ᐅ Are additives in concrete avoidable?

unser_schloss schrieb:

I would like to avoid additives in the concrete for our cast-in-place basement (watertight concrete) as much as possible.

Why?
You probably want to use healthy building materials. In that case, it does not really matter whether it is an "additive" or not. The claim that "there is chemistry involved" is completely undifferentiated. We also have chemistry in our digestive system.

Concrete is not mixed separately.

You should ask for the datasheet. There are already additives included in the concrete.

Why do you have concerns about the concrete?

Thank you for all the constructive comments.
Yes, we want to build a healthy living environment, and frankly, I’m surprised that this is being met with so much ridicule here. I also understand what chemistry is, so there’s no need to explain that.
I have read recommendations regarding healthy living that advise against additives in concrete. So far, I have not been able to find out exactly which additives are meant. Terms like accelerators, retarders, and plasticizers have been mentioned. I was also told that it’s not possible to know in advance because it probably depends on the temperatures as to what is used.

You have a general contractor or architect who specializes in healthy living construction, right? They should take care of it.

It’s true that different additives are used depending on the temperatures.

Are you having your house certified?

Waterproof concrete is necessary. I wouldn’t experiment with that. Plus, the concrete will be covered afterward. It’s not like wallpaper or furniture.

The way you phrased your question was an invitation for comments.

Waterproof concrete should be safe. Our general contractor didn’t have any issues, and I’m not eating the concrete.

unser_schloss schrieb:

Yes, we want to build health-consciously, and honestly, I’m surprised that this is met with so much ridicule here.

Not ridicule, but rather surprise. Concrete is made according to the German purity law from cement, gravel, and water—no raspberry flavor is included—and so your question can only cause astonishment without further explanation.
Of course—not in the sense of organic, but in the sense of unavoidable—concrete is supposed to harden at the right time, meaning not before the formwork is removed, but without delay after pouring. This is not rocket science, and it works at different temperatures. What you are looking for should be found on beton.Wiki under keywords like “concrete additives” or “concrete admixtures.” Essentially, concrete is an inedible, hard loaf of bread—meaning the ingredients form a dough, which hardens in the mold, and a less scrupulous baker mixes in more magic stuff than the organic baker. So your question is definitely legitimate, but without clarifying the background it was not understandable. So don’t be upset, just remember next time that we can’t read your mind.

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unser_schloss schrieb:

Yes, we want to build with healthy living in mind, and frankly, I’m surprised this is being met with so much ridicule here. I also understand what chemistry is, so there’s no need to explain that.

Then you realize that concrete is a gravel mixture with at least the added binding agent cement and that a) the production of cement causes enormous environmental damage (CO2 emissions beyond what you can imagine) and b) cement is a hazardous material—it is also classified as a dangerous substance.