Over the years, we’ve heard people refer to concrete and cement interchangeably. This is not accurate. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you understand the difference. This isn’t just about using the right terminology, but truly understanding that cement and concrete are two different things. We want to be sure that you order the right thing when your construction project needs concrete vs cement.
So, what is cement?
Cement is the basic building block of concrete. It is a major component in its creation. Whenever concrete is needed, it starts as a mixture of sand, crushed stone, or other options, then a paste is added. This paste is usually composed of water and cement, which is made up of calcium, silicon, aluminum, and other ingredients. Once you add water to this, is starts to harden and stick to the stone or sand that was added. Over time, the mixture will become hard enough to hold cars, people, buildings, and more. This is how concrete is made.
So, what is concrete?
Concrete is all around you. Unless you live alone in the woods, you likely have some concrete pretty close to you. A lot of times, the building that you’re in is set upon a concrete slab, or the road that you drive on is a concrete road. Whenever you mix cement with various composite materials, that mixture creates concrete. The composite material determines the type of concrete and its purpose. There are many different types of concrete: asphalt, rubberized concrete, gunite (used in pools), limecrete, and many more.
We hope this helps you better understand the difference in concrete vs cement. The industry is booming with needs all the time, and Port Aggregates can provide for any and all construction projects in Louisiana. Request a quote or use one of our concrete calculators today.
