What Concrete Is

Concrete, in the sense in which we are to consider it, is an artificial stone made by combining Portland cement, sand and pebbles (or broken stone) and water, and allowing the mixture to remain undisturbed until it has thoroughly hardened. This definition makes clear that concrete is a manufactured product, and being a manufactured product its quality is almost entirely in the hands of the manufacturer; that is, concrete will represent the skill or care used in selecting, combining, and using the materials of which it is made.

Ornamental fence and flower vase all of concrete, in which selected aggregates were used and the surface of the work rubbed down so as to expose these aggregates and give color to the surface.

Concrete A Universal Building Material

Today concrete enters in some way into practically every class of building construction, while there are more buildings now built of concrete throughout than ever before. Concrete possesses some wonderful possibilities. It is not in any sense a substitute building material; things can be done with concrete or things built of it that are not possible with some of the older and once more common building materials, while practically everything can be done with concrete that any of the older building materials will permit.

To build right with any material, one must have a knowledge of its properties and possibilities. In the case of a manufactured building material, such as concrete, this means one must be familiar with the various materials of which it is composed, and knowledge applied to select and use these materials so that the finished product-concrete-will be what is desired, and perform the purpose intended.

Concrete lawn bench made in imitation of granite by using white Portland cement and selected granite chips, then rubbing the whole down with carborundum stone after forms were removed.