10 Unexpected Facts About Concrete

Most of us will encounter concrete every day, but how much do you actually know about this building material? Read on for some surprising concrete facts in Crivitz, WI.

• Resistant to both water and fire: While many substances are either resistant to water or fire, reinforced concrete is the rare material that’s highly resistant to both. Not only is it essentially fireproof, but it can also act as an effective fire barrier. Concrete is also waterproof, which makes it ideal for building underground structures.
• Ideal for road construction: Concrete roads might have a higher initial cost than those made of asphalt, but they’ll last longer and require less maintenance. Concrete is also highly versatile, since it can be mixed for specific weather conditions.
• Historic uses of concrete: The first concrete road was built in 1909 in what’s now Detroit. However, concrete actually dates back all the way to ancient times. It was prominently used in ancient Rome, with three of its concrete piers surviving to this day and the Pantheon being one of the best preserved buildings from that era.
• Concrete is not the same as cement: The two terms might be used interchangeably in casual conversation, but concrete and cement are different substances. Cement is actually an ingredient in concrete that hardens when mixed with water and other aggregates to create the finished result.
• Cement home finishings: The durability of concrete might make it a natural choice for a home’s exterior, but it’s increasingly being used in the interior as well. Concrete offers a modern, low-maintenance and cost-effective option for countertops, sinks, fireplaces and even flooring.
• Ideal for underwater structures: Concrete can even be adapted to withstand the harshest of conditions on the planet. Pozzolanic cement is highly resistant to water, outperforming even steel, which makes it ideal for underwater structures such as dams, tunnels and sewers.
• High compressive strength: Compressive strength is a measure of the amount of force required to break a material. Concrete typically has a compressive strength of between 3,000 and 7,000 psi, which can be further strengthened to 20,000 psi for specific mixtures.
• Most widely used material: Due to its versatility and availability, concrete is the most widely used material on Earth by volume. In fact, it’s used twice as much as any other construction material.
• Concrete as art: Originating in the 1930s, the concrete art movement can now be found all over the world. There’s even an entire museum dedicated to concrete art in Ingolstadt, Germany.
• Concrete as a means of aircraft detection: Prior to the invention of radar, the British Army built concrete parabolic acoustic mirrors to detect incoming aircraft. Commonly known as listening ears, these were constructed along the English coast during World War II.

Looking for foundation experts with concrete knowledge in Crivitz, WI? With over 40 years of experience, Kwiatkowski Construction Co., Inc. provides excellent workmanship at competitive prices for a full range of concrete services. Contact us today to learn more about our services and get a free estimate!

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