Concrete is a staple of humanity’s success. We love the stuff; from roads to walls and even sculptures, concrete companies have their hands full meeting the demands of architects and building planners the world over.
Though the durable material is used in (just about) everything, it is especially favored in commercial projects. Towering office buildings and sprawling complexes are bursting at the seams with commercial concrete work, both artistic and practical in nature. But just why is the aggregate and paste combination so popular in commercial architecture? Let’s take a look.
- Affordability: Concrete is easy and cheap to make, which translates in its cost to commercial builders. It’s also economical; the thermal mass of a concrete building can reduce heating and cooling energy requirements by as much as 29%. In this green day and age, it is one of the most efficient and cost-effective means of constructing energy-efficient commercial buildings.
- Flexibility: As practical as concrete is, it can also be beautiful. In concurrence with that, it can easily be molded. Concrete needs to set before it takes its solid final form, which means it can be shaped and manipulated a multitude of ways; the only limitation is the imagination. As a result of this flexibility, concrete is considered a “fluid” building material.
- Durability: There’s a reason shelters and heavy duty buildings are constructed using concrete. The material is exceptionally strong and is able to withstand a significant amount of stress, whether from mother nature or physical damage. In fact, concrete continues to harden as the years drag on, getting stronger as time passes. It can also be reinforced, offering extra protection from natural disasters such as earthquakes and tornadoes.
- Safety: As this recent summer has shown, forest fires are capable of causing devastating amounts of damage. Constructing your building out of concrete can safeguard your business from the destruction of fire — the material is fireproof and acts as an effective barrier for fire spread.
When you take all of these factors into consideration, it’s no wonder companies are hiring concrete contractors to perform commercial concrete work left and right. With so many benefits and so few drawbacks, choosing the inexpensive and long-lasting material is a no-brainer.