Uniqueness of Concrete Slabs and Its Advantages

Concrete – ugly, gray, dull, drab, boring. There are so many negative words that you can use to describe concrete. But did you know that for every word you find, I can give you a reason to start loving this coarse construction material. Concrete is one of the most underrated construction materials out there. People dismiss it easily because it’s so commonly seen everywhere, leading us to take it for granted. But once in a while, we just have to be reminded that concrete is the stuff of skyscrapers – man’s own masterpieces – the living embodiments of their dreams and aspirations.

What are Concrete Slabs?

Concrete slabs are used for the foundations of houses and other buildings. For skyscrapers, they are reinforced by the steel framework, but for simple houses, they’re enough to serve as a foundation. Thick slabs that are about 10 to 50 centimeters thick are usually used for the flooring of buildings and also for the roof or the ceiling. Thinner slabs can be used for the pavement of walkways and driveways.

There are three types of concrete slabs, and these are corrugated, ribbed slab, and waffle slab.

What Makes Concrete Slabs so Awesome?

What makes concrete slabs so great is because they are so durable. Concrete is made of cement mixed with water and other aggregate materials such as gravel, sand, limestone, and other chemicals that are bonded together in such a way that creates one of the best building materials in the world. Not only that, concrete is also hailed as the most popular building material due to its durability, workability and affordability.

Indeed, concrete is priced at a reasonable rate for all the advantages that it gives. For the standard concrete slab that is used for patios, walkways, and driveways, the cost would just be about $3 per square foot.

Other Advantages of Concrete Slabs

A great thing about concrete slabs is that they are great thermal conductors. While this may not be so great in the cooler areas, this is actually pretty useful for places that are too warm or places that have shifting temperatures throughout the day. You see, concrete has a high thermal mass. This does pose a disadvantage because it delays the heating of a house using an electric heater during cold days. However, when the climate’s just fine and the sun is up, the concrete will absorb the heat of the day and release it at night when it’s cooler.