Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
A single concrete block, as used for construction. Concrete is a composite material composed of aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement that cures to a solid over time. Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, [1] and is the most widely used building material. [2]
This page was last edited on 6 February 2014, at 21:43 (UTC).; Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License; additional terms may apply.
A pallet of "8-inch" concrete blocks An interior wall of painted concrete blocks Concrete masonry blocks A building constructed with concrete masonry blocks. A concrete block, also known as a cinder block in North American English, breeze block in British English, or concrete masonry unit (CMU), or by various other terms, is a standard-size rectangular block used in building construction.
Concrete has been the predominant building material in the modern age due to its longevity, formability, and ease of transport. Recent advancements, such as insulating concrete forms, combine the concrete forming and other construction steps (installation of insulation). All materials must be taken in required proportions as described in standards.
Precast concrete is a construction product produced by casting concrete in a reusable mold or "form" which is then cured in a controlled environment, transported to the construction site and maneuvered into place; examples include precast beams, and wall panels, floors, roofs, and piles.
Ready-mix concrete refers to concrete that is specifically manufactured for customers' construction projects, and supplied to the customer on site as a single product. It is a mixture of Portland or other cements, water and aggregates: sand, gravel, or crushed stone. [ 5 ]
Gypsum concrete is a building material used as a floor underlay [45] used in wood-frame and concrete construction for fire ratings, [45] sound reduction, [45] radiant heating, [46] and floor leveling. It is a mixture of gypsum, Portland cement, and sand. [45] One of its advantages is the lightweight nature.
Shotcrete, gunite (/ ˈ ɡ ʌ n aɪ t /), or sprayed concrete is concrete or mortar conveyed through a hose and pneumatically projected at high velocity onto a surface. This construction technique was invented by Carl Akeley and first used in 1907. [1]: 7 The concrete is typically reinforced by conventional steel rods, steel mesh, or fibers.