“You need lofty goals. Then cement it with a
great work ethic.”
Jerry West
Cement is a sensitive
building material because it requires thorough attention while preparing and
using, therefore regarded as the world’s most beloved binding substance. It is
a fascinating material, one of the most frequently used and compulsory building
agents.
If you are an amateur,
this blog will make you understand some distinctive qualities of good
cement.
You can run some
home-made tests to investigate a sack of cement:
Fresh from the
Oven:
According to masonry
professionals, a cement sack should be consumed within 40 days of
manufacturing.
Frequently used type
of cement is hydraulic or Portland cement; however, other kinds are available
in the market- purchasing mainly depends on the type of use intended. But
mostly, the quality of desirable cement is checked on the scale of its
freshness. Although cement is packed in an airtight paper bag, the chemical
tends to absorb moisture from the air and become stale over time.
Therefore, keep an eye
out for the manufacturing date inscribed on the sack of cement.
Color and Odor:
Color an important
indicator of cement quality. Usually, good cement has a nice shiny grey color.
If the bag of cement has a greenish tint that means that the quality is
compromised.
Secondly, if the
cement is emitting an earthy smell, it cannot be categorized as fresh.
Temperature
Sensitive:
As aforementioned,
cement is a delicate material. It is highly temperature-sensitive. It should be
kept away from moisture and should be used immediately after the opening of the
sack. The process of hydration makes it stale.
However, it is
sunlight and heat-friendly and can be consumed with ease under normal
temperatures.
To inquire about this,
you can just put a dry, clean hand in the bag if it feels dry and warm…. “It
is good to go.”
Lumps are Bad:
Cement is a finely
powdered substance. Hence, it is required to check for any lumpy chunks. The
crumbly lumps in the sack will indicate that the cement is either out-dated or
not being kept carefully in desired conditions.
Quality check Test:
It is a compound
material; composed of variable minute quantities of lime, sand, bauxite, etc.
If the quantity of the secondary substances increases, this will compromise the
dusty texture of cement.
Fortunately, we can
always check the cement by inquiring if it contains an excess amount of other
materials like sand or dust.
· Hand
rubbing Test: you can directly check by rubbing a small quantity of
cement in hand. It will feel smooth on your hands-this means it is good.
Roughness indicates impurities.
· Dissolution
test: To check this, take a bucket of water and throw in a handful
quantity of cement. Good quality cement dissolves readily in water and form a
mixture.
· Surface
Test: Another thing you can do is mix a little cement (100gms) in
water and throw the mixture on a glass surface. When the solution runs on the
smooth surface, you can easily detect that the good quality cement feels like
“Chikna-Chikna” on the glass surface, with no hard particles. The smoothness
will indicate good quality and freshness.
Generally, most people
pin their trusts completely on the contractors. And they themselves remain
ignorant with some basic properties of house building materials. This mistake
eventually compromises the life-span of their house.
For more detailed
insights about house building materials, stay with us. We bring you the best
instant advice from experts and professionals through thorough research and
fieldwork.
Having the most beautiful, most reliable looking interior and architecture for your personal space or official building...
Updated by Admin / 20 February 2023
Having the most beautiful, most reliable looking interior and architecture for your personal space or official building...
Updated by Admin / 20 February 2023
Having the most beautiful, most reliable looking interior and architecture for your personal space or official building...
Updated by Admin / 20 February 2023
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