Concrete is one of the most widely used building materials in the world. And it’s for a good reason. It’s renowned for being one of the most versatile materials used for building, as it can be moulded, shaped, and flexed to fit nearly any installation related to construction. Concrete is an architect’s favourite material as well because its glue-like form can be moulded into any shape, size, or form they want. Because of its flexibility and versatility, the application of concrete can almost be considered artistic.
As the most common building material in the world, concrete has been around for a long time, dating as far back as Roman times. One example of ancient concrete architecture is the roman colosseum, which has been around for many centuries and still stands as an architectural wonder. Another example is The Pantheon, an ancient architecture constructed many years before the Roman era. It still stands today as one of the most preserved ancient architectures of the world. In the modern age, concrete is present in many buildings and architecture internationally. While many structures are made of other materials such as reinforced steel and clay, they still have concrete mixed in their element. For instance, the Eiffel tower of France may look like it’s built purely from steel. But the foundation from which it stands is made up of concrete and has helped the tower stay strong through tests of time such as calamities, disasters, and wars.
To this day, concrete remains the typical building material in nearly all forms of construction. And the reasons for this are simple — concrete simply has the most ideal characteristics for construction and architecture.
Here are the common characteristics of concrete that helps it become the best construction material in the world.
Durability
Whether they’re expensive, cosmetically pleasing, or practical, all building materials have one thing in common — they are hard. They must be hard enough to withstand collision and still hold strong. They must be able to stay strong through the harshest physical punishments. It’s a reminder of the difference between a house made of sand and rock. The house of rock will stand longer through harsh weather, and that’s exactly what concrete does. Concrete is good for durable decorations such as polished concrete walls and concrete pavers.
Versatility
Concrete may be one of the strongest building materials in the world. However, before it is applied, it’s actually an oozy paste that doesn’t reflect the hardness it is known for. This is the beauty of it. Because it is an oozy liquid, it can be moulded into many different shapes and can be squeezed through the tiniest cracks and crevices. Once it is left to dry, its hardness sets in, and it becomes the tough, heavy-duty object that we know it for. Concrete can also come in different styles for different purposes such as polished concrete and concrete pavers.
Price
The cost of concrete is similar to that of brick. However, the most common building material in the world is a few cents cheaper in Australian dollars. And if you’re constructing a house or a building, the difference in cents add up and can save you money in the long run.
