Pros & cons of concrete construction
08th November 2019 Used in construction for thousands of years, concrete is the most widely used building material in the world. As one of the South’s only construction groups capable of delivering a complete range of concrete services, we take a look at the pros and cons of this versatile building material so you can be sure it’s the right choice for your project.
The pros of concrete
Concrete is incredibly durable
It won’t come as a surprise that concrete is an incredibly strong and durable material. It takes constant heavy foot and machine traffic in its stride, copes well with even the worst of weather conditions and provides almost unrivalled stability for structures.
It’s extremely long lasting
As you’d expect with a material that is so strong, concrete is also very long lasting. Indeed, the famous domed roof of the Pantheon in Rome, which was made using concrete, is still standing strong today despite being built between 120-124 AD, a real testament to just how enduring concrete is.
Concrete makes great flooring
Though it often surprises people, concrete makes excellent flooring, and not just as a base. Versatile, dynamic and attractive, concrete provides buildings with a sleek and modern floor, especially when it’s been professionally finished.
It can be used for a range of purposes
One of the most important considerations when choosing concrete as your building material is its versatility. With the right know-how and reinforcement, concrete can be used for a for all types of structures, from fly overs to flooring.
The cons of concrete
It often needs to be reinforced
While concrete is incredibly strong, it will often need to be reinforced with steel rods, wire or mesh to improve its tensile strength.
Requires professional installation
To ensure concrete performs as it should, it needs to be mixed, installed and cured by professionals. If labourers aren’t experienced with the versatile building material, it can lead to serious consequences for the construction project's integrity.
Concrete can crack
When concrete isn’t mixed or installed correctly, it has the potential to crack. Cracking is a serious problem in concrete structures as it will have a significant effect on its strength.
The LGW Group provides a comprehensive range of concrete services to the construction industry, including ready mix concrete, concrete pumps, finishing and steel decking. To learn more about our services or to discuss how we can help with your next project, contact the team on 0117 958 2090 today.