Building a home or private building is one big hurdle. Everyone tries to make the building and its structures personalised to stand out from others. In the case of a home, the owner will have some insights about everything inside and outside the building. But some detailed features like concrete works in different parts of the building and its surroundings. In the past, customisation in concrete was limited, but now various options like the exposed aggregate concrete are available. Unlike many other parts of construction, these concrete structures need to be long lasting. And it is not easy to rework after the concreting. Due to these problems, one should go through the different options available. It will help to reduce confusion and provide more exceptional beauty to the building.
Selection parameters
Total area
The total area of that need to concrete has the prime influence on selecting the type of concrete. As the area increases, the time taken for completion can get raised. This problem may further delay various works inside and outside the building. Specialised concrete types which take a longer time to finish are not suitable under such constraints. Also, this customised concrete may cost more, and doing such concrete for a large area can considerably increase the total cost. So select an exposed concrete with a lower price.
The area of concreting
The particular place where the concrete is needed can vary. Likewise, not every area around a home requires the same concrete as their functions can vary.
- Driveways: The exposed aggregate concrete in driveways should provide enough grip for the vehicles. Also, it should be able to let a lot of water into the ground during rain. This feature can avoid the buildup of water pockets. The driveways experience more traffic than other areas, and thus the concrete should be long lasting.
- Pool surroundings: As with the driveways, the exposed concrete in the pools should provide a higher level of grip. It will reduce the chance of slipping and falling. Also, the exposed-concrete method will keep the surface cool even in the harsh Australian summer.
- Patios: Patios need to be relaxable as well as stylish at the same time. The exposed concrete allows having these two features at the same time. The owners can go through different styles of concrete for selecting the best one.
Aesthetics
Every owner will be eager to make their building look more elegant than others. Thus the selection of concrete also needs to be careful about making the surroundings unique and beautiful. The colour, ratio, type, etc., can affect the aesthetics.
Long-lasting
The Australian climate can change drastically within a short period. This problem can affect the longevity of the concrete. Choosing the proper concrete as per the traffic flow and exposure to a different climate is significant for the longevity of the concrete. The higher longevity can reduce the maintenance cost of concrete.
Availability
This factor can influence the selection greatly. For example, the exposed aggregate concrete method is unavailable all over Australia, but one can find the best service providers in all major cities. The longer the raw materials, the higher will be the transportation cost. Also, not every service provider needs to have the exact items. So it is necessary to make sure that the materials are available in the area before planning. This planning will avoid last-minute confusion and problems.
Not every homeowner knew about various concrete types in depth. Thus the selection can go wrong or inadequate. To avoid this problem, the person can rely on expertise from the service providers or architects.