Popular Concrete Mixes Employed in the Construction Industry

Concrete serves as an important building material without which most cannot do without. One of the important component of concrete mix is the aggregate mix. An aggregate is a mixture of rough and fine stones and pebbles, which serve as the binding force in concrete mixes. Different types of aggregates yield different types of results, making them suitable for a wide variety of construction works.

Some of the concrete mixes used by most concrete contractors in NYC are as follows:

1. Pump Mixes: They are mixed for the sole purpose of joining two connecting pipes so as to form a string bond without getting in the way of the water flow in the pipe. They can resist being wet from continuous exposure to water and have very few large sized aggregates than other concrete mixes. Pump mixes are also used in areas where concrete is usually underwater such as bridge piers.
2. Exposed Aggregate Mixes: These are designed in a novel way, far different from other concrete mixes. After the application of the mix, the surface is washed away by sandblasting or forced water jet while the concrete has not fully cured (or hardened). This exposes the inner aggregates of the concrete application. In exposed aggregate concrete mix, the common aggregates used are river rocks, smooth gravel and crushed limestone. It can be done by most concrete contractors in NYC.
3. Entrained Air Mixtures: In this concrete mix, air is added to the concrete mix during the production process, which results in the creation of air bubbles in the finished, hardened material. This concrete mix is used in projects where concrete is exposed to huge differences in temperature such as cold storage facilitates. The air bubbles in the concrete mix allow the concrete structure to expand without cracking.
4. Flexible Concrete Mixes: They are used in pavement and road projects. The structures need to be huge so as to achieve solid structural strength without a lot of reinforcing, leading to lower installation costs. There are many types of flexible concrete mixes graded according to their flexible strength such as 650, 750 and 850 flex.