The Popularity of Concrete in the Construction Industry

Concrete is and has been one of the most used construction materials throughout the whole of the world for many years now and is thought to be one of the most versatile building materials on the planet. Concrete is made up on gravel, aggregate, sand and water and can be tracked as far back as the Egyptians and Romans.

Concrete is functional, easy to use, aesthetically pleasing and can be used in a wide variety of different situations. Concrete can be used for new builds, foundations, to imitate traditional stone, and much more. Concrete has the ability to be casted into shapes and can be made into different colours, meaning it can be used to create many different items for homes and businesses. It is also one of the safest building materials available and is extremely energy efficient in production, which sets it apart from many other building materials that use up huge amounts of energy in production and, as such, aren’t as good for the environment.

Strength and Reliability

One of the main reasons concrete is so popular is due to its strength and reliability. It is one of the only building materials that actually becomes stronger over time. This means there’s very little requirement for maintenance or reconstruction and it can last for many, many years. It also has double the lifespan of other materials such as plastic, wood and brick. This makes it cost effective and, as it is widely available, it is easy to get hold of and use in construction in large quantities. Concrete also has the lowest carbon footprint for a structure or pavement throughout its lifecycle. Concrete is also 100{24e63ced847ff6512c96463d7b5bacb145b038e5e2e2dec2ab6d3db66efd2c3f} recyclable and is made from materials that are abundant on our planet, meaning it has far less of an impact on the environment than other materials.

Benefits of Concrete in Construction

Concrete has been around in construction for hundreds of years and the concrete industry is continually growing. Concrete makes buildings more efficient as it allows for heat absorption and retention. It is cheaper to use than many other construction materials and is easier to maintain in the future too, meaning less ongoing maintenance for building owners. Concrete is also fire resistant and has extremely high temperature resistance, meaning it is safer than many other materials which aren’t as fire resistant. It’s also stronger than many other materials against natural disasters, is rot-resistant and has better protection against the weather than many other construction and building materials.

If you’re a construction company working with concrete, PIC Construction Ltd are here to help. We have a range of plant machinery that you can use to support your project including crushers, excavators, rollers and much more. We have more than 35 years of experience and are a family run company. 

The Importance of Groundworks to Construction

When it comes to construction, before construction can even begin on any site, full groundworks services must be carried out. It is crucial that every structure or building has sturdy groundwork beneath it as the entire weight of the building or structure will rely on its foundation. This means groundwork is absolutely crucial to the success of any construction project.

Strong and Stable Foundations

Groundworks includes ground investigation, site clearance, substructure, ground stabilisation, landscaping, terrain, foundations and underpinning. Foundations support the load of a building or structure and ensure that it is secured against winds and floods and also serve to prevent moisture from getting into the structure of the building. Foundations have to be well organised and require accurate positioning. As the success of the whole building relies on strong, sturdy foundations, you should always use a professional company for this. Professionals know how to determine the right depth for ensuring the building or structure has a stable foundation.

If the foundations that are put in place are incorrect or aren’t strong enough to support the weight of the building that sits atop the foundations, this can cause major problems and will be incredibly dangerous. If the foundation is not sufficient then the building could be at risk of collapse causing serious injury or even death to those using the building and those in the surrounding areas.

The Provision of Services

Another important part of groundworks is the provision of services, as these are added at the foundation stage to ensure that as well as a solid footing and stable foundation, the building also has access to gas, electricity, drainage, sewerage, water and more. Without this work, buildings won’t have access to the services they require and, without them, they’ll be useless. Professional groundworks companies like ours will be able to join these services up and ensure your site has them. For difficult sites, this may mean specialist tunnelling or shaft sinking solutions to enable service ducts and cables to be installed. Some existing services, such as electricity and water may also require to be altered in order to be joined up to the site too.

Groundworks companies like ours who carry out all of the necessary work required before construction begin are incredibly important. They allow construction companies to begin their work knowing that all of the necessary groundworks have been completed and foundations have been created that are sufficient to the building or structure they’re creating.

At PIC Construction Ltd, we have been carrying out groundworks for more than 35 years for commercial and domestic customers throughout Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire. We have all of the experience and knowledge required to carry groundworks out to the highest of standards and the very best of our ability.

What are Groundworks?

At PIC Construction Ltd, we are a family run business based in Worcestershire with more than 35 years of experience in groundworks, contract maintenance and plant hire. Let’s explore groundworks further and what it means and entails. Groundworks refers to any work that is done in order to prepare sub-surfaces before construction work can begin on a site. As well as any demolition or site enabling work that may be required, groundworks are normally the very first stage of a construction project. Groundworks includes ground investigation, site clearance, substructure works, ground stabilisation works, site services and any landscaping that may be required too.

Ground Investigation, Site Clearance and Substructure and Ground Stabilisation

All construction projects will require ground investigation before any work can begin. This usually covers finding out all previous uses of the land, the stability of the land and any potential problems there may be with the land too. This investigation work allows data to be collected and used for building or structure design, as well as identifying any problems with the land (such as contamination, abandoned mine working etc) to be identified.

Once ground investigation has been carried out, site clearance can then be done. This means the clearance of any debris, old structures, and the removal of the topsoil from the footprint of the building or structure. If the site is sloping, the ground may need to be levelled and, in some cases, retaining walls may need to be constructed in order to create level development platforms.

Then, substructure and ground stabilisation will require to be carried out. This may include using retaining walls, steel sheet piles, soil nails, ground anchors, geosynthetic materials or other methods.

Services and Landscaping

Every site requires services, and this comes under the umbrella of groundworks. Site services may include drainage (temporary or permanent) and other utilities connections, such as sewage, electricity, water and gas. For some complex sites, this may involve specialist tunnelling or shaft sinking solutions to enable service ducts and cables to be installed. Some existing services, such as electricity and water may also require to be altered in order to suit the site itself.

Landscaping is the last part of groundworks to be carried out before construction work begins. This may involve earthworks to remodel the site and any hard landscaping, such as surfacing of roads and car parks.

At PIC Construction, we have been carrying out these types of groundworks services for commercial and domestic customers, including many local authorities, since our business was first established more than 35 years ago. Our friendly team are reliable, professional and have many years of experience. We are dedicated to providing the very best customer service possible and the highest level of finish when it comes to groundworks.