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Modern architecture and construction relies on concrete for almost all situations. Most people in north America prefer wood due to it's coloring and natural patterns which are appealing. However, even for homes that are made of wood for walls, ceilings, etc. The foundation is concrete because it's the strongest material but still relatively easily applied and shaped. The chemical process that makes concrete work, is also the key to it's usefulness. Concrete is made from mixing gravel, sand, cement, and water together. The water initiates a chemical reaction which causes the cement to become a bonding material. the gravel and sand act as gritty substance to which the cement adheres creating a very dense, very firm final product. Concrete can withstand a lot of pressure and weight being put on it. While it's in its liquid, or mushy, state the concrete is very malleable. It can be poured into forms, leveled, and shaped to match just about any design. Once it dries, it becomes as solid as rock. One of the prime examples of its usefulness while in a liquid state is the ability to pump it through a machine. Concrete pumping in Calgary is the solution to many circumstances where large quantities of concrete are needed but a truck or large container is not accessible. Concrete pumping in Calgary works to get liquid concrete to such obscure locations as high stories on a building, behind homes without having to drive across grass, and down into trenches where the concrete mixing truck could never fit. Concrete pumping in Calgary requires special machinery of course to make this all happen. It takes extra care and maintenance because concrete can be used inside the components while it's wet, but it must not dry or it will crack and seize up the entire mechanism. There are many different types of concrete pumps that can be used. Boom pumps have a crane arm which internally carries plastic tubing through which concrete can flow to its final destination. The crane arm of a boom pump makes it much easier to pour concrete on high level facilities and on top of buildings. The boom is great for vertically moving concrete. At the base of the boom is an open reservoir or container into which liquid concrete is constantly poured. Within the reservoir there are rotary drive shafts shaped like screw threads. These spin and force the concrete up into the boom shaft. A line pump is similar but smaller and more mobile. It relies on a similar reservoir where concrete is poured by a cement mixer or by workers. It has a gear at the center that pushes concrete down into a system of tubes. The tubes can then be used to evenly pour concrete, however it's not designed to move concrete in a vertical fashion. The reservoir and system are small enough to fit in the bed of most standard trucks. Concrete pumping in Calgary typically relies on diesel engines to power the pumping system. Because of it requires long hours of constant drive, diesel engines work best and hold up against the rigorous wear and tear of everyday work. Some implement gasoline engines, but an electric motor would never have the stamina required for day in and day out of work. Also, many time concrete is required in locations that may not have any type of electrical supply, so running on a transportable energy source like diesel fuel makes them much more compatible with the working conditions of most construction sites. Concrete pumps are one more machine that makes jobs and projects happen faster and with even more precision, quality, and durability.
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