It's one of the most ubiquitous materials known to man. Used both for its form and function, the humble concrete never fails to make an impact - whether on the merits of its strength or versatility - wherever its cast. While the word conjures up images of a gelatinous grey sludge, concrete can actually take numerous forms, providing construction experts, civil engineers and home renovators with a wide range of options to choose form.
According to
the Constructor, there are roughly 23 types of concrete. There's normal strength concrete, plain or ordinary concrete, Reinforced Concrete, Prestressed Concrete, Precast Concrete, Light – Weight Concrete, High-Density Concrete, Air Entrained Concrete, Ready Mix Concrete, Polymer Concrete, Polymer concrete, Polymer cement concrete, Polymer impregnated concrete, High-Strength Concrete, High-Performance Concrete, Self – Consolidated Concrete, Shotcrete Concrete, Pervious Concrete, Vacuum Concrete, Pumped Concrete, Stamped Concrete, Limecrete, Asphalt Concrete, Roller Compacted Concrete, Rapid Strength Concrete, and Glass Concrete, All of these different types are but variations of a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste), or non-cementitious types that use a bitumen or polymer binder.
Concrete also exists in numerous forms - as tiles, panels, sheets, pavement tiles, pipes, and more. Concrete tiles, for example are an add-on that can be attached to walls and other surfaces. They're more durable and require less maintenance than wood or slate tiles, and are inherently fireproof. Concrete panels give spaces a modern, industrial feel. Because of the way they are cast, individual panels have different shading or striations, giving the surface a natural look. They're often installed by adhering it to existing walls using an appropriate adhesive and are extremely durable. In the same vein, architectural concrete is concrete provides an aesthetic finish to the building while still serving a structural function. There's also decorative concrete that involves concrete flatwork or building elements such as panels, that while enhanced with texture or color, are not structural building members.
When it comes to large pipes, concrete is a clear winner. Concrete pipe, boxes, and manholes are durable and resist rust and fire. They're used in stormwater management applications to help reduce pollutants and store runoff in irrigation or retention systems. Concrete pipe also has added advantages of being environmentally friendly.
In the interior design world, concrete and cement is all the rage. While at first glance it may seem like a cold, flat material, it has an astounding way of creating a neutral backdrop for almost any design style—farmhouse, Bohemian, industrial, minimalist, to name a few. It’s low-maintenance, durable, long-lasting, and can be used in everything from making sinks and countertops to polished flooring, walls, tables, chairs, bathtubs, lamps, shelves, dining table tops, planters, accents, and even home decor pieces.
Interested in getting some concrete for your next project? We've compiled a list of our favourite concrete experts in Doha, Qatar below to get your started.