How to Ensure Quality Cement in the Right Proportions
Quality Cement is a must for any construction Project. This is the most important ingredient that goes in creating a strong foundation and sturdy structure. Here are some tips to check the quality of cement you order for your construction project:
Check the packaging: The bag of cement should be water-proof and it should have a stamp as well as seal of approval by authorities. A bag has 50 kgs of cement which lasts for one day. One bag will cover an area of 13 to 15 sq ft with a thickness of 1 inch.
Make sure you buy the right quantity: Use your blue print or plan to calculate the amount of cement required for the construction project. Make sure there is enough space on site to store it and make sure no moisture seeps into the bags causing it to solidify. You can use a tarpaulin sheet or plastic sheets to cover them and keep them dry, otherwise they might harden up before being used up which would lead to wastage, money loss, time loss and effort loss.
Check for quality: Quality cement is crucial; otherwise, all your efforts go in vain. If you are not sure about the quality, take small samples from different bags and test
The quality of cement is not only determined by the type of raw material used, but also on the process of manufacturing. To check the quality of cement, it is essential to have knowledge about its standards and properties.
In recent times, there has been a huge demand for good quality cement in the market. With large construction projects coming up, there is a need to ensure that only good quality cement is used so that buildings are not damaged due to poor quality cement. It is very important to choose the best concrete mix design for any construction project as a lot depends on the strength of the concrete. It is also necessary for you to make sure that you use other ingredients in the right proportion so that you can ensure durability and strength in your buildings.
If you want to be sure about the standards used in making cement, it is important for you to look at its markings properly.
Two common things that you may encounter in the industry are adulterated cement and substandard cement. These are two of the most common causes for the failure of construction materials. They cause damage to structures which can lead to a lot of economic loss; especially if it is a large scale project.
There are many ways to ensure that you get quality cement. The tests of cement are mentioned below:
1. Fineness Test
2. Soundness Test
3. Compressive Strength Test
4. Standard Consistency Test
5. Setting Time Test
6. Heat of Hydration
7. Initial & Final Setting Time
8. Le Chatelier Mould Test
“You should take the quality test after every three months, so that if there is any issue with the cement, it can be identified at the right time.”
Every brick that goes into the construction of a building is cemented with cement and sand. The quality of the structure depends on the quality of these raw materials. Cement is the only product among all the raw materials which gives strength to your structure. So quality should be ensured in every bag of cement.
The properties of cement are defined by its own chemical composition and physical properties. Cement is made from limestone, clay and gypsum by heating them to a certain temperature in a kiln and then grinding the mixture to a fine powder. The main property that makes it different from other products is its hydraulic nature. Hydraulic property means it sets up under water. But it takes time to set up, which can be increased or decreased depending on various factors like temperature, moisture etc.
Introduction
We understand that with the number of brands available in the market, choosing the right cement is a task. But, through this blog, we’ll make your choice easier!
This blog will give you five key points to keep in mind while buying cement. These are:
Grade you should use for construction
Type of cement suitable for construction
How much cement should be mixed with sand and aggregate for construction?
What should you look for to ensure quality?
And, how to choose a good brand?
Let’s get started.
When you mix cement, it is not just a case of dumping all the ingredients in a mixer and letting it do the job. You need to be quite precise with the quantities, and you also need to make sure that everything is clean and dry. Cement is a very absorbent material, and if there is any moisture on the sand or aggregate then this will soak up some of the water content from the cement. This could affect how the concrete sets, so you need to be careful when mixing it.
If you are mixing a small amount of cement for a DIY project then you can mix it by hand using a shovel or spade in a wheelbarrow or similar large container. If you are mixing larger amounts then you should use a proper cement mixer, which will ensure that everything is well mixed and allow you to use less effort than if you were mixing by hand.
There are two main types of cement mixers: electric and petrol driven models. Electric models are cheaper to buy and run but can only be used near to an electrical power source, whereas petrol models can be used anywhere but cost more to run as they need petrol to operate them.
Whichever type of mixer you choose, they work in much the same way. You put all the ingredients