A lot of you will be familiar with reinforced concrete as a building material, but may not be aware of the finer details. Commercial concrete is often a good solution for building work, we will be discovering a bit more about why this is the case, and the best ways to go about using the material for your building projects.

Everything You Need to Know About Reinforced Concrete

Commercial Concrete

This is concrete used as part of a building project, often used to create or enhance business facilities, industrial buildings, warehouses and retail stores. In an average building, you will find commercial concrete in plenty of spaces, such as the walls, floors and even some architectural details. A large majority of commercial buildings would have been put together with heavy use of commercial concrete. Like domestic concrete it has many benefits when used on a building site, durability being one of the most obvious.

Domestic Concrete

Domestic, or residential concrete usually has less demand placed on it in terms of structural performance and durability, but in itself, it is still considered a durable building material. Domestic concrete floors and pavements usually require a lower strength mix design and lighter reinforcement than commercial concrete.

Concrete Pumps

The purpose of a concrete pump is to have a tool that can convey liquid concrete. This works by having one piston drawing liquid concrete into a cylinder from a hopper while the other piston simultaneously pushes concrete out into discharge pipes. There will be a valve which can determine the cylinder that is open to the concrete hopper and the one which is open to the discharge pipes, which gets switched over each time the pistons reach an endpoint, with the process continuing with the first cylinder now discharging and the second drawing fresh concrete from the hopper.

Concrete Services

If you need to deal with reinforced concrete there are a couple of things that are crucial to consider. You need to make sure that if you are laying the material yourself you know what you are doing with it. You must also make sure that the concrete is of a high-quality standard. You must have the facilities to mix it correctly as well as an appropriate skill/strength level to physically handle it/the required machinery.

Alternatively, you may need to use the services of a professional concrete company, like Base Concrete, to prepare and lay the concrete and get your building project completed. Commercial concrete can be a great asset to all sorts of projects and can be purchased with some very good deals, just make sure you are only ever involved in using the services of professional and trusted companies. It is almost a guarantee that your area will have quite a lot of concrete services operating in your area where you can purchase your desired amounts of commercial concrete or have a service bring around the material and lay it on your behalf.

So, for all your concrete needs, contact Base Concrete today on 01442 389105. For more details, visit our contact page.

The post What is Reinforced Concrete? first appeared on Base Concrete.

You may just see concrete as a flooring option that is a pretty standard arrangement, one that places tend to opt for if they can’t think of a better choice. But some noteworthy reasons make concrete a great choice for flooring, it can elevate a stepping space to the next level… Let us take a look at 6 great benefits of concrete flooring and how it can transform the look of your property.

Strength 

If you know anything about the strengths of concrete, you will know that it’s a very durable mixture indeed. We’re talking about a material that can withstand very high volumes of weight, with strong pressure presenting no issues whatsoever. Heavy equipment and vehicles would not be enough to make a dent on a concrete floor. So a concrete floor can easily take all the foot traffic and moving of furniture that the average household is likely to take part in regularly without any issues!

Long-lasting

This durability means that the concrete will hold up and last for years to come. Especially if the concrete flooring is well looked after and sealed, you can expect it to last for a very long period before it becomes anywhere near being worn down. And even when the texture and colour begin to change with age, a long way down the line, that adds a bit of ‘character’ to the style of the flooring and is not a practical issue unless it actually becomes damaged in any respects.

Plenty of design options

Concrete does seem to be stereotyped as a boring flooring type, but that is quite unfair. Designers have come up with a wide range of options, with absolutely loads of different colour and textual effects to choose from. And don’t forget you can stain or paint the surface of concrete for your desired effects and also opt for other specialities such as polished concretes.

Reasonable 

If you’re cost-conscious, whether you’re looking to purchase domestic concrete or require flooring for office space, it remains one of the more economical options available. The clever aspect is that you can choose a faux floor pattern that resembles the style of a much more expensive flooring type for a fraction of the cost.

Easy to Maintain

Another big benefit of concrete is that it’s very easy to maintain. As mentioned, it will keep even better with a seal of some kind, a protective sealant that should be reapplied every 3-9 months on average. Regular sweeping and mopping will help keep the concrete looking fresh and new, but other than that, not much maintenance is required. Polishing your concrete is also a great way to keep it looking its best.

Good for Indoor and Outdoor

A final benefit of concrete flooring is it’s a reliable choice for both indoors and outdoors, so you can have it set up in your home or garden area.

You should enjoy selecting a great looking concrete flooring style, but there is also an alternative option. Consider hiring a mini concrete mixer which for a very small daily fee can produce your required amounts of concrete from the comfort of your garden! This can work out to be a very affordable way of getting the job done! So, for all your concrete needs, contact Base Concrete today on 01442 389105. For more details, visit our contact page.

The post Why Concrete is a Great Choice for Floors first appeared on Base Concrete.

Lots of people fear using concrete. If it goes wrong, it can be difficult to fix, but for smaller domestic jobs it’s actually a lot easier than many people think. With this guide, we’ll go over the different ways to mix concrete so you can decide what’s best for you when attempting your DIY project.

Concrete Proportions

Concrete has 3 main ingredients. Cement, aggregate, and sand. These ingredients are mixed with water, which when dried out, binds into a solid, very hard material. Depending on what you’re using the concrete for, these can be mixed in different proportions to give you different finishes and strengths.

It’s very important to get these proportions correct. With too much sand, your concrete won’t be hard enough to withstand the test of time. However, too much aggregate and you’ll be rushing to find a way to cover it up and pretend that it isn’t there.

Mixing Methods

In a domestic setting, there are several different approaches you can take to mix your concrete. If you’re happy giving the different proportions a go, you can either do this by hand or by using a mixer. For small scale jobs, mixing by hand can be ideal as it’s easy to keep track of the consistency and see how it’s going. This can often be a good thing to do as a practice if this is your first time. For larger jobs, a concrete mixer can save you hours of time and strength mixing larger amounts of concrete together.

When it comes to domestic concrete, it’s often overlooked that there are some other options also available to you, especially for slightly larger jobs such as concrete bases for sheds, summerhouses and other garden accessories. The main differences between domestic and commercial worksites are space. Often with a commercial worksite, the work will be planned to make these processes as efficient as possible, allowing the concrete mixers to reverse right up to where they’re going. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t utilise similar methods.

Types of Concrete Mixers

There are two main different types of concrete mixer. There are ordinary concrete mixers and also volumetric concrete mixers and both of these have different uses. You’ll likely have seen ordinary concrete mixers or mini mixers driving around quite frequently. These have the advantage of being able to transport one of many different mixes of concrete. Extra ingredients can be added to the concrete at the factory in order to provide different properties such as waterproofing or extra fibres for additional strength. However, this isn’t often needed when it comes to domestic concrete.

The other type of concrete mixer is a volumetric concrete mixer. These are ideal for domestic concrete as you don’t need to worry about having too little or too much. ‘Mix as you go’ concrete mixers contain the raw ingredients needed and as you pour out the concrete will mix it straight away. They also have the added advantage over traditional concrete mixers of being able to supply multiple different mixes of concrete to the same job without having to pay the additional cost of bringing in a second load.

Concrete mixers and volumetric concrete mixers are also a great choice for people taking on DIY projects that don’t want to take the risk of getting the mix wrong. All you’ve got to worry about is where it goes with the extra guarantee of knowing that it will stand the test of time. Thank you for reading this blog post. Should you have any enquiries, feel free to call us on 07812 182778 or visit our contact page for more information.

The post How to Mix Concrete by Hand or in a Mixer first appeared on Base Concrete.

What’s The Difference? 

Concrete is, without a doubt, one of the most common construction materials. This is because it can be used for a wide variety of projects. It is essentially a blend of water, Portland cement, and aggregates. The two basic types of concrete used in the construction industry are site-mixed concrete and ready-mix concrete. 

There are slight differences between these two types of concrete. It is important to be aware of the differences, even if they seem subtle to you, as doing so can make it easier to choose the right concrete for your project. Here are the major differences between site-mixed and ready-mix concrete:

Preparation 

One of the obvious differences between these two types of concrete is the way they are mixed. Ready-mix concrete is usually manufactured at a plant and delivered to the clients in a ready-to-use state. It’s typically sold by volume, which is measured in cubic meters. 

Site-mixed concrete, on the other hand, is prepared at the client’s construction location. The components are mixed in specific ratios to achieve different degrees of strength. When making this type of concrete, caution must be taken to avoid quality issues. 

Time

If you are working on a time-conscious project, it’s obvious that speed is important. In such a case, you should choose ready-mix concrete, as it’s easier to load and off-load, which may save you time.

Volumetric concrete is more time consuming to work with, as you have to pause part of the project while the mix is being created. 

Equipment

An important factor for any construction project is your equipment and where you can source what you need. Volumetric concrete requires the use of equipment such as batch mixers. Whereas, ready-mix concrete does not require the project owner to hire equipment, as the concrete is not made on-site.

Convenience

Ready-mix concrete is convenient for almost any kind of construction project, as it can be delivered to multiple sites within the project location. However, volumetric concrete has to be mixed as close as possible to the point of use to avoid contamination. 

Another major difference between ready-mix concrete and volumetric concrete is storage requirements. You will require controlled storage space for the materials used to make volumetric concrete. However, when using ready-mix concrete you won’t need any extra storage space. 

Quality

Ready-mix concrete has a better and more consistent quality when compared to site-mixed concrete. This is because ready-mix concrete is mixed in an automated and controlled environment. 

Material takeoff

The materials used to make site-mixed concrete have to be estimated individually and purchased separately. However, ready-mix concrete is simply calculated as a single item. 

Waste 

Working with site-mixed concrete causes material loss not only when the materials are being mixed but also during storage. Whereas, ready-mix concrete causes minimal waste on your site because the concrete is delivered in a ready-to-use state. 

Workforce

When working with ready-mix concrete, the only time you may require skilled labour is when pouring and compacting the concrete. However, you will require more man-hours when working with volumetric concrete.

In summary,  

Both types of concrete have some major differences. It is important to research which type of concrete is best for your construction project. Generally, ready-mix concrete is a better option as it can be used for a wider variety of projects.

if you have any questions make sure to contact us.

The post Volumetric or Ready Mix first appeared on Base Concrete.

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Depurating Landscape: an introduction to plants as a water treatment alternative

This article is a collaboration between Degré47 and Critical Concrete, aiming to be an introduction to phyto purification’s general concepts for self-constructors. It also aims to shed light on these systems as low-cost, low-tech and self-constructible wastewater treatment solutions.

The wastewater issue

It isn’t new to argue that the disorganized and centralized population growth in urban areas has brought challenges to the natural environment. In addition to CO₂ emissions, waste production and impermeabilization of soil, wastewater is one of the fundamental issues local governments need to address. At the very least, the wastewater from human activities of any sort needs to be treated to be assimilated by nature.

There are many water treatment solutions, from the collective to the individual scale. One of the most common sanitation solutions in urban centres is a collective one: wastewater treatment plants. These centres manage the wastewater through physical, chemical and biological processes in a complex and highly specialized infrastructure. [1]

After the physical filtration through decantation, flotation, filters and/or membranes, traditional treatments commonly make use of chemical products, notably coagulants (ferric chloride, aluminium sulphate, etc.), flocculants, and sometimes disinfectants such as chlorine or ozone. These processes, however, are arguably costly and energy-intensive, not to mention polluting. They also necessarily generate by-products such as coarse waste, sand and sludge that must be cleaned, decanted, stabilised and treated. [2]

In addition, in the ever-growing urban centres, many areas aren’t able to access the public sewage system, bringing up the importance to think of alternatives for wastewater treatment, especially low-cost and low-maintenance ones, as the mismanagement of effluents can pose a serious issue to natural hydric resources. [3]

Individual or small-scale collective sanitation solutions might be a good way to tackle the situation. A solution that stands out is the phyto-purification system with its low energy and low maintenance (as there’s no need for emptying and transporting). It is already the main sanitation system in France for cities of less than 1,000 inhabitants. [4]

This system, which is based on the use of plants (phyto) to filter the wastewater has been proving to be a low-cost yet highly efficient way to treat domestic wastewater. Because it is energetically and logistically autonomous, phyto-purification can be considered an ecological sanitation solution.

Purification with plants

Phyto-purification consists of wastewater purification systems that make use of aquatic plants, reproducing water depuration processes typical of humid areas. There are two main methods of phyto purification: lagooning, which consists of ponds with microphytes, similar to natural wetlands, and the filters planted that make use of macrophytes and consist of ponds filled with aggregates in which the water circulates for treatment. [5]

In these systems, the plants are responsible for bringing oxygen through their roots whereas the aggregates act not only as a physical filter — as bigger particles can’t penetrate it — but also as a chemical filter as they absorb phosphorus and ammoniacal nitrogen. In these basins, an important biological process also occurs: the microfauna present in the system degrades organic matter, turning it into nutrients to be absorbed by the plants. [6]

The interesting aspect is that, although the name might indicate, the wastewater is not filtered by the plants. In reality, the plants are the key element to create the environment for bacterial activity, especially in the region around the plants’ roots. The plants greatly benefit from the system as it absorbs nutrients that are liberated in the process of depuration. It’s a symbiotic relationship.

The different methods

There are two groups of phyto purification systems that can be used according to different needs and types of wastewater: lagooning and filters planted. [7]

Lagooning

This system makes use of microphytes (small aquatic plants), microorganisms and (sometimes) substrate to control water pollution. Its main characteristic is the resemblance with natural wetland areas in which the majority of elements are saturated, i.e submerged in water. [8]

In this model, the main purification process occurs on the aquatic surface where the plants and the bacteria present in their roots are located.  In this solution, the effluent is continuously supplied and homogeneously distributed on the surface, flowing horizontally and superficially at low scooping velocity. The water is then collected by a drainage pipe located in the basin’s bottom. [9]

It is important to stress that in this solution, the substrate is not a requirement, and when not applied, fluctuant aquatic species should be used (see image 1). [10]

fig. 1: Different types of plants

Because there’s no emphasis on physical filtration with a substrate, this solution requires a previous treatment focused on the removal of organic matter and suspended solids as it mainly targets the removal of nutrients, especially phosphorus by the plants and bacteria. [11] The use of a substrate, however, can be beneficial if residual suspended solids end up in the basin.

This is a cheap and very low maintenance option, however, it generally requires a larger area than other methods.

fig. 2: surface flow filter with substrate and emergent plants

Filters planted

In this model, the system works through percolation, meaning the wastewater infiltrates the substrate in the process of purification. Here the substrate can be saturated or not. [12]

In this system, the water flows under the surface of the planted bed, through the pores of the substrate. There are two subsurface models: the horizontal flow filter and the vertical flow filter.

In the horizontal model, the flow can be operated in a continuous input, intermittent or even in batch mode whereas the vertical flow model requires intermittent dumping of water in short periods, followed by long resting intervals.

fig. 3: subsurface horizontal flow filter

The long periods between inflow in the vertical flow basin results in a high rate of oxygen transfer from the atmosphere to the system. In aerobic conditions the nitrification can occur, potentiating the nitrogen. In the horizontal flow basin, the poor levels of oxygen favor the occurrence of denitrification by anaerobic bacteria. [13]

fig. 4: subsurface vertical flow filter

In some cases, both flows can be combined to enhance the system’s performance. That’s the case of the double planted filter method applied by Kevin Quentric and documented and published as a tutorial by low-tech lab. [14]

It consists of two different units with a vertical and a horizontal water flow that perform complementary tasks in the process of depurating the wastewater.

fig. 5: section of double filter planted

The first phase of this system is a 60-80 cm² deep vertical filter (VF) which is divided into two parts and each part takes turns receiving the raw sewage (wastewater without previous treatment) from above (see fig. 6). The wastewater spreads on the surface of the first filter and has its solid particles such as hair, fat, faeces, etc, drying and decomposing on the surface whereas the water infiltrates downwards until it reaches the gravel layer. It might sound like the perfect recipe for a smelly garden but, as Kévin explained in emails to us, in a nutshell, bad smells occur in warm, low oxygen environments, when the water stagnates and fermentation takes place. In this double filter planted, however, the vertical filter is in open air, meaning it’s fairly oxygenated. The coarse material retained on the surface of the sand dries out and compost whereas the wastewater quickly infiltrates, without time to ferment. For this, the occurrence of smells is rather rare.

After the percolation, the water then is collected by a drain in the bottom of the VF. This phase of the process is aerobic: the bacteria present in it require oxygen to mineralize the organic particles making the compounds absorbable by the plants.

fig. 6: plan of double filter planted

The second part of the system, the horizontal filter (HF) is 60cm deep, filled with gravel and water 10 cm below the substrate. The second filter is then a poorly oxygenated environment, in which anaerobic bacteria live. These bacteria perform the important task of denitrifying the water by extracting the oxygen from the nitrate molecules, turning them into dinitrogen.

Another interesting aspect is that this system is energetically autonomous. For that, it relies on gravity: each stage into the water purification is lower than the previous one so the water can flow without the use of pumps.

The step-by-step for this method can be found on the low-tech lab site. [15]

Pretreatment

In the double planted filter by Kevin Quentric there’s no need for primary treatment and the raw sewage can be discharged directly on the first filter. In some models, however, pretreatment is required before the wastewater discharge for removal of coarse particles and settleable solids in order to prolong the useful life of the systems, minimising the occurrence of clogging.

The specific type of pretreatment depends on the type of sewage and on the chosen method of phyto purification. Some of the primary treatment methods are:

Screening: This is typically the first step, especially for surface flow filters. Screens are used to remove large debris. [16]Oil removal by decantation: The method is based on injecting fine air bubbles into the grease tank, allowing the grease to rise quickly to the surface (grease is hydrophobic). [17]Sedimentation: Water is typically retained in sedimentation basins for at least 4 hours, allowing particles to settle out. [18]

Domestic phyto-purification

The management of wastewater is of extreme responsibility but depending on which system is chosen and the knowledge of the builders, self-construction is an accessible and plausible option. In addition, professionals in the field can provide help for those seeking to build their own phyto-purification system at home.

When planning a phyto-purification system, some things must be taken into consideration, such as sizing, site and botanical species.

Choosing a site

Ideally, the system should be located as close as possible to the sewage outlet. Remember to make sure the system works with gravity by building it on a slope or working with built and excavated basins. Earthwork is also an option but it might significantly increase the costs of the construction. In the elected site for construction, the soil should be sufficiently compacted to minimise groundwater infiltration and should be above the water table and floodplains.

Another aspect to have in mind is that phyto purification requires space. The site of construction should be of sufficient size to meet current and possible future expansions. Also, insects (especially on surface flow models) and, very rarely, odours can pose discomfort. Therefore, make sure the system is not too close to your and/or the neighbour’s house.

Lastly, the site should be very accessible to construction and maintenance machines and vehicles. [19]

Sizing

The dimensions of the system should be calculated by maximum capacity and a good way to do so is using the value of “inhabitant equivalent”, which relates to the house’s number of rooms and not to the number of inhabitants. In this model, each room of the house = inhabitant equivalent (2 to 4m²). [20]

Plants

To choose what species should be used, a few criteria need to be taken into consideration such as main pollutants to be removed; climatic conditions and local availability of species. They can be emergent, fluctuant or submerged species (see fig. 01). [21]

In Europe, the common reed (Phragmites communis) is one of the main wetland plant species used for water treatment, especially on subsurface flow filters. Some examples are Caltha palustris,Veronica beccabunga and the Typha latifolia.

fig. 7: Phragmites communis, Caltha palustris,Veronica beccabunga and Typha latifolia, respectively.

When the water goes through a pretreatment basin, the plants in the filter basin can be less resistant. Some examples are the Sparganium erectum, Alisma plantago and Iris pseudacorus. [22] Before mixing different species in the same basin, research about possible interactions between the species and if there is competition between them.

fig. 8: Sparganium erectum,Baldellia ranunculoides and Iris pseudacorus, respectively.

It’s advisable to transplant seedlings of plants that have been removed from a nearby location, which are naturally more adapted to the local climate and to do so in the rainy season, in order to minimise conditions of hydric stress for the plants. Plant the botanical species between 20 to 30 days before starting the purification system so there’s time for biological adaptation of the plants to the new environment.

Considering phyto purification

Phyto purification systems are economically efficient solutions. It is estimated that however the initial cost can be elevated (6.500 euros on the hybrid solution by Kevin Quendric, for example), these water treatment systems pay for themselves in about fifteen years time as they do not require electric energy nor maintenance by a qualified workforce.

Unlike conventional purification systems, phyto purification can support insects, birds, amphibians, contributing to the local biodiversity. The lack of chemicals makes the system an environmentally-friendly option available for water treatment.

In addition to environmental and economic upsides, planted filters can be a beautiful landscape project as it has an undeniable aesthetic value. A symbiotic relationship can emerge. The wastewater produced every day by humans is rich in nutrients valuable for certain plants of every shape and colour.

[1] Dias, Richardsson Mendes. (2019) Eficiência da Fitodepuração como Alternativa de Tratamento de Águas Residuárias: Um Estudo de Caso. Teresina:  IFPI

[2]https://www.build-green.fr/phytoepuration-creer-un-filtre-plante/doing_wp_cron=1617567011.8170158863067626953125, accessed 4 April, 2021.

[3] Ibidem

[4] https://wiki.lowtechlab.org/wiki/Phyto%C3%A9puration_eaux_us%C3%A9es, accessed 5 April, 2021.

[5] https://www.lenntech.com/phytodepuration.htm, accessed 5 April, 2021.

[6] http://www.graia.eu/en/our-activities/phytodepuration-and-lagooning/, accessed 5 April, 2021.

[7]https://www.build-green.fr/phytoepuration-creer-un-filtre-plante/?doing_wp_cron=161756 7011.8170158863067626953125, accessed 6 April, 2021.

[8] Ibidem

[9]https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326352770_Manual_de_sistemas_de_Wetlands_construidas_para_o_tratamento_de_esgotos_sanitario_implantacao_operacao_e_manutencao, accessed 6 April, 2021.

[10] Ibidem

[11] Ibidem

[12]https://www.build-green.fr/phytoepuration-creer-un-filtre-plante/?doing_wp_cron=1617567011.8170158863067626953125 , accessed 8 April, 2021.

[13]https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326352770_Manual_de_sistemas_de_Wetlands_construidas_para_o_tratamento_de_esgotos_sanitario_implantacao_operacao_e_manutencao, accessed 8 April, 2021.

[14] https://wiki.lowtechlab.org/wiki/Phyto%C3%A9puration_eaux_us%C3%A9es, accessed 8 April, 2021.

[15] Ibidem

[16]https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/water-purification-plant, accessed 9 April, 2021.

[17]https://www.build-green.fr/phytoepuration-creer-un-filtre-plante/?doing_wp_cron=1617567011.8170158863067626953125, accessed 9 April, 2021.

[18] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/water-purification-plant, , accessed 11 April, 2021.

[19https://wiki.lowtechlab.org/wiki/Phyto%C3%A9puration_eaux_us%C3%A9es, accessed 11 April, 2021.

[20] Ibidem

[21] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326352770_Manual_de_sistemas_de_Wetlands_construidas_para_o_tratamento_de_esgotos_sanitario_implantacao_operacao_e_manutencao, accessed 11 April, 2021.

The post Phytodepuration with Degre.47 first appeared on Critical Concrete.
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