Concrete is the oldest modern building material that exists. Commercial concrete services pour millions of square feet of concrete every year, and the demand is not slowing down any time soon. According to Concrete Helter, the oldest known human-made concrete mix was written down around 500 BC.

Concrete can last for thousands of years, and it keeps getting harder as it ages. Roman concrete roads are famously still used in Europe today, though many have been superseded by other roads because the originals were never meant for heavy vehicles traveling at higher speeds.

Concrete Was Independently Discovered Multiple Times Around the World

According to World Scientific, around 1300 BC, the Mesopotamians discovered that by adding gravel and hydraulic lime to their clay structures, they could make them last longer. Around the same time, the Greeks were using concrete to build floors in temples and palaces and learned to make lime mortar around 800 BC. But the most influential discoverers of concrete were the Nabateans, traders who developed a small but thriving civilization in Syria around the 4th Century BC. Nabatean concrete was a direct predecessor to the modern form, and when the Romans found them, they were quick to turn to the advantages of this amazing material.

Without Concrete, You Probably Couldn't Travel

The surfaces of modern roads are an asphalt macadam that is more forgiving than concrete. But underneath, which can be seen peeking out at the sides of many roads, commercial concrete services have poured a concrete bed. Concrete, because it's very hard, can take the cycle of the freezing and thawing ground underneath it, while an all-asphalt road would buckle annually.

Airport runways are made entirely of concrete. The massive weight and stress of airplanes taking off and landing quickly would destroy an asphalt or tarmac runway. Concrete's strength and durability are used to their fullest extent on runways. If it can withstand a plane, it can withstand almost anything else!

The foundation of almost every building in a modern country is laid in concrete. Homes to skyscrapers all have concrete foundations dug into the earth to support and spread their weight. Without concrete, our civilization couldn't exist as we know it today. Are you looking for a reliable service that specializes in this ancient wonder? Call Doran Construction today to set up an appointment.