What is the Difference Between Concrete & Cement? And Other FAQs
When it comes to concrete vs cement, you may have wondered, well, what is the actual difference? Though these terms are often used interchangeably, cement is actually an ingredient in concrete. Concrete is a mixture of paste and other aggregates– sand, gravel, and crushed stone, while the paste portion is water and portland cement. This may bring other questions to mind, so check out this FAQ for a little more information on this topic.
Q: What is portland cement?
A: Portland cement is the most common cement type, used worldwide as a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar, stucco, and non-specialty grout.
Q: What are blended cements?
A: Blended cements are another type of hydraulic cement, similar to portland cement. These cement types are produced by blending two or more types of materials, portland cement, and one or two of the following elements: slag cement, limestone, fly ash, silica fume, or calcined clay.
Q: How are blended cements used?
A: Blended cements are used in all manner of concrete construction applications. They can be used as the only cementitious material in concrete mixtures, or they can also be used in conjunction with other supplementary materials added.
Q: How do you control the strength of concrete?
A: The easiest way to add strength to a concrete mixture is to increase the amount of cement within. The factor that most affects concrete strength is the water to cement ratio in the cement paste that serves to bind the aggregates together.
Q: How do you protect concrete from aggressive materials such as acids?
A: While most materials have no effect on concrete, some more aggressive substances like acids can deteriorate concrete construction. Using a concrete mixture with chemical resistance as well as applying protective treatments can help armor concrete against these corrosive substances.
Q: How do you remove stains from concrete?
A: There are several methods used to remove stains from concrete. Common dry methods include scouring, flame cleaning, and sandblasting. Wet methods use an application of water or specific chemicals depending on the type of stain.
If you have a concrete need, our team at Power Rental & Sales can help. Our decorative concrete solutions as well as our product line up are sure to make your next concrete project a success!
Get in touch today. We are a supplier of all things concrete from supplies to tools, and can help you dream up your next decorative concrete masterpiece too.
Elegant, unique, durable– all these words adequately describe metallic epoxy flooring. One of the hottest trends in decorative concrete flooring, contractors with experience in this type of flooring can use a slew of techniques to create visually interesting effects and even make flooring look three dimensional.
There are lots of advantages to using concrete for flooring in your home or in your patio area. It’s durable and extremely sturdy, but also concrete has the potential to be really beautiful. Its appeal can be enhanced with color and patterns from concrete stamping, staining and intricate designs which can really help elevate the concrete in your space. That said, like all materials, concrete can suffer wear and tear, and proper maintenance is essential to prolonging the life of your concrete floor.