From the Playground to Your Landscape
Today’s homeowners are more aware of the materials being used to build their homes, and with this awareness, they often choose recycled aggregate. This term refers to crushed concrete or asphalt that was once used in other construction projects. The recycled materials may have come from a wide variety of settings:
- Roads
- Bike paths
- Bridges
- Sidewalks
When these parts of construction are reworked, the asphalt or cement is recycled to contribute to sustainable construction, leading to reduced energy consumption, reduced emissions, and less waste.
The Crushing, Mixing, and Sorting Processes
Before recycled aggregate can be used as a foundation material for your home, the base underneath your driveway, or a path winding through your landscaping, it must be broken down into smaller pieces. This is achieved through a series of crushing and mixing processes. Throughout this process, the aggregate components are sorted by size and type.
The Benefits of Using Repurposed Aggregate
Why would new homeowners want to use recycled materials for the construction of their homes? There are several important benefits:
- Cost Effectiveness – Fresh concrete tends to be expensive, especially as you consider the costs of pouring and spreading. An aggregate is less expensive upfront and doesn’t require the careful work required for wet concrete.
- Versatility – Repurposed aggregates can be used in a lot of different projects, including laying a driveway or adding an extension to your home.
- Durability – Aggregates often stand up well under exposure to the elements, extreme temperatures, and pressure from your vehicles.
- Eco-Friendly – The use of these materials help you reduce your own carbon footprint and may help you sell your home in the future to like-minded home buyers.
- Quick and Convenient – Laying concrete takes a long time, and there’s a lot of potential for problems as the wet cement dries. Aggregate, on the other hand, is readily available and doesn’t require the same two to three-week commitment.
Recycled aggregate offers a wide variety of benefits to homebuilders and owners. Reach out to reputable aggregate suppliers to ensure your satisfaction.