When you're working on a construction project, it's important to know all you can about the materials you are working with. Cement is crucial to many different types of construction such as concrete driveway repairs. According to House Grail, cement is a key ingredient in concrete and over four billion tons of cement are produced annually. Let's go over some helpful information about cement.

What Is Cement?

The words cement and concrete are often interchanged, but they're actually two different things. Cement is actually a component of concrete. It's also an integral component of mortar. This is a primary building material that is used in many structures. Examples of these structures include sidewalks and roads. If the cement that's used in concrete isn't of good quality, it can create safety hazards and become a drain on resources when surfaces need to be redone.

Concrete is considered to be a composite material that is formed by mixing what are called aggregates. Aggregates can be sand, gravel, or crushed stone. These aggregates are mixed with a paste. The paste is made of water and an adhesive. Cement is not often used on its own, but rather is mixed with other ingredients to create stronger materials. It's often used in structural applications. Mixed with the aggregates, cement can be transformed into concrete. Often the word cement is just used as a generic term that refers to one of many different formulas. These different formulas and types of materials have the common characteristic of serving as a binder for aggregates to be changed into concrete.

Portland Cement

Portland cement is made using calcium silicate. This is made from a combination of calcium, silicon, aluminum, and iron oxides. This is probably the most common type of cement. It's used for general concrete applications. This is usually what you think of when you hear the term concrete.

Portland cement is considered to be hydraulic cement. This means that it sets and bonds through a chemical reaction happening between water and dry ingredients. Non-hydraulic cement does not set in water. They require other technology in order to create the needed bond between the ingredients.

Cement Grades

Cement comes in differing grades depending on how the material will be used. General construction requires a grade of 33, according to the Contractors State License Board. A grade of 43 is often used for more intensive load-bearing construction such as foundations or concrete driveway repairs. Higher grades such as 53 can be used for projects that would require extreme strength and durability such as skyscrapers, bridges, and roads.

These were just a few things you should know about cement. If you're in need of concrete driveway repairs, contact our team at A1 Driveway Replacement Company. We are more than happy to offer you a free estimate!