Durability, water and fire resistance and low maintenance are just some of the benefits of building with concrete. Because of its ability to retain heat, this increases the energy efficiency of buildings and reduces both heating and cooling bills. Here are some more advantages of using concrete as a building material.
Extremely durable
Low maintenance
Free from rust, rotting or burning
Heat absorbent
Wind & waterproof
Not flammable (fire safe)
Soundproof
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There are a few disadvantages to consider:
More expensive
Cumbersome to transport, although lightweight varieties do exist
Restricted flexibility
Slow to construct with
Prone to efflorescence
Concrete vs Cement
Concrete is often criticized for not being sustainable because it requires a lot of resources to produce. Actually, cement, the primary component of concrete, is one of the world’s biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. The thinking here is that because producing cement has a negative impact on the environment, so too does the production of concrete. However, it’s not that straightforward.
Let’s take a closer look …
Concrete’s durability is two or three times longer than other common building materials.
One of concrete’s main raw ingredients is limestone, which is the most abundant mineral in the Earth.
Large areas of concrete absorb and retain heat, meaning it will increase the energy efficiency of buildings and reduce HVAC costs.
The reflective properties will reduce air conditioning costs in the summer months.
Concrete generates less waste because it can be produced in batches specific to the needs of the project.