Versatile, that’s what any contractor worth his salt would think when asked to describe concrete. Not only has concrete stood the test of time, but it continually evolves to keep up with times to boot. 

Think about it; on the one hand, you have concrete floors for driveways, a classic. On the other, you have futuristic highways built with light-emitting concrete! If that doesn’t speak volumes about concrete’s flexibility as a construction material, we don’t know what will. 

Suffice to say, you can’t go wrong with concrete, whether you need it for commercial or residential purposes. Nashville Concrete Contractors sum it up perfectly when describing the material as enduring, aesthetic, and affordable!

That said, you don’t need to take our word for it. Let the freshest and most fascinating concrete trends in the commercial and residential construction industries change your mind!

10 Buzzworthy Concrete Industry Trends For Construction Projects

The many divisions of the construction industry have seen their fair share of trends come and go. So has the division of concrete technology and usage, as any concrete contractor will inform you. Thanks to industry trends, concrete is more eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and low maintenance than ever before!

Here’s a look at ten concrete trends among commercial job site and residential projects that are all the rage right now!

1. Insulated Concrete Form Walls (ICFs)

Insulated concrete form walls, abbreviated as ICFs, are becoming a favorite among a growing number of residential owners. What’s more, several builders are turning towards these ICFs as well!

The question is, why wouldn’t they? ICFs make the building process a lot more efficient and quick. Not to mention, they enhance the structure’s durability and safety to boot!

Dual-sided expanded polystyrene units are the main component required for the construction of ICFs. High-density polypropylene webbing plays a key role in holding these units together to create the structures.

However, that’s not all! The wall’s construction is further reinforced with steel and filled with high-grade concrete to form a solid structure.

With ICFs, your structure becomes much more energy-efficient. In fact, these walls save you around 20% more energy than a wood-framed house! Not to mention, they are a lot more resistant to damage. ICFs can not only withstand fire but even flying debris from hurricanes and tornadoes!

If that’s not enough, ICF construction is low maintenance, healthy, quiet, and far more durable than traditional building practices. 

Completed ICF structures, too, come with their benefits, such as:

• 10-30% less outside air infiltration
• Three times less outside noise
• 4-hour fire rating

With such benefits, it is no surprise that concrete companies in Nashville, TN, believe this trend is here to stay!

2. Self-Healing Concrete

Over time, you may notice cracks, bends, and leaks in your concrete. As natural as such imperfections are, they damage both the looks and efficiency of the material. Trusted concrete contractors, Nashville, TN, though, can fix such problems for you in a jiffy!

What's more, there is an innovative industry trend that could help with this: self-healing concrete! While this building material gives the impression of being something out of sci-fi movies, it does, in fact, exist.

Self-healing concrete is brimming with limestone-producing bacteria, which repair cracks immediately upon contact with water and air. Routine dry and wet cycles, measuring 0.05-0.1mm in width, serve as the ideal concrete crack repair solution.

The way it works is that the self-healing product functions as a vessel for transporting water particles to cracks. As the water seeps into the cement, hydrating it, the material expands and fills the crack. It's as simple as that!

That said, this method does not work for cracks larger than 0.1mm in width. In such cases, it is best to leave the job to professional Nashville concrete contractors.

3. Aesthetic Designs

Concrete originated as nothing more than mere building material. However, constant innovation has seen it become an elite decor material in various construction projects!

Let’s consider some aesthetically appealing ways of using concrete currently in vogue:

• Color Matched Concrete Crack Filler: to reduce the appearance of seams from crack repairs
• Stained Concrete or Integral Coloring: for a plethora of color options 
• Embedded Items: pebbles, seashells, and recycled glass can be fused in concrete for a personalized touch
• Use of Molding Products: to create customized edges and designs
• Addition of Surface Sealer: to enhance water and stain resistance
• Customized Casting: for shapes and sizes of your personal choosing

The trend of using concrete decoratively is particularly flourishing in residential projects. After all, it allows homeowners to get creative and design their dream home with personalized finishes, vibrant colors, unique forms, and more!

4. Ultra-High Performance Concrete

Among the many merging trends, one that is definitely here to stay is the Ultra-High Performance Concrete or UHPC! This new building material is a blend of 80% traditional concrete and 20% fibers, ranging from polyester to stainless steel!

As such, durability and strength are two aspects, you need not worry about with UHPC. What’s more, UHPC will last you around 50-60 years more than traditional concrete! 

As of now, UHPC is most in use in the United States. However, the global market for the material is expected to grow nearly 8.3% from 2019 ($369 million) to 2024 ($550 million). 

Here’s why UHPC is so much better than regular concrete:

• Longer lifespan
• More robust
• Greater resilience
• Minimal interruption
• Low maintenance
• Simpler construction methods
• Quicker construction process

5. Light-Emitting Concrete

While this type of concrete does emit light, it may surprise you to know it doesn’t actually need electricity! Yes, instead, what this cement does is that it absorbs light and then radiates it. 

As such, it doesn’t get more energy-efficient than with this ingenious style of concrete! All this cement needs to generate light is the solar energy it is exposed to during the day.

The cement’s gel consistency plays a key role in helping it collect solar energy. After all, it allows light to pass through its exterior with ease.

That said, the eco-friendly quality of this cement by far the most admirable. Instead of harmful carbon gas, this concrete releases water vapor during the manufacturing process. What's more, it has the ability to endure for as many as 100 years!

Since this cement doesn't require an electric supply, you'll most often find it in bridges, bike paths, roadways, and so on. These areas are usually lit up by blue or green light, with adjustable brightness. This ability to adjust the intensity of the lights ensures the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.

6. Translucent Cement

Translucent concrete is one of the newest industry trends that is completely changing the face of architecture. This building material features layers of insulation and concrete with fiber optics resting between them. These fibers permit the transmission of light from the outside to the inside and vice versa.

What’s more, translucent cement is highly customizable! Regardless of what design and structural needs your project has, you be sure that this building material will fulfill them.

You can optimize the fiber diameter and density as per your requirement, which, in turn, determines the degree of translucency. Construction companies and individual contractors alike prefer using this concrete or adding design elements to structures, like partition panels and stairs.

7. Graphic Concrete

Concrete technologies are constantly transforming not only for practical purposes but also for aesthetic ones. Graphic concrete is one such innovation that is more for design purposes than anything else. 

This building material is capable of giving your construction project a brand new look! This technology facilitates printing a visual image on a particular membrane to then be transferred to a precast concrete slab.

The membrane is moldable and disposable for good measure. As such, you can create any number of personalized patterns for your concrete surfaces! What’s more, you can introduce various color pigments to enhance your construction projects and designs.

The unique aspect about this technology, though, is that it works just as well as prefabricated concrete products. Some of the most common places to find graphic concrete are pavers, facades, sound barriers, and interior applications.

Here are some benefits that only graphic concrete has to offer:

• More budget-friendly compared to other precast concrete surfaces
• Reduces the time need for the construction process
• Saves on overall construction project costs

8. Management And Equipment Trends

Advancements in concrete production and usage would ultimately be pointless without the right tools and managerial processes. So here’s a look at some trends responsible for revolutionizing management and equipment in the concrete industry:

• Production And Delivery: As a client, you can now receive real-time data on concrete production and delivery. What’s more, this speedy communication increases the accuracy of delivery times! Real-time data, essentially, allows for a more time-efficient process, free from mistakes that cost a ton.
• Sensors And Global-Positioning Systems: The latest modification to concrete plant equipment is the inclusion of sensors. However, that's not all. Ready-mix trucks have seen their own improvement with the addition of global-positioning systems (GPS). These upgrades serve to provide timely and more accurate updates on a producer's assets.
• Management Plans: No matter how cutting-edge technology is, it will have little to no value without efficient management. For that reason, producers do everything in their power to keep core practices up-to-date. Truck diagnostics are a good example of this practice. This information is not just collected but implemented into an actionable plan.

9. Homeowners’ Favorite Concrete Trends

Concrete started off as one of the many materials used for nothing more than forming a structure’s foundation. However, over time, its uses in home architecture projects have increased significantly! Here’s are some of the ways homeowners love using concrete:

Concrete Countertops

An increasing number of people call upon construction companies to provide them with trendy concrete countertops, Nashville, TN. These countertops are incredibly easy to maintain. Also, they look absolutely gorgeous, especially if you opt for a polished concrete look!

Concrete Floors

Granted, concrete floors aren’t the most novel idea. However, decorative concrete floors definitely are, making them all the more popular! With pigments, dyes, stencil patterns, glass finishes, and more, a concrete floor contractor can provide you a floor that’s nothing short of a work of art.

Stained concrete floors are especially in favor. Similarly, stamped concrete, Nashville, is gaining recognition.

Here are some reasons in particular why you may want to switch to concrete flooring:

• They are more economical.
• Compared to other materials like quarried stone, they are stronger and more durable.
• They require little upkeep.
• Concrete is far more customizable.

Concrete Patio

A concrete patio contractor can provide you an outdoor surface that is strong, durable, and practical all in one! Also, if they specialize in decorative work, say concrete staining, Nashville, TN, they can make your patio a fresh, one-of-a-kind touch!

Concrete Driveway

A concrete driveway cost is a tad higher than gravel or asphalt. That said, it is much stronger, more durable, requires minimal upkeep, and provides a cooler surface.

10. 3D Printing

Yes, you read that right. 3D printing has now made its way into the concrete industry! With this advancement, contractors now have the ability to construct economical homes and commercial building structures. What’s more, the building process becomes that much quicker!

Another reason why architects find 3D concrete printing favorable is because of its higher-dimensional analytics. Among other technologies, this one is by far the least expensive and wasteful. After all, it is an environmentally friendly method, generating minimal waste.

That said, due to its newness, this method is not suitable for large-scale projects.

Wrap Up

If there’s one thing that prevalent concrete industry trends make clear, it’s that the potential of this material is far from fully discovered! From home DIY projects to commercial construction projects, concrete can serve you in more ways than one. So don't hesitate to give your neighborhood concrete company, Nashville, TN, a call if you're in the mood to try out some of these trends for yourself!