Hands up if you think cement and concrete are the same thing. Not sure? Here’s the answer. While most people will use the terms interchangeably and are often confused for being the same thing – they are two very different things.
So, now that you know the difference between the two and can confidently select suitable material for the job (and use the correct terminology!), we’ve put together a quick overview highlighting the main differences between concrete and cement.
What is cement?
Cement is a fine mineral powder used as a binding agent in concrete, mortar, and other building materials. Thus, it wouldn’t work very well if used alone to pour a sidewalk or foundation for a building.
Also known as portland cement, it was first developed in the UK in the 19th century by British Mason Joseph Aspdin, who named it based on its resemblance to the portland stone quarried on the Isle of Portland in Dorset.
Commonly made from limestone, clay, shells, and silica sand, it is produced by heating all the ingredients at very high temperatures of 600 degrees in a kiln until they melt, and then they are cooled to form clinker, which is the fine powder known as Portland cement.
Today, we use cement to
- Prepare concrete.
- Prepare mortar.
- Use as grout material.
- Build aesthetic concrete constructions.
- Build chemical-proof structures.
- Build roads and pavements.
So, there you have it – a quick overview of cement and its uses.
What is concrete?
Now that you know that cement is one of the ingredients used to create concrete, let’s take a closer look at what concrete is and what we can do with it.
To answer the main question – concrete is a building material made up of cement, gravel, sand, and coarse aggregate used for the following.
- Building foundations,
- Walls,
- Concrete slabs (for sidewalks), and
- Structures.
Starting out as a dry mixture, once you add water, it activates the cement, which becomes a fluid, flexible material you can mould into your desired shape. Often in the building of concrete structures, metal reinforcements are added to minimise any cracking and for added strength.
There are a few ways in which you can access and use concrete.
If you are working on a small project, you can buy ready-made concrete mixes from your local Bunnings. All you have to do is add water.
- For small projects, you can buy bags of cement and mix them with sand and gravel yourself. Remember, you’ll need a larger container or wheelbarrow for this.
- Alternatively, call in the professionals and order premixed concrete to be delivered by truck to your site.
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Next Gen Concrete and Excavation is a concrete construction company Servicing Melbourne’s North, West, and surrounding suburbs, specialising in concrete house slabs and much more.
Our mission at Next Gen Concrete and Excavation is to continue providing quality concrete services for every one of our clients. In doing so, we pride ourselves on carrying essential qualities throughout every project and client.