In contemporary décor, concrete can be used to achieve a calming, neutral and sleek design for your home. Using a concrete mixer is the most effective way to achieve the smoothest and most uniform cement texture required for this look. Concrete in buildings and décor has been a part of the human aesthetic since ancient times.
In this article, we explore the history of cement designs. We trace the use of concrete in ancient Egyptian, Grecian and Roman times. We then turn to the contemporary period of concrete design. We also outline the benefits of using a concrete mixer in the creation of concrete. If you would like to learn more about the history of concrete and how it contributed to the formation of ancient and modern civilisations alike than this article is for you.
What Is Concrete?
Hardened concrete is made by combining a mixture of aggregates such as cement, stone, gravel, sand, and water. Today generally we make sure that these ingredients are mixed thoroughly with a concrete mixer resulting in a bonded paste which will harden into concrete. The exact ratio of each ingredient will depend on the result needed for the project at hand.
Often, the terms concrete and cement are used interchangeably when speaking colloquially. However, cement is an ingredient to make hardened concrete. Mortar is also mistaken for concrete, but is a specialized mixture of cement, sand and water. Concrete can stand alone in its own structure and can used to smooth out walls and floors while mortar is used as glue to bind concrete structures and bricks together.
The Ancient History Of Concrete
One of the earliest traces of concrete structures can been traced to regions in Syria and the Jordan. Concrete floors, structures and underground cisterns have been dated by archaeologists to 6500 BC. Underground cisterns were used to store water and were built by Nabataea or Bedouin traders after they had developed a small empire in the desert. Some of these structures still exist today. If these cisterns were designed to store water, it would mean that this ancient form of concrete would have to be water resistant to some extent so that it would not have dissolved when coming into contact with water.
In ancient Egypt, mud was combined with straw to form a mortar to bond dried bricks. Minerals like gypsum and lime were also used to make mortar. During the construction of the famous Pyramids of Giza it is estimated that about 500 000 tons of mortar was used. Some archaeologists theorise, that during this period natural limestone rubble and clay were combined with a high-pH solution to create concrete, there were traces of silica found in the samples taken from the pyramids which mirror modern cement mixtures as silica is a commonly used ingredient in concrete today. The concrete mixer as we know it did not exist during ancient times, but it is likely ancient ancestors of the concrete mixer may have been used to more efficiently mix the amount of mortar needed for these large construction projects.
Researchers have also discovered that around this period, a concrete-like substance was being used in the Gansu Province in northwest China. The substance was dark green and was used for floors. The combination of sand, broken pottery, bones and water was used to make the material.
At around 1300 BC, it was discovered that Middle Eastern builders used burnt limestone mixed with water to coat the outside of clay walls. This was done because the lime could form a hardened protective surface on the outside of clay. The use of limestone continued in the Mediterranean region. Grecians found a natural pozzolan on Santorini Island that exhibited water-resistant proprieties when blended with lime. This meant that the concrete produced would also harden under water and when met with air. Traces of silica can be found in pozzolan which chemically reacted with the lime-based product resulting in a protective layer for walls and unburned bricks.
The Greeks also produced a concrete-like mixture consisting of broken stone bonded with lime and sand mortar, however, this product was not strong enough to be the foundation of massive buildings.
During the period 740-476 BC, the Northern Chinese used a form of cement to coat boats to prevent leaking. The Great Wall of China took 2000 years to construct. At one point, the mortar used was a sticky cement made with rice and limestone. Over 100 million bricks were made using mud, sand, reeds, willow branches and stone.
Roman civilization began in the region of Italy around 753 BC. At its peak in 177 AD, the Empire ruled over 50-90 million people (20% of the Earth’s population at the time) and covered 5 million square kilometres of land in Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa. The giant empire brought many technological advances many of which we use in modern times, including concrete.
Even though concrete was not developed in Ancient Rome alone, modern age concrete stems from the Roman Empire. By 300 BC the Romans had already improved concrete technology and had even given a name to the substance, the Latin word concretus means grown together or compounded is the root word for concrete. They were the first to successfully use concrete throughout their construction. A combination of volcanic ash, limestone and seawater made up the substance that was widely spread throughout the empire. Blocks were made out of concrete by using wooden moulds, once the blocks had hardened, they were stacked like bricks in construction.
The Pantheon Dome, which still stands today and is a common tourist attraction in the city, was constructed out of concrete. There are many other structures which the Romans built which still exist and this is due to the unique mixture the civilization utilized. It was only discovered in 2014 that the reason behind the durability was because of the chemical reaction that the ingredients have.
The combination of volcanic ash; also known as pozzolana; lime and water were used to make mortar. This mixture was combined with an aggregate such as crushed rock. Once the paste had hardened, the material strengthened. Pozzolana contained both silica and alumina which is crucial to the chemical reaction which would take place. When the seawater, which would have salt in it, came into contact with the lime and pozzolama, a rare crystalline substance called tobermite came into formation. This meant when structures had fine cracks, the crystallization would start which only made the structure stronger and can explain the longevity of these ancient buildings. The rock-like concrete that Roman buildings are made out of explains why the empire could stand for so long.
Mortar would be mixed and carried in baskets to the construction site. The technology of the modern concrete mixer had not yet been made, but the Romans used giant stone mills to mix cement and crush up aggregate. They had also developed a pulley system with ropes to assist in lifting heavy materials and constructions. Scaffolding similar to those used in modern construction was used to get to higher points of construction which explains why they were able to make buildings as large as the Pantheon Dome.
Their mixtures of cement had a low ratio of water which helped in preventing cracks in construction, this further explains the life span of their constructions. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the widespread use of concrete fell and would rise again years later during the industrial revolutions. The machinery of the concrete mixer would only come to light at the beginning of the 20th century. Still, the impact of Roman engineering influences construction in modern times.
Concrete Design in Modern Times
Powdered cement as we know it today first came into the construction industry in 1824, at this point the first concrete mixer had not yet been invented and the paste would be mixed without a machine. After the invention of concrete mixers, large scale projects could be tackled such as the first high rise building which was constructed in 1903 in Cincinnati. The 16 story Ingalls Building was a great engineering feat for the time.
As the development of concrete mixers continued, the first ready-mix concrete delivery took place, this meant that concrete was mixed off site and then delivered. Of course, having a portable concrete mixer on site is far more convenient. Today, the tallest skyscraper stands at 828 metres- the Burj Khalifa is situated in Dubai and was first constructed in 2010.
Concrete patios, driveways and backyards became popular in the 1950s and thus a tool for stamping patterns into the concrete was developed making it possible for homeowners to come up with creative designs. At first, the stamps were made out of wood and eventually were made out of aluminium. Around this time, swimming pools were popular in homes and a kind of concrete that didn’t get too hot and burn bare feet was also developed. A popular pattern to press onto fresh concrete was a brick pattern to give the illusion that the floor was made with brick. Today, stamped concrete is a standard for patios and pavements.
Concrete can be found everywhere in modern design. Poured concrete is used to get a sleek look which has become quite popular in contemporary times. The popular construction material is no longer only being used for industrial developments. Decorative pots and planters for the garden are both functional and beautiful. Concrete ceramic collections are becoming more favoured to achieve a calming aesthetic. It is a plain and subtle choice and is perfect for modern spaces. To achieve smooth cement, it is important to get the ratios of cement and water correct. A concrete mixer will be able to mix a consistent and smooth paste in a time efficient manner. In planning out the right materials, you’ll be able to elevate your design.
The Concrete Mixer And B&S Power
Concrete mixers are a huge part of construction developments and are the reason for the major construction feats in our recent history. The technology is efficient and consistent. The multitude of uses that the machine embodies makes it a necessary tool for contractors and home builders. We have learnt about building from the Ancient Egyptians, the Romans and throughout the Middle East. Our ancestors paved the way for building, and we will continue to complete the finest architecture.
At B&S Power, we aim to provide the best service and highest quality. The portable concrete mixers we stock are reliable and powerful. We are specialists in the construction sector and can help you with all your construction needs!