Have you ever wondered how concrete is made? Concrete is a combination of rocks and paste. However, there’s a particular skill in getting that mix just right. The paste is Portland cement and water, which must coat the small, fine rocks or aggregate and the larger, rougher aggregate to form a good concrete mix. A chemical reaction called hydration ensues, which sees the mix harden and strengthen, which creates the result of hard concrete.
You might not have thought much about concrete in the past, but it’s quite an incredible substance. When it is first mixed, it is like plastic and highly malleable, but when it hardens in position, it is amazingly tough and durable. That is why it is common in our towns and cities, serving as pavements, roads, motorways, bridges, houses, and dams.
So, how is the perfect mix made?
The secret to concrete success is the proportions of your ingredients and how you mix them. Too little paste, and you’ll be left with a mixture that’s difficult to use, will create rough edges, and be porous. A combination with too much paste will be more susceptible to cracking. That’s why getting it right is best left to the professionals. For Concrete Forest Of Dean, go to www.monstermixconcrete.co.uk/concrete-forest-of-dean/
The paste is formed by adding water, which allows the substance to thoroughly coat all the small and large rocks and sand particles (collectively called aggregate). How good the paste is determines the quality of your concrete, and this is where it gets complicated. The paste’s firmness depends on the water-cement ratio, calculated as the water’s weight divided by the cement weight.
