Think you know everything there is to know about concrete? Think again.
Everyone knows that concrete is used in many structures we use everyday, such as buildings and roads. We’ve got some interesting facts to share that you might not have heard though. Keep reading to find out more about our favorite building material, concrete!
- Concrete was developed in ancient Roman times. How else could they have made all those buildings? However, the concrete the Romans used is very different from the concrete used today by builders all around the world, such as Tolley Concrete. Roman concrete was made by mixing water, lime and volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius, while today’s concrete is made by mixing water, an aggregate (like gravel or sand) and cement.
- Concrete is the most widely used man-made material on the planet!
- The Empire State Building used 62,000 cubic yards of concrete during its construction in 1930 and 1931. The building took 13 and a half months to build.
- American inventor Thomas Edison has 49 patents (out of his 1,093 total patents) that used concrete and cement. Some of those even included ideas for concrete houses and concrete furniture. For more info on what we can do with concrete today, visit our website.
- Concrete is the best material for road construction, and almost 30 percent of interstates and highways in the United States contain concrete. Though a slightly higher initial investment than asphalt, concrete is a more environmentally-friendly and cost-effective choice as it requires less maintenance than asphalt in the long run.
- Concrete and cement are not the same thing. It’s true! Concrete is made from aggregates, water and a small amount of cement. However, cement is one of the most important ingredients in concrete, as it acts as the glue to hold all the other pieces together.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about our favorite material, concrete. For more fun facts and interesting information, check out our blog at Tolley Concrete.