ForConstructionPros.com

Doug O'Neill

Concrete is one of the oldest and most versatile building materials on the planet. For thousands of years concrete has been the miracle material that can be molded into any shape or size imaginable; can be colored, stamped or stenciled to be made to look like brick or stone or even wood; and then, as if by magic, this "wonder" product gets hard like stone and creates strong, durable structures and pavements that last.

From the homes and offices we live and work in, to the roads, bridges and sidewalks we travel on, people have come to count on concrete every day of their lives. That sounds like a pretty amazing product. You would think a material this exciting would be on the minds of most people much of the time, and kids would dream of becoming involved in the wonderful world of concrete.

So what's up with our lackluster reputation? Why the general indifference to this "totally awesome" material? Is it because concrete has been around so long and is always there that people take it for granted? Or, because most people don't really know much about concrete? Whatever the reason for this apathy toward this magnificent building material, take heart, concrete fans, because "times, they are a changin'!"

Because of today's environmentally conscious marketplace, concrete is now beginning to stand out as a solution to sustainable construction requirements. You can't pick up a newspaper or construction-related publication today without seeing some kind of article about "green building" or "sustainable construction."

What surprises many is that concrete offers tremendous advantages from an environmental aspect. Suddenly, the construction industry is looking at this less-than-glamorous product, used in virtually every phase of construction, with a new appreciation and a willingness to recognize unique applications such as pervious pavements and insulated stay-in-place form construction.