Something that may surprise people is the materials to make concrete. How can something this strong be made out of something eco-friendly? How can one of the most common construction materials be recyclable? The answer is in the mixture.
Concrete is a mixture of gravel, sandstone, and water, none of which are artificial substances. According to the NRMCA, a typical mixture is by volume of about “10 to 15 percent cement, 60 to 75 percent aggregates, and 15 to 20 percent water. Entrained air bubbles in many concrete mixtures may also take up another 5 to 8 percent.”
There are plenty of sealer options out there, but some are much more environmentally friendly than others. Water-based sealers are often considered the most eco-friendly as they are free of many harsh chemicals found in others. Water-based sealers are worker-friendly too! According to the Envirosafe Manufacturing Corp. “no strong fumes mean you don’t have to worry about headaches, nausea or any of the other symptoms that accompany exposure to harmful chemicals.”
We at the Sam the Concrete Man offer sealer for almost every single job we bid. If you purchase a sealer with Sam the Concrete Man, we offer a complimentary 1-year warranty, which is how we can guarantee quality work, no questions asked!
Concrete is often a better option for many projects that are traditionally wooden, especially patios. A common assumption is that wooden projects are mostly eco-friendly because of the materials, but concrete patios have many more advantages.
Materials used in wooden patios are not recyclable, and wooden patios typically do not last as long as concrete. Even worse, wooden patios often require harsh chemicals such as copper azole and arsenic. (Yikes!)
Concrete is the most eco-friendly option – especially when you take good care of it. We recommend regularly cleaning your patios, driveways, and sidewalks to ensure a longer lifespan. We also recommend maintaining a sealer to prevent chemical wear and tear.
This is especially important if you live in an area that regularly snows, as water can seep into your concrete and freeze. The expansion of the freezing water can be harmful to cracked or unsealed concrete. Not only can an eco-friendly sealer increase the lifetime of your patio or driveway to over 30 years, but all materials are recyclable at the end of the concrete’s lifetime.
Sam The Concrete Man wants to do everything possible to be environmentally friendly. We understand that the optimal concrete mix varies by region, so we always have the perfect concrete mixtures to accommodate your environmental conditions. Our concrete has several benefits including being more eco-friendly than wooden projects and longer lifespans. Depending on the concrete project you have in mind, we will also look into the options of recycling the concrete that we demo.
We’re helping make neighborhoods more eco-friendly, one slab of concrete at a time. Together we can help preserve our beautiful planet for generations to come, happy Earth Day!