Common Concrete Mixes That Are Preferred By Concrete Contractors

Concrete is a widely used building material, but of course most of you already know that. It is the very first thing that comes to our mind when someone mentions the terms ‘Building’ and  ‘Construction’. Concrete has many properties that make it the default choice for commercial concrete contractors, with their adaptability and high strength-workability ratio the two stand out features of concrete mixes.

Concrete is made by mixing cement, aggregate mixtures and water in a pre-defined ratio to form a paste. The versatility of the concrete lies in the fact that simple alterations in the basic ingredients of the concrete mix can radically alter its properties, making them suitable for a wide variety of applications.

The different types of concrete used by concrete contractors in NYC are:

1. Normal Concrete: The most commonly used concrete mix, it has the strength needed for most applications such as walls constructions, buildings, skyscrapers etc. It is obtained by mixing regular Portland cement with water and aggregate (stones + sand). Its initial setting time is about 30 to 90 minutes depending on the finer ratio of the components in the cement mix.
2. High Strength Concrete: Many commercial concrete contractors offer the option of high strength concrete which are made of high quality aggregate, low water to cement ratio and adding certain admixtures to the concrete mix to enhance its strength and other finer properties. They usually have longer setting times than normal concrete. They are generally used in areas where the load on concrete structure is higher such as public walkways and pedestrians.
3. High Performance Concrete: It is somewhat similar to high strength concrete, but have higher strength than the former. They are highly durable and are used in construction of heavy structures such as massive concrete facades, large pillars and construction of skyscrapers and warehouses.
4. Air Entrained Concrete: It is one of the recent inventions in the field of concrete technology. It is a special purpose concrete mixture made by trapping air inside concrete mix with the help of suitable admixtures. They have somewhat lower strength than regular concrete mix.