Ready Mixed Concrete

Use ready-mixed concrete to create colorful, environmentally sustainable homes, countertops and walkways
By D. Simon In 1913, ready-mix concrete hit the market. Because it can arrive on a work site in a flexible state and be molded before hardening, concrete has become a standard building tool for projects as diverse as homes and dams.

Today, ready-mix concrete plants have improved the quality and versatility of concrete to the point that the mixture can be adjusted to suit individual projects. Architects, engineers, developers and builders must understand how ready-mix concrete interacts with the environment and affects the design, appearance and durability of structures.

You can use different types of ready-mix concrete to accomplish different goals:

1. Impervious ready-mixed concrete is traditionally used to prevent water from being absorbed.

2. Pervious concrete allows water to seep into the concrete and can be used in pavement to prevent water runoff and reduce pollution.

3. Decorative concrete can be used by designers and builders to add color, texture and diverse styles.

Design buildings made of ready-mix concrete

If you are an architect or engineer, consider designing homes and offices made from ready-mix concrete. They tend to be environmentally sustainable and durable, resisting fires and standing up to high winds and earthquakes. Wood-frame prices tend to be slightly lower than ready-mix concrete prices, but the benefits of concrete balance this out.
Try:  A ready-mix concrete plant such as Bedrock Industries uses ready-mix concrete trucks to deliver and pour a variety of types of concrete for commercial concrete finishers and contractors. Color your concrete easily using products such as those offered by Davis Colors in ready-mix concrete bags. Throw a bag into the mixer, and it disintegrates and releases color into the concrete.

Use ready-mixed concrete to design floors

Concrete floors do no have to be gray and boring. Today's concrete can be dyed, stained, painted, polished, stamped, or stenciled, which allows you to create a variety of looks to please most any consumer. Builders can also incorporate heating coils into the concrete to warm the room with radiant flooring.
Try:  A ready-mix concrete business like Complete Decorative Concrete Solutions uses Cuviello Concrete for decorative solutions such as stained concrete in restaurants, showrooms, offices and homes. The Radiant Floor Company offers builders different heating systems, depending on their needs. A closed system heats only the floor; an open system can heat your floor and water supply; solar energy can also be incorporated to reduce radiant heating costs.

Incorporate ready-mixed concrete into many objects

Countertops, furniture, fireplaces and walkways are a few items that can be made of concrete. It can be molded into unusual shapes and colored and patterned to fit different architectural styles.
Try:  Cheng Concrete offers products, training sessions and instructional manuals to help businesses create concrete countertops, bathrooms and more. Sonoma Cast Stone provides interesting designs and colors for residential or commercial countertops and other projects that incorporate ready-mix concrete. They also offer stainless concrete, which does not develop a patina with time but instead maintains its original appearance.

• Ready-mix concrete associations unite producers, contractors and consumers. They provide up-to-date suggestions about best practices, offer contact lists and work with the government on regulatory issues important to your business.