Too Hard to Ignore

The advantages of using concrete as a construction material outweigh the drawbacks of its weight. It is one of few building materials that can still be manufactured right on a building site if desired. It does not rot. It does not burn. It is very economical to use. In some form or another, it can be used as almost every type of building component. One advantage of using a material with a long history is that we have experimented for a long time with its components and ways to utilize it. We have developed many variations in its mixes. We know what works and what does not when it comes to getting the product in place. We are pretty sure what it can accomplish on its own, and what more it can do when we judiciously add additional elements to enhance its properties and characteristics. We examine some of that accumulated knowledge here, to learn ways to better use this historic material.