What Are Concrete Core Bits?

Concrete Core Bits are materials which are the building blocks of concrete. Examples of it are sand and aggregate, cement and gravel, and water and slag. Concrete is a composite material formed from an aggregate (consisting of sand, rocks or crushed stone), a fluid cementitious binder (usually a lime-based chemical compound) and water. Concrete is lightweight in comparison to most masonry materials due to the absence of air bubbles in the liquid mix after it has been poured into forms in a structure such as stone or metal rebar spaced at least 2 inches apart. The manufacturer must choose the right combination of these ingredients to create strong concrete with good durability.

When a contractor mixes the ingredients to form cement, he or she must keep in mind that the water will cause the mixture to expand by approximately 40% and the aggregate will increase in volume by about 15%. On top of all this, after being mixed, the cement will harden or cure. The formula for these three things is; when mixed with water:

Cement = Water + Sand + Aggregate

The component of a concrete mixture which is most important from a structural standpoint is the aggregate. When aggregates are chosen, they are generally graded (as they are on sites) into four categories: sand and gravel, crushed stone, crushed rock (aka marble), and portland cement.

Significance of Concrete Core Bits:

Concrete Core Bits may be purchased as a handful of rocks, or as a one pound bag at a construction site. Whatever their size, they have the same function for construction engineers and building contractors; to compact the concrete mix into finished concrete so that it will be strong and durable.

The benefit to purchasing Concrete Core Bits is that they can be used on each pour , which means you don’t have to purchase them over and over again. The disadvantage to buying them is that the cost of a few rock-sized Concrete Core Bits can add up quickly in a construction site.

Where Do I Find Concrete Core Bits?

In order for you to use these core pieces, you must know where you can find them. To find Concrete Core Bits, you’ll have to follow a few basic steps which can be found in any construction textbook or at your local construction supply store.

The steps include:

Step 1: Picking Where to Place Concrete Core Bits;

Step 2: Removing Excess Sand and Aggregate;

Step 3: Placing Concrete Core Bits on the Dump Bin; and/or;

Step 4: Cleaning Up Unwanted Sand and Aggregate.

While these steps are fairly easy, the most important step is Step 1, which requires you to know where the best place for concrete core-bits is.

Benefits of Concrete Core Bits:

1) Concrete core pieces make for a great construction site waste disposal.

They help you speed up your day. After pours are finished and the forms are removed, you can dump the core pieces into your dump bin right away. It’s usually best to use crushed stone or sand core bits because they tend to stay together better than gravel/embankments (fines).

2) Concrete Core Bits can help you get rid of excess material from a single pour. What this means is that instead of having to wait until the next pour for all that useless material, you can simply retrieve it from the dump bin in just a few minutes once all of the concrete is poured for that pour.

Why You Should Buy Concrete Core Bits:

1) They are new material. When you buy Concrete Core Bits from a construction supplier, you’re receiving 100% newly mixed concrete with no waste to speak of.

2) They can help contractors and building engineers save time. By having Concrete Core Bits on hand for every pour, there is no need to wait between one pour and the next in order to receive the benefits of these pieces of rock or sand.

3) Contractors and building engineers can get rid of excess materials. Once material is mixed with water, it expands in volume by about 40%. This means that there is excess material that needs to be discarded quickly.

4) Contractors and building engineers can receive their money’s worth. If you purchase these pieces of rock or sand, you’re receiving a good value for your money because you can make use of them time and time again.

Drawbacks:

1) The cost. Since these pieces of rock or sand are mixed with water, they turn into concrete which has the tendency to take up more space after it has been mixed with water. This means that the amount of concrete needed to fill a hole is greater than the volume of rock or sand before it was mixed with water.

2) The small size of Concrete Core Bits means that they may be hard to find. Not everyone will want to dig through the sand or rock bin in order to retrieve these pieces.

3) The large size of Concrete Core Bits means that they may also be hard to find. It’s not uncommon for a contractor or building engineer to need more than one piece of rock or sand at a time, which means that he or she must search for the right sized piece and hope that it’s the right size.

Conclusion:

Concrete Core Bits for sale can be found at your local construction supply store or on the premises of a concrete provider. However, if you purchase Concrete Core Bits to fill larger holes in your finished concrete, it’s best to choose small pieces of stone or rock which can easily be found and retrieved by hand. Choose large pieces of sand or rock if you want a little bit more cushion in your mix when you pour. As always, consider all the benefits and drawbacks before making your decision.