The words concrete and cement are often used interchangeably but most people don’t realize that there are a number of significant differences between them. Our experts at The Floor Company have put together a brief explanation of the two terms to help you understand what they are and how they function.
What is Cement?
Consider the word cement for a moment, and think of what it means. It means to bind or unite something and that’s an appropriate name for the material. Cement is essentially a binder. It has been around for over a thousand years and has been used as a building construction material for a long time.
This binding agent is rarely used on its own and is often combined with sand, gravel, or other such substances. In a mix, the cement binds all other materials together and makes the overall solution stronger. Today, there are two types of cement available in the market- Hydraulic and Non-Hydraulic.
The former is more popular and slightly more expensive as well. It’s called hydraulic because it uses water to trigger the binding chemical reaction and harden. This material will become water-resistant after it’s dry. On the other hand, non-hydraulic cement is more affordable but not as efficient or durable.
What is Concrete?
Concrete isn’t a binding agent and is considered a finished material. It contains a significant amount of cement in it, along with sand, small rocks, and gravel. Cement works to bind these materials together and ensure the concrete dries down to a solid, resilient substance.
Concrete is essentially a mixture of 60% to 70% aggregate, some water, and some cement. It’s used in roads, flooring, pathways, patios, buildings, sports fields, and other such structures. The composition of concrete depends on the kind of finish and resilience you require.
If you want to install a concrete floor, you might want to choose larger aggregates to ensure the design of the floor pops. So, cement is present in concrete, but the two of them aren’t the same materials and they serve different purposes too.
For information on concrete flooring or to get an estimate, you can contact us at The Floor Company. If you’re calling from Ottawa and surrounding areas, dial 1800 461 3121. If you’re calling from Kingston, Belleville, Peterborough and Durham, dial 1877 277 9877. You can also email us at info@thefloorcompany.com or fill in this contact us form.