It’s thrilling for us to talk about the core of our business. We have received many phone calls from our clients asking us whether we can deliver cement, build a cement driveway, etc. There is nothing wrong with not knowing some things. But as an expert, we have to inform and educate our customers. Today, we’ll address the cement vs concrete topic and tell you why you shouldn’t use them interchangeably.
Cement vs Concrete: Are They the Same?
Cement vs concrete is a popular topic. Since they are two different building materials, we’ll clarify the differences. In this way, you’ll use the terms cement and concrete correctly. Cement is the binding ingredient of concrete. Concrete is a mixture of rocks, sand, gravel, water, and cement.
Thus, there is no such thing as a cement sidewalk, cement steps, or a cement mixer. The proper terms are concrete sidewalk, concrete steps, and concrete mixer.
What Is Cement? And What Are Its Uses?
Cement, in general terms, is the binding materials used in building and civil engineering.
Cement needs water to be one of the essential building materials in the industry.
When you add water to cement, an incredible chemical reaction takes place. There will be a significant heat increase. Cement and water experienced an exothermic process called hydration.
The cement hardens and adheres to other construction materials to bind them together. And you’ll see later why cement is such a crucial substance in the construction industry.
Joseph Aspdin is the inventor of portland cement. In 1824, he won the patent rights for a material produced from a synthetic mixture of limestone and clay.
And in case you’re wondering, portland cement is not a brand. Instead, it’s the generic name for the type of cement used in virtually all concrete, just as stainless is a type of steel.
It is called this way because when cement is mixed with lime and sand, its color is similar to the Portland stone quarried on the Isle of Portland, England.
In the United States, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) recognizes five types of portland cement.
Type I is the standard, all-purpose cement used for general construction work.
These types of cement are manufactured from the same raw materials, but civil engineers have developed different blends to change each type’s properties.
What Is Concrete? And What Are Its Uses?
Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world.
It’s ideal for constructing facilities such as industrial buildings, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, retail stores, office buildings, restaurants, clubs, hotels, etc.
Concrete is a mixture of sand, gravel or crushed rock, or other aggregates held together by a grayish paste of cement and water.
Cement comprises from 10 to 15 percent of the concrete mix by volume.
Through hydration, the cement and water harden and bind the aggregates into a rocklike mass. The hydration process or hardening process continues for years. And this is how concrete gets stronger as it gets older.
But to wait years to know the exact strength of concrete is impractical. That is why engineers test concrete after 28 days, which is the time range it acquires most of its strength.
And like most rocklike materials, concrete has high compressive strength and insufficient tensile strength.
For this reason, civil engineers have created many types of concretes to meet construction loads’ challenges.
If you hire a contractor to do concrete work, they need to know the different concrete types to ensure that your project meets your needs.
After all, while some concrete type might work best for driveways and parking lots, others might work best for buildings.
We created a guide about commercial concrete work. This resource will help you have a good understanding of the different uses of concrete for your building renovation and remodeling needs.
Concrete types tend to vary depending on the mixture ratio and aggregate type.
Take a look at the main types of concrete:
- Plain concrete and ready-mix concrete
- Reinforced concrete and glass concrete
- Pervious concrete
- High-strength concrete
- Lightweight concrete
- Precast concrete for structural components
- Air entraining concrete
- Self-compacting concrete
Although there are many concrete types, we would like to talk here about the two most popular types.
Ready-Mix Concrete
We chose to talk about this type because it’s always mistakenly referred to as ready-mix cement.
Things can get confusing when building owners and property managers ask concrete contractors to deliver ready-mix cement. Of course, professional concrete contractors understand what their clients mean. They refer to the delivery of ready-mix concrete.
So, remember that there is no such thing as ready-mix cement. The right term is ready-mix concrete.
Ready-mix concrete is an excellent material. Concrete contractors buy it in a central mixing plant, then transport it in mixed trucks to the construction site, pour it, and then let it cure.
One of the most significant advantages of ready-mix concrete is that you’ll have a steady supply of concrete to complete large projects. This could be pouring a foundation, driveway, sidewalk, floors, and even columns.
With ready-mix concrete, concrete contractors can pour concrete all at once, leaving a smooth finish on the concrete surface. And, of course, ready-mix concrete suppliers sell only high-quality concrete. So, it’s fast, reliable, and less labor-intensive.
Reinforced Concrete
Reinforced concrete is the most used material among the types of concrete. Steel rods, wires, and wire mesh are embedded before the concrete is poured. This technique is ideal for erecting two-story buildings or higher structures.
Reinforced concrete takes advantage of concrete’s compressive strength combined with the steel’s capacity to resist tensile loads.
Conclusion
Although the terms cement and concrete often are used interchangeably, cement is actually an ingredient of concrete.
Concrete is a mixture of aggregates and paste. The aggregates are sand and gravel or crushed stone; the paste is water and portland cement.
Now that you know the differences of each material, we want to give you a piece of advise: concrete work when done correctly can enhance the look and functionality of your business facilities. So, you better trust this job to reliable contractor like Mendez Construction.
Call us if you need help or an expert opinion on your concrete projects.