Today’s topic is how to choose the right cement for your project. We’ll be going over the different types of cement, cement mix ratios and the type of projects you will be using them in.
Cement comes in a variety of colors that can be purchased at a variety of different price points. The most common colors are white and grey. Each color has its own characteristics depending on what type of project you are working on.
Types of Cement
Grey Cement
This is the most commonly used cement, made from limestone and clay. It is also called Portland Cement after the town in England where it was first developed. Grey cement is best for large, commercial or industrial projects like building construction, bridges or roads where there will be heavy usage or high traffic loadings.
White Cement
White cement is made from limestone with no impurities included unlike grey Portland cement which may contain up to 5% iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3). Because of this it cannot be mixed with regular grey Portland cement without creating a discoloration in the finished product; therefore, special mixtures are used with white cements to produce white concrete. The two most popular mixtures are:
How to Select the Right Cement for Your Project
By Kevin on April 15, 2014
There are many types of cement available in the market these days and all of them have their own unique properties. So how do you know which one is best suited for your project?
The most common type of cement is Portland cement and it is suitable for most general construction projects. However, there are some more specialized types of cement that may better suit your needs. Read on to learn more about what is available and how to choose the right type for your project.
Portland Cement
This is the most common form of cement used around the world. It is a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar, and stucco and can also be used as a base layer for many different paving applications such as driveways or patios. This type of cement cures quickly, so it’s important to keep this in mind when calculating how much you will need for your project. It’s also important that you use it within 2 hours after mixing it with water. Once it has been mixed with water, Portland cement forms a paste that hardens over time.
White Cement
Unlike Portland cement, white cement has a very fine consistency and can be dyed to produce brilliant
Concrete is the most common building material used in the world today. It is an excellent choice for many different purposes and projects, from sidewalks and driveways to structural foundations for your home. Many different types of cement are now available to meet the needs of nearly any project. The information below will help you decide what type of concrete is best suited for your individual needs.
White Cement, Type I
Type I white cement is a general purpose product that can be used in all above-grade applications where a high degree of whiteness is required. It is especially popular in precast architectural products such as cast stone, as well as pool decks and driveways. White portland cement, also known as white ordinary portland cement (OPC), is similar to ordinary, gray portland cement in all aspects except for its high degree of whiteness. Obtaining this color requires substantial modification to the method of manufacture, and thus the overall manufacturing process yields a relatively small percentage of white cement relative to the amount of grey cement produced.
White cement sold in North America conforms to ASTM C150. The standard specification for Portland Cement specifies eight types of Portland Cement (Type I to Type V, plus three cements for special purposes). ASTM C
White cement is a basic product used in the constructions of private and public buildings, roads, and other infrastructure.
White cement is a type of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with a lower iron oxide content. It is usually selected for projects where the raw materials are grey or yellow-brown which can be enhanced by using white cement for the construction of visible surfaces such as plastering, tiling and masonry work.
The finish obtained from white cement is superior to that of ordinary grey cement. White cement has a higher reflective index than grey cement and it is therefore used in decorative finishing coats in high visibility areas such as arches, columns, facades, window sills, balustrades, cornices etc.
It is also used in areas where the sand used in mortar or concrete must be light coloured to match the appearance of natural sandstone such as sandstone masonry walls. The colour used in concrete flooring and paving must also be carefully selected to enhance the overall appearance of the project.
White OPC can also be used as an alternative to coloured renders and paints when constructing precast elements where colour matching is important e.g. low cost housing projects with multiple units on site.
The white cement and the grey cement are both made of the same raw materials, but what differentiates the two is their color, which is determined by the iron oxides used during production. While grey cement is made from clinker, gypsum and limestone, white cement is produced from aluminous limestone and clay.
As we all know, not all projects are suitable for grey cement. For applications that require a specific color or finish and where white is a must – such as mosaics, terrazzo and exposed aggregate floors, or outdoor concrete furniture – then using white cement is the best option.
White cement is more expensive than gray cement – due to the extra process required to produce it. The price of white cement can vary, but as a guide, you should budget around £15-£20 per 25kg bag (inclusive of VAT).
When compared to the cost of other materials such as timber, bricks and concrete blocks, cement is generally extremely good value for money.
The first step is to determine the type of cement you will need to purchase. There are a number of different types of cement, each with their own areas of application. To assist with your decision, we’ve compiled a list of the most common uses for each type and the ideal cement for the job.
CEMENT APPLICATION GUIDE
GENERAL BUILDING WORKS
Brickwork and blockwork
Use OPC or PPC
Concrete (hand mix)
Use OPC or PPC
Concrete (readymix)
Use OPC or PPC
Lintels, beams and columns
Use OPC or PPC