Exposed concrete and its application in construction
The facade of the buildings, like other components of the structure, has different architectural styles. The facade can be imposing, luxurious or very simple. Throughout history, architectural styles have changed a lot and are still changing.
Today, more advanced components are used in the facade of the building, one of the materials that has been used in construction since the past is exposed concrete, for more information about the specifications and installation method of exposed concrete panels, see the end of the article with Stay with the Iron Nations.
History of using exposed concrete
Exposed concrete was first used in 1892 by the French Henbeck. After that, the use of exposed concrete expanded day by day; So that in the 1950s, Belgium did the most construction using this concrete. In this way, from 1970 to 1990, with the advancement of concrete manufacturing technology and its implementation, exposed panels reached a high degree of resistance and quality.
What is exposed concrete?
Exposed concrete is a type of concrete that, due to the materials used in it, has a smooth surface free of any extra waste. The standard and quality structure of exposed concrete is very important because this type of concrete is mostly used in the facade of buildings and no coating is used on it.
Exposed concrete
The principles of concreting and its implementation in the building
Specifications of exposed concrete
Exposed concrete has a useful life of between 70 and 90 years.
Exposed panels are available in the market in thicknesses of 1 to 10 cm.
Exposed concrete has specific weight (kg/m³) of 1500 and compressive strength (Mpa) of 380.
Its water absorption is about 6%.
Types of exposed concrete textures
It is interesting to know that even the texture of exposed concrete can be changed and depending on the need and application, changes can be made in its construction. The types of these textures include sand and rough texture, wooden texture, cloth texture, etc.
Types of exposed concrete textures
How to calculate the weight of concrete panels
The weight of the panels is calculated according to their dimensions and thickness:
Panel length * Panel width * Panel thickness (cm) * Specific weight of concrete = Weight of concrete panel (kg)
Dimensions of exposed concrete panels
Exposed concrete panels can be ordered in different dimensions. Generally, they are available in L, U shapes, polyhedral pieces, rectangular pieces and square pieces.
Rectangular panel dimensions
Width (cm) Length (cm)
50 100
60 120
70 140
80 160
100 200
200 400
Square panel dimensions
50 50
60 60
80 80
100 100
Dimensions table of rectangular and square panels
Advantages and disadvantages of exposed concrete
The following are the advantages of exposed concrete:
Due to its structure, it can be used in all weather conditions and all seasons of the year.
This type of concrete can be applied with several methods including: dry method and slurry method.
Its execution speed and lifespan are very high.
There is no limitation in coloring.
There is no limit in making different dimensions.
It has high resistance to impact, corrosion and abrasion.
It is affordable.
As mentioned above, the advantages of using exposed concrete are many, the only drawback is that it has a simple and soulless appearance, which is not to everyone’s taste, and many people do not like its use in the interior and exterior of the building.
Exposed concrete does not need to be covered, it reduces the use of materials during construction and helps to preserve the environment.
Colored exposed concrete
Exposed concrete is available in 3 types of pale, medium and full color in the market; But it can be produced in other colors by adding materials such as mineral oxide pigments, chemical stains, colored putties and structural paints. Colored exposed panels are the most used in the landscaping of gardens and parks.
Colored exposed concrete
Applications of exposed concrete
As mentioned above, exposed concrete is used both in exterior and interior due to its high quality and resistance. Due to the presence of materials such as cement in the structure of concrete, it is possible to use it in bad weather. It is also used in some architectural styles such as minimal style in the interior design of houses.
In addition to the use of this concrete in facades, it is also used to make chairs and various structures in parks and gardens. Exposed concrete is widely used as flooring in crowded places; Also, due to the high resistance of concrete against water, it is very widely used for the construction of swimming pools and water buildings.
Exposed concrete installation methods
Exposed concrete panels are connected in two ways: dry and grouting:
dry method
The dry method means that no mortar is used in its installation. The intended location is connected to the concrete panels with screws using metal cans. In general, concrete panels are installed in several ways:
The method of using metal infrastructure and installation fittings (corners and screws)
The method of using the metal foundation and screwing the tile to the foundation
Method of using metal infrastructure and megastone glue
Method using BK2F glue
The advantages of the dry method include easy repairs and reconstruction, speed of execution and high resistance of panels, etc.
slurry method (wet)
Mortar is called mortar that consists of sand, black and white cement, concrete glue and water. Substructure of bricks, blocks, clay and rabits, are suitable and applicable for this method, and its implementation is very similar to masonry.
The minimum thickness of the bottom surface grout should be 3 cm. If cleanliness is important to us, it is better to use white cement. It should be noted that when ordering, the installation method should be told to the manufacturer because this method has differences compared to other methods.
In general, the points that should be considered in the implementation of exposed concrete are as follows:
Using high-quality materials to make concrete
Using high-quality templates
Accuracy in the alignment and busyness of the templates
Attention to the level of the concrete form
Implementation of the appropriate mixing plan
Accurate concreting in molds
Exposed concrete installation methods
Exposed concrete installation methods
Buying exposed concrete
As mentioned above, different types of concrete sections can be ordered. When buying, you can order rectangular, square, L-shaped and U-shaped sections according to the desired space.
Another important point is to pay attention to the quality of concrete and the brand of its manufacturing plant, because if concrete is made from low-quality mortar, its lifespan, resistance and strength will be greatly reduced.
Exposed concrete panel price
The price of exposed concrete depends on various factors such as production, type of mold, installation method, etc. Today, the use of this type of concrete is more popular than before.
Conclusion
Exposed concrete is usually used in the facade of the building. Its smooth surface and free of any additional material means that no coating is used on the exposed panels. Exposed concrete is used in the construction of swimming pools, water facades, flooring, park seats, etc. because it is resistant to impact, erosion, corrosion, water penetration and has a long life.
Exposed concrete is used in the construction of swimming pools, water facades, flooring, park seats, etc. due to its high resistance to impact, erosion, corrosion and water penetration. To buy panels of this type of concrete, you should first pay attention to the desired space, the quality of concrete and the brand of its manufacturing plant, because their price also depends on these mentioned factors.
What is exposed concrete?
Any concrete whose surface is exposed and used for the facade of the structure is known as exposed concrete.
Exposed concrete restoration is done according to what points?
Repair of exposed concrete is done according to the place of application and its thickness.
What are the advantages of exposed concrete?
Among the advantages of this concrete, we can mention its low weight, reasonable cost, high durability and modern appearance.
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