There are many DIY projects around the house that require using cement; however the language of cement is sometimes confusing. There is the difference between cement, concrete, and mortar and it is important to know the difference so we use the correct application for the job we want to do. Cement is a general term for a bonding agent for sand, aggregate, and water to create mortar or concrete. Around the home we use cement for a variety of DIY projects such as making footings for deck posts, sidewalks, and build brick or stone structures.
The most common term we use in cement language is Portland cement. It is pure cement that is purchased in 80 pound bags. When mixed with the proper amount of sand and aggregate for the project it is called concrete. If we leave out the aggregate and put in some lime we have mortar. Mortar is used when we want to really stick things together such as brick or stone.
The basic mixture ratio for concrete is 1 part of Portland cement to 1 part of sand, 1 part of aggregate (small stone), and 24 parts of water. Pre-mixed cement comes in two basic forms, concrete and mortar. It consists of the correct mixture of Portland cement, sand and or aggregate for the desired job. All that is required is to mix water. Pre-mix concrete and mortar is not the same, they have different purposes so make sure that you make the correct choice if you purchase a pre-mix. Mortar has lime mixed with the Portland cement and sand to give it the adhesive quality to stick things together. continue reading…
