Various Types Of Concrete To Consider For Your Residential Construction

Concrete has come a long way as one of the oldest and most widely used construction materials. Plain concrete is no longer the only option available for concrete construction. Different types of concrete are available to match the requirements of virtually any construction project.

If you intend to embark on a residential concrete construction project, you should know about the various concrete products available in today's construction market. Read along to explore your options.

Ready-Mix Concrete

As with site-mix concrete, cement, sand, aggregates (such as gravel or crushed stone), and water are the main ingredients used in the production of ready-mix concrete. However, the mixing process occurs under controlled conditions at an off-site location, and the concrete is delivered ready to use.

Ready-mix concrete brings many advantages. Firstly, the factory-like environment under which the mixing happens helps produce concrete that meets quality standards and requirements for your project. Second, it helps reduce worksite congestion and reduce nuisances such as noise and vibration because you don't have to use concrete mixers on-site.

Ready-mix concrete can also help you save money on labor costs since you don't have to hire extra workers to mix your concrete. On the downside, you may lose control over the supply of fresh concrete if there's a delivery delay.   

Concrete Tilt-Up Wall Panels

Tilt-up concrete construction describes a series of precast concrete panels that can be tilted up into place using a crane to form the exterior walls of a building. These wall panels are usually used together with a concrete slab, which acts as the building's flooring system.

Unlike ready-mix concrete, tilt-up concrete wall panels are site-cast—meaning they're created at the work site rather than produced off-site and delivered ready to use. These concrete wall systems are quite heavy and bulky and may be difficult to transport to the work site.

Insulating Concrete Forms

As part of cast-in-place reinforced concrete walls, insulating concrete forms (ICFs) provide thermal insulation in buildings. Unlike temporary formwork, they remain in place permanently to make buildings safe, comfortable, and energy-efficient. 

Although these insulation products will cause the cost of construction to increase, they can pay for themselves in the long run. As the demand for passive houses rises, so does the popularity of ICFs.

Want to learn more about concrete construction products? Get in touch with a residential concrete contractor today to discuss your project needs and determine the best concrete products for the project.