​If you ask any building contractor, they all tell you the same thing – concrete is an integral part of any construction project. Although you do not need to ask a professional to tell you that. Concrete has long been an essential ingredient in any building or structure.

Just look at the structures that surround you, like the pavements that you walk on or the patio in your backyard – concrete is everywhere. That is why we will explore the properties, materials, and uses of concrete and how you can use it for your projects.

What is concrete?
Concrete is the most widely used construction material and is created through a mix of various materials like cement, fine aggregate, water, gravel, and crushed stones. Gravel and sand or crushed stones are common examples of coarse or fine aggregate.

Why is it so important?
Concrete is known to be like mortars in both structure and composition. In fact, concrete becomes a binder for different types of masonry units in construction, which means it acts like mortar.

Although concrete has more uses than ordinary mortar and is more versatile as it contains both fine and coarse aggregates. The large coarse aggregate will provide strength attributes to concrete, a characteristic that mortars do not have. This makes concrete more suitable for heavier and larger structures.

Properties of concrete that make it great for construction projects
Many concrete companies will advertise the benefits of concrete and for good reasons. It offers several excellent attributes for structures and buildings. These include the following:

• Strength

Concrete is an extraordinarily strong material and can withstand the elements, including compressive stresses, without yielding. The strength will eventually come from various material components of the concrete mix. That is why it is essential to use a well-graded mix since it can produce the best results and makes it more suitable for constructing foundations, super structures, and other heavy structures.

• Durability

Using a well-graded mix, concrete can last for decades and even under very adverse conditions. In fact, it can resist weathering, chemical action, abrasion, and tensile stress for long periods without compromising its structural integrity. This makes a concrete structure more suitable for locations with rough conditions.

• Long-lasting

Experts have dated back the first instances of concrete to 500 BC, which means that it is incredibly durable. This makes concrete great for building permanent structures like dams and bridges, and it is also be the best option for domestic construction projects like driveways, walkways, patios, or entertainment areas on your property.

• Economical

Many concrete contractors in Canberra love concrete because it is affordable, and it does a great job in building works. In fact, it is so versatile that it cn be used for a variety of structures for both commercial and domestic applications.

Overall, the many properties of concrete have made it an essential material for the construction industry in Canberra. Using concrete can add value to your landscape, while also making it an attractive and comfortable place to live.

If you are planning to install or upgrade your driveway, you can contact Canberra Concreting today. We have a team of highly skilled and professional concreters that can help with your project.

Compared to wooden decks, bricks and paver stones, concrete patios are the clear winner in our opinion. In fact, concrete patio surfaces are more affordable, and you can choose from a wide variety of styles. Not to mention they are easy to maintain, durable and more easily repaired or resurfaced.
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Why choose a concrete patio surface?

• Versatility

Wooden decks may look stylish, but concrete is more versatile since you can mix it with other materials like crushed limestone and gravel. There are also various finishing techniques like stamping patterns which can mimic the look of bricks, stone, and tiles.
You can also choose sophisticated designs such as embossing or engraving patterns and logos into the concrete surface to emulate a variety of natural stones from marble to slate. This makes a concrete surface stylish but cost-effective.

• Initial cost

The initial cost of a typical concrete patio is far cheaper than a wooden deck, around half the price. However, design choices may increase the cost per square metre for both concrete and wooden patio surfaces.
Therefore, if you are planning to improve the value of your home, it is important to make a wise decision and ensure that you are maximising your return on investment. Choosing concrete is often a more logical choice because it can have a finish that compliments your home and can be an appropriate fit with your design and backyard landscaping, without the added expense.

• Longevity

There are several similarities in the maintenance process of both concrete surfaces and wooden patio decks. They both need to maintained properly to maximize their longevity and prevent any damage caused by ice, rain, heat, and cold.
Both surfaces must be scrubbed, sanded, and power washed until smooth before you can reseal them. If they are properly maintained, they can last up to 30 years. Although sealant application is far better and more straightforward for concrete compared to wooden decks.

In fact, concrete patios have a distinct maintenance advantage as sealant is only needed once every 3 to 5 years. Wooden decks must be re-stained and resealed annually, which means they will cost more time and money to maintain than a concrete surface. However, it is important to choose the right material for your landscape and design.

Why choose Canberra Concreting
We are the leading concreting company in Canberra, and we have a team of highly skilled and professional concreters that can help you upgrade or build a concrete patio. Combined with state-of-art equipment and our years of experience in this business, you can be sure that we can provide you the best quality service that you expect.

Most importantly, we are transparent when it comes to the total cost of your project. We can even guide you on which type of concrete or cement mix is suitable for your landscape. So, we urge you to get in touch with us today; our team will provide you a quote based on the design you want to achieve.

We want our homes to be safe from all types of accidents, but there will always be a slight risk of fire hazard. That is why we need to know some basic safety precautions to prevent fire accidents in our homes that could lead to costly damages or fatal injuries. There are ways to prevent fire, but many homeowners ignore this.

There are a few simple things you can do to protect yourself and your family from fire accidents, and these will include the following:

Fire tip #1
Home fires can happen at any moment, and it can cause serious dangers to anybody on your property. In fact, it only takes 5 minutes before the fire can engulf the whole house, so inhabitants will only have two minutes to escape. It is best to use a fire extinguisher or if you think it is out of control – get out of the house with your family as fast as you can.
You must also turn off any kitchen appliance after use or just cut the main power switch. Never leave your kids unattended in the kitchen, especially if you have flammable materials in your kitchen like paper towels, oven mitts, etc.

Fire tip #2
We recommend that you use concrete material in your kitchen, especially on the island or sink, since it does not burn, and it can retain its strength even in high temperatures. You may also want your roof treated with a fire retardant. If this is something you are interested in, you need to get in touch with a building contractor because they can provide you with some good options, especially when it comes to fire-retardant compounds.

If you are barbequing in your backyard, you should not use highly flammable materials like gasoline because it tends to blow up, and you might even catch fire to your clothes and skin. It is safer to use a dry kindling material than gasoline.

Using concrete in your construction projects

When building a patio in your backyard, it is best to use concrete since it is more versatile, safer than timber, and fire-proof. Concrete patios are cleaner, smoother, and can be cast to form various designs and geometric shapes, making them more stylish. You can even use concrete for outdoor furniture in your backyard because it’s more durable and a non-combustible alternative to timber or wood. In fact, there are several finishing options that can mimic wood or timber depending on your taste and the design you want to achieve.

Using concrete in some of your fixtures can minimise the risks of fire, and it is more affordable than other building materials. Most importantly, it is easy to maintain, so you can never go wrong if you choose it for your construction or renovation projects.
Overall, concrete is an excellent building material, but if you choose to use it on your projects, you should only deal with professional concreters like Canberra Concreting.