Types of Commercial Concrete

Plain concrete is just a mix of cement, aggregates, and water. However, there are several ways to customize these concrete formulas, such as adding more or less water, or using different aggregates. This option is good for general commercial concrete applications, such as flatwork for sidewalks.

Plain concrete can be normal strength, between 10 and 40 MPa of compressive strength, which is suitable for most commercial concrete construction. However, with the addition of chemical admixtures, our team can achieve high strength concrete, which offers strength exceeding 40 MPa. High strength concrete is commonly used for things like columns and foundations in high-rise buildings. However, high strength concrete can take weeks to reach full strength.

In cases where you need strength quickly, rapid strength concrete is a good option. This type of commercial concrete gains high strength within just hours. It’s commonly used for concrete repairs on key infrastructure, like sidewalks and parking lots for commercial facilities.

For concrete installation projects that require precise formulation, ready mix concrete is the ideal option. This involves precisely measuring and adding the ingredients for the concrete in a plant and mixing it in a cement mixing truck while on the way to the construction site. Ready mix is the most popular option for large commercial and industrial projects that require high volumes of specifically formulated concrete.

Lightweight concrete is a type of concrete that weighs less than normal concrete. Generally speaking, any concrete that weighs less than 115 pounds per ft³ is considered lightweight, as the average weight of normal weight concrete is between 140 and 150 pounds per ft³. This option for commercial concrete construction is ideal for applications where weight is a concern. Some common applications include adding flooring on top of existing concrete and creating partition or panel walls in buildings.

While concrete is an extremely strong building material, it has relatively low tensile strength, which can make it vulnerable to cracking in certain applications. This is where reinforced concrete is important. Reinforced concrete uses steel rods, metal bars, fibers, or meshes to increase tensile strength for concrete. Reinforced concrete is used for things like walls in a tilt wall construction project as well as building foundations.

Asphalt concrete is also known simply as asphalt or blacktop and is commonly found in parking lots and on roadways on commercial properties. Our experts create asphalt concrete by mixing aggregates with bitumen, which is a solid form of petroleum. Asphalt is an economical option that is easy to maintain and makes the ride smoother for drivers, which is why some prefer asphalt over traditional concrete for road and parking lot paving.

Stamped concrete is another aesthetic option for your concrete project. For stamped concrete, our team pours and evens the concrete surface and then applies a stamp in the pattern of your choosing. Some common applications for stamped concrete include architectural decoration and outdoor pathways. Our team can make stamped concrete look like realistic rock formations, cobblestones, and other natural patterns.