Concrete is a material which has existed in one form or another for many hundreds of years. Mixing cement with aggregate yields a material with the toughness of stone and the workability of cement. Since the mid 1700s the Cornwall and Dorset peninsula has played an important role in the development of the use of this material in building. The Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse was the first modern building to be made from concrete, and subsequent innovations in the area include the development of Portland cement.
Throughout much of history, stone was the building material of choice in the majority of cultures. In the most primitive buildings, flat-ish stones were simply piled on top of each other to create walls. In Cornwall dwellings these walls may then have been clad in plaster, but this would have done little to sure up what was essentially an unsupported structure. In other parts of the world stone cutting was achieved with primitive saws and axes, but this process was very labor-intensive and could not be justified for most simple people’s homes. It’s no wonder the invention of concrete made such an impact on the building trade.
But just as with any other building material, concrete has its drawbacks. Dismantling a brick wall is easy, and bricks can be reclaimed and reused. Cornwall reclamation yards are also full of stone and timber components from buildings which are available to be reused. But concrete can rarely be recycled except as aggregate. Indeed, large sections of concrete such as foundation plinths and precast walls and other components can be difficult to demolish on-site. Many Cornwall industrial buildings from the 1970s and 80s are built almost exclusively of concrete, so cutting this material is a key part of demolishing or renovating any such buildings.
Cutting through any material requires the right tools; have you ever tried to neatly trim a piece of paper without scissors? Fortunately, help is at hand. AP Brown of Cornwall can supply air saws specially designed for cutting concrete. These robust and reliable products are made by some of the world’s leading tool manufacturers. We operate a next day delivery service throughout most of the UK, so this is one job that should never hold up your project.
Aside from cutting equipment, we are also specialist suppliers of rock drilling and grouting equipment for the south west of England. Rock is very much like concrete in that when you encounter large chunks of it on a building site it can be difficult to deal with. Rock drilling is a special skill and it pays to consult the experts before you begin any project which will involve an extensive amount of work in this area. You must make sure you have the right drill, the right rig, the right bits, and the right PPE if you want the task to be successful. Don’t leave these important jobs to chance, call AP Brown for supplies and expert advice today, or see our website for more information.
