Which is The Best Cement to Build a Home: Durable Cement Types

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A prevailing concern for most people in the construction industry is structural integrity, with quality of construction a large epidemic. According to a BBC report in 2018, the quality of homes is a concern, stating that most newly built homes are not built to last.

One of the reasons for this problem is that builders must meet the most minor requirement specified by building codes and regulations, meaning that builders can meander their way about the quality of materials to use to line up their pockets. This choice of giving up profit for quality of construction is the bane of getting quality homes in the UK.

As a homeowner who wants to guarantee the longevity of their dream home and leave something for your kids when it is time to expire from this earth, you have a responsibility to demand quality construction, and that means having a knowledge of the best materials to use for your new home, which brings us to the subject at hand; cement.

What is Cement?

Cement is a common material used in general construction, and it is categorized according to grades used to determine the compression strength (megapascals, also referred to as Mpa) concrete will attain 28 days after setting it. For home construction, here are the best types of cement to use;

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)

The OPC is the most prevalent cement used globally because of its suitability with almost any construction. The OPC has two grades; the Grade 43 Cement that attains 43 Mpa after 28 days of setting and is commonly used for plastering work, and the Grade 53 Cement, which reaches a compression strength of 27 Mpa after only 7 days of setting. The Grade 53 Cement is prevalent in fast-paced construction, requiring strength to be achieved in a short time.

Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)

Made by grinding Portland cement with pozzolanic clinkers to form cement that possesses high resistance to chemical attacks. The PPC has a superior quality of fineness. It is impermeable and resistant to corrosion, thus resulting in a structure that is built to last.

Although people say that the time it takes for PPC to set is more prolonged than ordinary Portland cement, the good news is that the longer time it takes, the stronger it gets.

Portland Slag Cement (PSC)

If the home to be constructed is in a coastal region and concerns that the new house structure will suffer from sulfate and chloride attacks, then the cement choice is Portland slag cement (PSC). The PSC’s corrosion-resistant nature, especially to saltwater.

White Cement:

The white cement is manufactured from materials without iron oxide, and it is another type of OPC, except that it is white in colour. The white cement is pricey, and it is used mainly for architectural designs and decorative purposes.