.