In This Post:
Types of Concrete & Steel
Concrete Vs. Steel: Safety
Concrete Vs. Steel: Cost
Choosing the right materials for a construction project can be a tricky thing, especially if you are unaware of their uses and features. In Pakistan, there are many popular building materials that are commonly used in the construction industry.
The two of the most common construction materials among them are concrete and steel. Both of them offer numerous benefits. As per the modern engineering practices, they can be easily manipulated to become lighter or more flexible, depending on the construction requirements.
So, if you are also about to undertake a construction project and don’t know which one of these materials is better for you, then we’re here to help. In this post, we are going to bring you a comparative analysis of concrete vs. steel, shedding light on some of the noteworthy features of both concrete and steel as building materials.
Let’s get started with our debate!
Concrete Vs. Steel: Discovering Their Features and Uses
In our debate, we’ll compare both of these popular construction materials in Pakistan from various aspects, taking a close look at their benefits and drawbacks. To begin with our debate, let’s learn more about the different types of concrete and steel.
Types of Concrete and Steel
First of all, we’ll talk about some of the most popular types of concrete and their uses. Known as one of the most useful building materials in Pakistan, Concrete is not used for building different types of structures. It is mostly because of formadiblity and longevity as a construction material. Concrete is a mixture of cement, water and different types of rocks.
Types of Concrete in Pakistan
Using the latest techniques, concrete is modified into various forms. Here we’ll take a brief look at some of the most popular types of concretes and their uses.
Plain Cement Concrete: It is one of the simplest forms of concrete. It is an important component used in laying a building’s foundation. It is used for leveling or bedding purposes in the form of slabs.
Reinforced Cement Concrete: With low ductility and tensile strength, this type of concrete is reinforced with rebars. This combination helps in making the structure super strong. This is why it is commonly used in bridges and expressways.
Ready-Mix Concrete: This type of concrete can be easily transported to any construction site. It is mixed on the move in special types of trucks and lorries equipped with concrete pumps and mixtures. Ready-mix concrete can also be used in the construction of roads and buildings.
Some other types of concrete include Prestressed Concrete, Fibre Reinforced Concrete, Lime Concrete, Sulphur Infiltrated Concrete, High Early Strength Concrete, Polymer Concrete, and Waterproof Concrete. All of them have unique characteristics and chemical combinations. This is why concrete has a wide range of applications in the field of construction.
Types of Steel
Moving on to the next part of this section of our blog, we’ll discuss different types of steel. It is one of the most useful metals used in the construction industry. Steel is also among the most popular building materials in Pakistan It is mostly used in structural frameworks of buildings including pillars, beams and roof constructions.
By changing the chemical composition of this metal, they are classified into different types in the construction industry. We’ll now discuss the most common and popular types of steels used as construction materials in Pakistan.
Plain Carbon Steel: As the name suggests, plain carbon steel includes a small amount of carbon in its chemical composition. This is the most common type of steel used in building and structural constructions. It is also called mild steel.
Rebar Steel: It is more commonly known as reinforcing steel. Combined with reinforced concrete, it gives the much needed strength and durability to the structure. This type of steel is also used as a tension device for different types of reinforced masonry structures.
Structural Steel: Forming the exteriors of different types of structures, structural steel has unique chemical composition and incredible mechanical properties. This makes it strong, durable, and ductile. Moreover, it is a construction material that can be easily morphed into different shapes.
Now that we have learned about different types of concrete and steel, we’ll now compare safety features of both of these building materials.
Concrete Vs. Steel: Safety Features
Steel and concrete are the two of those building materials in Pakistan that are famous in the construction industry for their durability and flexibility. Both of these are safety features and make them highly recommendable for different types of construction. According to the order of our post, let’s learn about some unique safety features of concrete first.
Safety Features of Concrete
Concrete is a construction material in Pakistan that is known for its strength, durability and resistance to heat and radiation. Owing to these qualities, it performs well and keeps the structure from falling to some extent during natural and manmade disasters.
One of the key safety features of steel is that it doesn’t require any additional fireproofing treatments. As discussed, concrete that is reinforced with steel can withstand heavy amounts of forces and weights, which is why they are widely used in tall structures and bridges. Reinforced concrete has the capability to resist winds up to 200 miles per hour. This shows how durable and sturdy reinforced concrete can be.
Safety Features of Steel
Steel is best known for its effectiveness in terms of design and strength. In the light of modern engineering trends, structural steel is high in demand. As discussed, it is used for building exteriors. Structural steel combined with glass surfaces give a building the much needed ultramodern look. It is also lightweight, durable and flexible, giving the right amount of strength to the structure.
Steel is usually among the top choices for builders erecting a structure in seismic zones. In such a case, strength and ductility of steel is combined with the latest engineering practices and solid design. When used as reinforcing material, steel protects the foundations and pillars of the structure from moisture and rust.
Cost of Steel and Concrete
Here are the latest rates for steel and concrete in Pakistan. Have a look:
Cost of Concrete in Pakistan
Concrete is easily available in Pakistan in the form of blocks. So, to get an idea about its cost, we need to take a look at the price of a concrete block in Pakistan. They are usually sold and used in bulks. For instance, if the price of 1 concrete block is PKR 50, then 500 would cost PKR 25,000. These are the latest rates of concrete in Pakistan
Cost of Steel in Pakistan
One of the most common types of steels among construction materials in Pakistan is rebar steel. As per construction practices, reinforcing steel rebars are also sold and used in very large quantities, mostly tonnes in weight. So, the current rate of steel rebar in Pakistan is PKR 115,000 per tonne (PKR 115 per kg)
This brings us to the end of our blog post on concrete vs steel. We hope all of the aforementioned information will help you pick the right material for your upcoming construction project. For queries and feedback, feel free to contact us at blog@zameen.com.
On a side note, you may like reading about tips for reducing construction costs and different types of beams used in construction and their features.
For more informative pieces related to the construction industry in Pakistan, keep reading Zameen Blogs. Don’t forget to subscribe to our e-newsletter, if you want to receive all our latest updates.
