Can You Make Lightweight Concrete?

Can You Make Lightweight Concrete? The short answer is yes. The long answer is that while you can make lightweight concreete, there is a balancing act between the weight of the concrete and the strength of the concrete that you need to be aware of. The weight and the finished strength of your concrete are essentially inversely proportional which means that as one goes up the other goes down. The lighter your concrete, the weaker it will be.
It is useful to add lightweight aggregates to concrete mix as long as you don't compromise the finished strength too greatly for its intended purpose.
So what is the purpose of lightweight concrete anyways? Primarily, lightweight concrete is used for decorative applications like ornamental for the lawn and garden or concrete planter boxes. It can also be utilized for its insulation value and this is a very useful function of lightweight concrete. A vermiculite concrete mix can have 10 times as much insulation value as a sand and gravel based mix.
Lightweight concrete aggregates can be anything from perlite to vermiculite to pumice or even soap suds. Universally the challenge remains the same with any lightweight mix - use too much lightweight aggregate and you can compromise the strength too greatly. A combination of some sand mixed with some lightweight aggregates can result in a usefully strong but lighter weight concrete.
Referral links to products featured in Creating Concrete videos - As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
amzn.to/3vtmang - interlock stone mold
amzn.to/3VIEmDX - universal mold release
amzn.to/3TQ9e30 - silicone mold release
amzn.to/3J7Q2II - sonite sealing wax
amzn.to/4cDYz3T - Quikcrete red pigment
amzn.to/4cIlDOK - Quikcrete brown pigment
amzn.to/43EuVHL - Quikcrete charcoal pigment
amzn.to/3J0MLee - Quikcrete bonding adhesive (PVA)
amzn.to/3xlzwlW - Quikcrete bonding adhesive 4L (PVA)
amzn.to/4aiGGGg - Sika acrylic fortifier 4L
amzn.to/3vqjdUw - Drylok hydraulic cement
amzn.to/3J3aDhv - Bosch mortar mixing drill
amzn.to/4aiwQUS - 4.5" diamond cup wheel
amzn.to/4aisWvb - mortar mixing paddle whip
amzn.to/49nsDOq - Budget mortar mixer and paddle
amzn.to/4ayjR1z - Sea sponge set for texturing
amzn.to/3xvpE96 - Masonry / grout sponges
amzn.to/3TGrZ8H - Marshalltown margin trowel (rubber grip)
amzn.to/3VEhntP - Marshalltown margin trowel (wood grip)
amzn.to/3xujXbx - Marshalltown point trowel (rubber grip)
amzn.to/3TCp9Se - Marshalltown point trowel (wood grip)
amzn.to/4ale5A4 - Marshalltown 12" square trowel
amzn.to/4aEsUNI - 16" pool trowel set
amzn.to/43H3cpO - powdered concrete pigments
amzn.to/4avz2Is - fine sponge float
amzn.to/4cFsYPi - 5 gallon mixing bucket
amzn.to/4cyIKeG - bulk acrylic paint set
amzn.to/4aB9oBU - airbrush and compressor kit
amzn.to/3U29Y6c - high range water reducer
amzn.to/3TGModV - fiberglass reinforcement 3/4" strands
amzn.to/4cEd87w - alkalai resistant chopped glass fibers 3/4"
amzn.to/3J0YzNR - perlite 4 cubic foot bag (coarse)
amzn.to/3xiCYxI - vermiculite 4 cubic foot bag (coarse)
amzn.to/43H2xV8 - Aircrete FM-160 liquid foam maker
amzn.to/4aHPFk9 - RTV 100% silicone (10 pack)
amzn.to/3VKbWcS - Smooth-On Vytaflex 30 urethane rubber
amzn.to/3xiEhg6 - Smooth-On skin safe liquid silicone rubber
amzn.to/3VE04cj - slate texture skin
amzn.to/3J0QEAb - bluestone texture skin
amzn.to/3xmZfdR - basalt texture skin
amzn.to/4aFjSQE - Variable speed wet grinder step sanding kit
amzn.to/43I090s - 4.5 cubic foot cement barrel mixer 0.5hp
#CreatingConcrete #concrete #lightweightconcrete #lightweightaggregates
#concretemixes

[@danawd]

Hi! Is it a possibility for you to make and test concrete with expanded clay pebbles? Very nice channel by the way, i have probably watched absolutely all your videos😁

[@calholli]

Bro, stop turning your head back and forth when you talk. lol

[@3DCGdesign]

Have you tested adding Sika fiberglass synthetic micro fibers into the lightweight mix to strengthen it? They use the fibers in the mix for concrete topping surface under finished floors. Works great as a binder.

[@poolbuoycorp.leakdetection6283]

Great video! Lots of excellent info here!

[@LightGesture]

Curious to know if vermiculite would react as a thermal break. Im trying to pour over concrete to add radiant heat. Dunno if doing this would be worth it.

[@DDDD17890]

I am wondering if clay pebbles/hydroton could be used to mix with cement, instead of perlite.

[@rhianchumroo1077]

Will adding waterglass( sodium silicate) in the water make the lightweight concrete stronger?

[@ayushmaanathley1185]

Sir, can you give mix proportion of light weight concrete.

[@davidhalfaday844]

Have you made a lightweight concrete with fiberglass fibers to increase the strength?

[@derrickparker9465]

hello im from jamaica and i don’t know what to use to get the concrete lighter

[@heatherjane0808]

How about papercrete? That’s strong and lightweight? I think 😂🤔 I shall investigate☝🏼

[@Beachnative42]

What about perlite and basalt fiber?

[@brmcnallen]

That intro music is gross.