What is in Concrete?

Insights from Your Local Concrete Contractor 

Curious about what is in concrete? In its simplest form, this most popular building and paving material is typically a mixture of three materials—water, aggregates and Portland cement. The aggregates used to make concrete may be coarse gravel, crushed rocks such as limestone and granite, and fine sand. Cement, usually in powdered form, acts as the binder when mixed with water and the aggregates.

The type of concrete to be used varies based on climate as well as the paving application—roads, sidewalks, concrete driveways, patios, etc.  In the United States, for instance, air trained concrete is used for road paving  instead of normal concrete because of its ability to endure freeze-thaw cycles. Similarly, the composition of concrete in pavers and that in stamped or patterned blocks is also different.

Your local concrete contractor can provide a more detailed explanation of what is in the concrete that is being used for your application. At American Asphalt, we work with many different types of concrete as we undertake a wide variety of projects ranging from building roads and pavements to paving commercial concrete patios and parking lots. Traffic patterns, water seepage, weather conditions, etc. are important considerations when formulating a concrete mix for each of these projects.

The quality of your concrete matters; it impacts aesthetics and surface performance as well as your maintenance efforts and budget. So choose a reliable concrete contractor company for the job.

Advantages of Concrete

Concrete surfaces offer many benefits including:

• Longer lifespan for roads and pavements, typically 20 to 40 years
• Greater load resistance and durability
• Requires less maintenance and repair over time
• Provides better visibility on roads, pavements and parking lots at night
• Offers more design flexibility for decorative pavers
• Is 100% recyclable as it can be broken down and reused for other building projects

3-Year Warranty on New Concrete Surfaces

American Asphalt offers a full range of concrete paving and repair services for commercial properties across California. We are happy to explain what is in our concrete and how it contributes to enhancing the look, lifespan and safety of your surfaces.

We handle every aspect of the project, right from excavation to building of forms, concrete pours, finish work and striping ourselves. Hence, you are assured of consistently high quality of work.  We also offer a unique, extended 3-year warranty on all new concrete installations.

Most clients also take advantage of our annual concrete maintenance plans to reduce expensive concrete repair work and safety issues.

Customers across California, including those in Hayward, San Jose, Fremont, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, Pleasanton, Livermore, San Leandro, Newark, Union City, Gilroy, Palo Alto, Marin County, San Mateo, Burlingame, and Walnut Creek areas have chosen us as their preferred concrete contractor for years.

Contact us to learn more about what is in concrete or call us at 800-541-5559 to inquire about our paving services.