We have a love-hate relationship with concrete. By nature, it's flat and bland. But that's really what we should love about it. It does its job without calling attention to itself--until it breaks up. Then it's time to call a meeting of the Fix-It Club.

Less than a hundred years ago it was a long, long road trip from coast to coast, taking more than a month. The first national highway, the Lincoln Highway, had only a few miles of concrete. The rest was dirt or mud, by season. Then concrete became a popular road material and, by the mid-1920s, the cross-country trip took about a week. With today’s cars and mostly asphalt-paved roads, it takes half that time or less.

How Does It Work?

Concrete is a composite material made up of a binder (Portland cement), aggregates (small rock chips), and water. Once mixed, it's spread into an area with perimeter forms, then allowed to dry solid. Once dry it is as hard and strong as stone. Concrete is used for building foundations and slabs, garage floors, driveways, sidewalks, fences, and many other uses. It is also the major component in concrete building blocks.

What Can Go Wrong?

Concrete can crack, chip, erode, and break. Most damage is caused by water and weather--though earthquakes can also have an adverse effect.