When choosing building materials, you should consider cost, sustainability, safety, and durability. There’s usually a tradeoff between these. For example, steel is both strong and durable, but it’s very costly and isn’t that necessary for most projects. In contrast, wood is a cheap alternative, but in return, you let go of durability and safety to some extent.

Concrete, however, stands its ground and provides the optimal mix between all these factors. It’s affordable, energy-efficient, safe, low maintenance, and durable. To seal the deal, it can also be used for almost any project you can think of, including countertops, patios, driveways, floors, and the list goes on!

​The reason behind concrete’s popularity in construction today is due to its strength, durability, reflectivity, and versatility. Such unique features make it a robust and long-lasting option for a multitude of settings, whether commercial or residential.

It’s not uncommon to find the terms "cement" and "concrete" being used interchangeably, and the reason is quite simple: cement is an ingredient used to make concrete. Concrete comes about through a mixture of aggregates (usually sand and gravel or crushed stone) and paste (water and Portland cement.)  

Cement forms around 10-15% of the mix, and through the hydration process, the cement and water harden together and bind the aggregates into the rocklike mass of cement. Interestingly, this hardening process continues taking place for years, which is why concrete gets stronger as it ages.