Which cement to choose with or without slag? Many private developers are confused about cement brands and manufacturers.

This fact is not surprising, because we each specialize in our own field, go about our own business, and a person is not able to know everything.

Therefore, let's look at the main indicators of cement, for which there is misunderstanding due to lack of information. We will try to clarify all this without the use of special terms.

Which cement is best?

Often, developers are worried about the presence of slag in cement, and immediately there is a rejection that such cement is worthless. But the point in adding slag or minerals is quite simple and expedient, why use a more expensive material where there is no need for such high performance.

But the developers ask specific questions, which we will immediately answer, and below we will argue everything.

Which cement is better 400 or 500?

The answer to this question will depend on the goals and objectives of the construction. You can learn more about the use of cement grades and their scope in the reference material "Types of cement", but now we will answer what brand of cement is better.

What cement is best for pouring the foundation? If on concrete preparation can be used cement M100, then during construction foundation, where the minimum allowable concrete grade is M200, it is better to use cement brands from M300 and above. Perfect option - grade of foundation cement M500, the price of which differs slightly from the price of the M400.

Which cement is best for screed?The proportion of cement and sand in cement mortar for screed depends on the brand of cement and the brand of the required solution. Usually, for screeding in apartments, cement mortar of the M150 or M200 brand is used. For the preparation of such a solution, cement grades M300, M400, M500 are suitable, and depends on the thickness of the screed.

Which cement is best for plasters? It is necessary to choose a brand of cement based on the characteristics of the plaster (external, internal, light, waterproof, heat-insulating) and the purpose of a specific layer in the overall structure of the plaster mass (spray and primer, coating). The composition of the base is of decisive importance.

• M50. Easy. When plastering, it is recommended only for grouting. The strength of the layer is not so high, but shrinkage is minimal, which is important when applying finishing plaster.
• M100. A denser composition that is used for interior wall decoration.
• M150. For interior decoration in wet and damp rooms, plastering facades and plinths of buildings.

We continue to consider the percentage of mineral additives in cement (slag). And we see that the same m400 cement with the letter B has about 35% slag and is great for masonry wall materials such as brick, foam block, cinder block. But it can also be used in cement screed for light loads, for example, topping up the floor or a garden path. And therefore, comparing the price of cement m400 - 1.700 UAH / t and the price of cement m500 - 1.940 UAH / t, it becomes clear why overpay?

Should I take cement with slag or not?

Cement manufacturers specifically use mineral additives to stir the clinker concentration, according to DSTU. Indeed, in principle, pure cement without additives (prefix d0), means that it is without additive, or they also say “zero”.

Therefore, do not be afraid of cement with the addition of slag, just choose the brand that matches your goals, and for clarity, we present a table indicating the brand and the content of% additives:

It is worth noting, in fairness, that when buying several bags or one or two tons, the developer chooses cement of a higher grade, since the price of the issue is not so high. But for industrial volumes of construction, the price of cement will play a decisive role and construction company will carefully consider the choice of brand.

What color of cement is "correct"?

The color scheme of cement is also a small point of discussion and comparison of the public under construction. Here you can see the main thing - cement color is not a clear definition. Many believe that the darker the color of the cement, the stronger it will be and vice versa. But everything is not so simple, since manufacturing plants receive their raw materials from more than one resource base, they have many suppliers from various metallurgical plants for slag and clinker quarries, and not only on the territory of Ukraine, supplies are also imported.

Therefore, it must be borne in mind that the color shade of cement will depend on the raw materials and you should not worry about this fact. The light shade of cement is associated with the properties of the raw materials used and the mineralogical composition of the clinker. In addition, the color is affected by the fineness of the grinding of cement. The more crushed the cement, the better it is, and the lighter its shade.

Which brand of cement is best?

I want to touch on another prevailing myth about the best or worst cement producers, the answer to the question " which cement manufacturer is better?". Let's describe the real situation.

A man started to build on a backyard or garden plot an outbuilding and purchased cement either on the market or from a machine, or at another outlet. When using cement, a person had suspicions as to its quality, according to various signs, although he was assured that Kamyanets-Podilskyi cement was above all praise. Those. a person now understands that the cement of this plant is worthless ... A person goes and exchanges it for cement from the Volyn plant, and to his pleasure it turns out to be good in all respects, and a clear algorithm for choosing a manufacturer is immediately fixed, you can familiarize yourself with the list of cement plants by clicking on link.

And the problem is not in the person, but in the fraudster seller, who initially sold the “mixed” cement, i.e. with a higher content of slags, which were filled up beyond measure no longer at the factory, but already in bags during packaging, they simply filled with greed. Or the second option, instead of, for example, in a bag with m400, they poured the ShPTs brand, respectively, we will not get the expected quality of the purchased cement, but we sin against the manufacturing plant.

No, I am not a lobbyist or advocate for cement plants, I am just trying to explain to the consumer that the quality level of cement among plants is approximately the same, of course, if it adheres to DSTU. Those. it’s not worth it to sin especially on someone, but to exalt someone ... this is a big mistake. Therefore, never believe in the myths about someone's overwhelming superiority in quality, I know what I'm talking about, backed by 10 years of experience in the cement trade.

Many foremen and builders believe in such myths, they are great specialists, but they only come across cement at their facilities, and we have to work with many factories and accept their cement, check and test, so to speak, the “database” of experience on the quality of cement from various factories we have a solid one. And the article was written exclusively for the readers of the site, who are not quite in the subject, and tried to make some clarifications in human language.

So don't look the best Ukrainian cement, and choose proven suppliers and traders of cement, and you should not save 20-30 UAH. per ton at the cost of cement 1.700-2.300 UAH, because they make up 1.5-2% of the total cost, and you can get 100% trouble :-)

Good luck and make the right decisions!

We remind you that cement price is always up-to-date, feel free to focus on the data from the site page. Check out the link for rates.

Cement is an important building material, which, like lime, gypsum or clay, belongs to inorganic binders. It is necessary to know what grades of this material are and what they are best used for in order to determine which cement is best. At the same time, the products should not only be of high quality, but also be well preserved for a long time.

Like other materials used in construction, cement has differences in physical and technical characteristics, which depend on the conditions of its operation.

Which cement to buy - in bags or loose?

Despite the constant development and emergence of new technologies, construction is not complete without the use of cement mortar. This material is sold in loose form and in bags. Therefore, the question often arises, which option is better and of better quality? There is a definite answer to this question - the best cement in bags. In addition, it is most often found on sale. The packaged material is produced both abroad and in the CIS countries. It is sold in building supermarkets, at special bases, as well as at cement plants.

Cement packed in bags has high quality and better suited for storage.

It is also much more profitable to buy cement packed in bags, because it is easier to store. But at the same time, the room where it will lie must meet certain criteria. It must be well ventilated, not damp, otherwise the cement will harden. It is advisable not to store this building material for more than six months - after this period it loses its basic qualities.

Bagged cement is different types, each of which has its own marking, depending on the strength of the material in its finished form.

Before going on sale, even at the factory, all products are subjected to a thorough check, according to which the manufacturer puts on the GO bag, the corresponding brand, trademark and telephone number for consultation.

In order not to be mistaken, it is best to purchase cement from well-known manufacturers in the construction market who value their reputation.

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Main features of quality

Visual signs of high-quality cement can be seen already in the process of construction work:

• the mass should be dark in color;
• cement should dry quickly, be in good contact with tools;
• during compression, there should be no dry matter;
• cement should set in 28 days;
• masonry, for which the mortar was used, when using quality material will be durable.

The requirements for the quality of cement in accordance with the fixed regulations are as follows:

• drying time;
• fineness of grinding;
• solution consistency;
• proper storage of various types;
• alkali content.

There are various brands of this building material, which have an individual composition and are used for various purposes. To understand which cement is best suited in a given situation, it is necessary to understand all types in more detail.

The main advantage of loose cement is its low cost.

Lumps most often appear in mixtures of high grades. To avoid water segregation and enhance strength, an acceptable grind size should be around 350-380 sqm/kg. In this case, the density of the dough is equal to - 25-26%. Already in 4.5 hours, the cement should set, and hardening should usually occur as early as the third hour. If these requirements are met, then the necessary strength will be provided at the right time.

In accordance with SNiP 2.03.11-85, in order to avoid cracking, the alkali content in cement should not exceed 0.6%. But in practice, you can effectively prevent the threat to strength if you stick to the indicators of 0.7 - 0.72%. Storage conditions and shelf life, as well as the method of transportation, have a certain impact on quality.

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How to choose the best material?

If the material is manufactured in accordance with international standards, it must have the international ISO-9000 certificate.

It is practically impossible for a non-professional to determine whether a good cement is selected by external properties, therefore, compliance with the declared characteristics should be determined in laboratory conditions. But at the same time, during its acquisition, it is still worth paying attention to some factors that will help you decide which brand of material is the best.

As mentioned above, the most acceptable option is packaged construction composition in bags. They should indicate the weight, manufacturer, GOST, product brand, as well as what additives are included in the composition, etc.

The seller selling this product must have documents confirming the quality. If they are not there, this indicates the dubious origin of the material, which is not desirable to acquire.

Another important factor is the price. When cement meets all requirements and has quality certificates, it cannot be cheap. It should be noted that its cost is approximately the same in all countries. But at the same time, the cost of delivery is added to imported products. Therefore, in the case of a low cost of a foreign building material, there is reason to think that it contains poor quality components, or the proportions were violated during the manufacturing process, there is an underweight in the package, or the expiration date has long expired.

It is better to choose products that are produced by well-known brands that have an established reputation.

Cement is used everywhere: from laying the foundation to the arrangement brickwork and work on interior decoration. Such a wide and even vast scope of use of cement has led to the emergence of materials with different compositions and characteristics. You can’t just buy the first cement that comes across and start work - first it is important to make sure that the composition is up to the task. When going to a hardware store, it is important to know theoretical basis, so it's time to figure out how to choose cement, find out what brands and types of cement exist, where certain compositions are used, and also what to consider directly when choosing.

No. 1. Main types of cement

Cement is an inorganic binder. Cement powder, when interacting with water, forms a plastic mass, which quickly sets and forms a stone-like body. It is often used for the manufacture and construction solutions. The composition of cement can vary greatly. Accordingly, the properties and scope of use will differ.

Today, the following main types of cement are produced:

• Portland cement- the most popular type of cement in construction. Produced from Portland cement clinker, gypsum and special additives. Clinker is obtained from limestone, clay and additives by firing. Ready Portland cement consists of 70-80% calcium silicates, the rest is gypsum (regulates the setting rate) and corrective additives. Portland cement is produced in grades M400-M600, used to create mortars, asbestos-cement and other materials. Not suitable for the construction of structures exposed to sea water;
• white portland cement are made on the basis of gypsum, diatomite and clay-sandy rocks with a minimum content of colorants. The result is a compound with high strength, weather resistance and fast setting. Only two brands M400 and M500 are produced. Often the composition is used for external finishing works, as it has an aesthetic appearance and is not prone to cracking. It is used for the manufacture of decorative elements (statues,), in the organization of self-leveling floors, in road construction, c. Made from white Portland cement colored compositions;
• sulfate-resistant Portland cement produced on the basis of Portland cement clinker and gypsum. The composition is characterized by a reduced content of calcium aluminates, which ensures resistance to sulfates. Cement can be without additives or have additives in the form of granulated slag. Mark M400 and M500. It is used in the creation and construction of structures that will be operated under the influence of mineralized waters. Such cement is used in the manufacture of piles, bridge supports, in the arrangement of external elements of hydraulic structures;
  
• pozzolanic portland cement obtained from Portland cement clinker, gypsum and additives of sedimentary origin, part of which is 20-30%. The composition is resistant to fresh and sulfate-containing waters, water impermeability. Among the minuses is low frost resistance and low hardening rate. Used for pouring and laying basements of industrial and civil buildings, in the construction of the subway, mines, canals, locks, water communications;
• slag cements- a group of cements, which includes slag Portland cement (SHPC) and lime-slag cement (IShTs). The first is obtained on the basis of Portland cement clinker, gypsum and blast-furnace slag, part of which is 21-60%. The composition is characterized by a slow increase in strength, increased resistance to aggressive environments, but is not resistant to temperature extremes. It is used in hydraulic engineering construction. ISHZ is obtained from a mixture of slag with lime (its part is about 30%), small additions of gypsum and Portland cement are allowed. The composition hardens slowly, is most stable in fresh and sulphate waters, can be used for the manufacture of low-grade concretes, in mortars for masonry;
  
• fast setting portland cement, as the name suggests, is characterized by a rapid set of strength in the first hours of hardening. Such properties are explained by the exact selection and dosage of special additives. As a result, the composition reaches the tensile strength after 3 days, which speeds up the process of production of reinforced concrete structures;
• aluminous cement also has a high rate of hardening and curing. Produced on the basis of bauxite or alumina with the addition of limestone. According to the content of alumina, ordinary (up to 55% alumina), high-alumina (up to 65%) and extra-pure high-alumina cements are distinguished. The compositions have high resistance to fire, corrosion and a rapid increase in strength. Such cement has found application in emergency work, high-speed construction and winter concreting;
• expanding cements- a group of cements that are characterized by an increase in volume during hardening. A similar effect is achieved due to the reaction between the powder and water, resulting in the formation of calcium hydrosulfoaluminate, a substance capable of binding large amounts of water. In the group of expanding cements, waterproof, stressing, gypsum-alumina compositions and expanding Portland cement are distinguished. Let's consider all of them separately;
  
• waterproof expanding cement made of gypsum, aluminous cement and calcium hydroaluminate. The composition begins to set after 4 minutes, and after 10 minutes the hardening process is already over. It is used in underground and underwater construction, for sealing cracks and when creating monolithic structures from individual precast concrete elements;
• stress expanding cement produced from Portland cement clinker, lime, aluminous slag and gypsum stone. The composition hardens relatively quickly, is waterproof. Used in concreting bowls, production of pressure pipes;
• gypsum alumina expanding cement are made from aluminous blast-furnace slag and gypsum. The composition sets within 4 hours, the expansion ends after 3 days. Cement is characterized by high frost resistance, strength and deformation resistance. With its help, waterproofing works are carried out;
• expanding portland cement is a mixture of Portland cement clinker, slag with a high content of alumina, gypsum and mineral additives. Depending on the composition, the expansion ranges from 0.3 to 2.5%. The expansion period is long, so the volume is filled evenly. Used in furnishing pavement and repair of hydraulic structures;
• well cement used only when plugging oil and gas wells in order to isolate them from ground water. Produced from clinker and gypsum;
• hydrophobic cement in its composition, in addition to gypsum and clinker, it has oleic acid or other hydrophobic substances that make it possible to create a waterproof film on the surface of dried cement. Such cement is ideal for the foundation;
• magnesia cement differs in the content of magnesium oxide, due to which the elasticity of the composition increases, its resistance to aggressive substances. Used in the arrangement;
  
• waterproof non-shrink cement obtained on the basis of aluminous cement, gypsum and slaked lime. The composition sets quickly and is not afraid of water;
• acid resistant quartz cement- product of mixing quartz sand, sodium silicofluoride and liquid sodium glass. The composition is resistant to aggressive substances, but loses strength in water;
• cement with surface-active additives has increased mobility and is used when working on objects that are complex from an architectural point of view.

No. 2. Grades of cement by strength

The most important characteristic of cement of any kind is its strength. This indicator is determined experimentally: a mortar is prepared from cement and in a ratio of 1: 3, a sample is created in the form of a parallelepiped with sides of 40 * 40 * 160 mm. The resulting sample is subjected to a gradually increasing load. The experiment is slightly different only for some types of cement.

The data obtained in the course of laboratory studies are reflected in the stamps. If the sample can withstand a load of 300 kg / cm 2, then this is the M300 brand, 500 kg / cm 2 - M500, etc. The grades are denoted by the letter M and the subsequent index from 200 to 600 in increments of 50 or 100. The higher the grade, the stronger the composition in front of us, and the more durable and high-quality concrete it will turn out:

Today, next to the classifications of cement by strength grades, a division into strength classes. If the brand is an average indicator, then the class is more accurate and provides a 95% guarantee of compliance with the specified data. Strength classes vary from 30 to 60:

• 52.5 - cement withstands a pressure of 52.5 MPa, corresponds to cement grade M600;
• 42.5 corresponds to cement M500;
• 32.5 corresponds to cement M400;
• 22.5 corresponds to M300 cement.

No. 3. Labeling of additives in cement

In addition to the strength grade, on the packaging you can see the marking of the percentage of various additives in cement. This indicator is denoted by the letter D, followed by a numerical indicator in percent. For example, cement D20 means that it contains 20% additives. The higher the number of additives, the lower the price of the composition.

No. 4. Curing rate marking

The time it takes cement to reach its maximum strength is another important indicator of composition. In some cases, it is required that it hardens instantly, in others, on the contrary, an excessive rate of curing will only hurt. According to this parameter, cement is divided into the following types:

No. 5. What else can be in the marking of cement?

In the characteristics of the composition, after the designation of the brand of cement and the percentage of additives, there may be various abbreviations indicating the specific qualities of cement:

No. 6. What to look for when choosing cement?

The demand for cement is huge, which has given rise to the emergence of many unscrupulous manufacturers who often mix additives into cement that greatly reduce quality. finished composition. In order not to make a mistake when choosing cement and buy a really high-quality product, you need to know something about what good cement looks like and what properties it should have:

• cement is sold in bags and in loose form. It is better to take cement in bags, because this way it is protected from external influences, retains its qualities longer, and on the packaging of the bag you can always find out information about the composition, production date, characteristics of cement and its manufacturer. Bags are usually made of two layers of paper, the inner one protects the cement from getting wet. By the way, the absence of any information on the packaging is also a sign that you may have low-quality material in front of you;
  
• if you buy cement in bulk, and it is packaged in bags, then it is better to check carefully best before date on each, since in the total mass you can be sold stale goods. The activity of cement after 6 months from the date of production drops several times;
• check freshness of cement possible by experience. It is enough to hit the bag - the sensations should not resemble a hit on a stone. The cement is the first to harden in the corners of the bag, so it also does not interfere with checking them. Naturally, if there is no production date on the package at all, then it is better not to take such a product;
• cement must be stored in dry and well-ventilated areas, otherwise it will quickly harden;
  
• quality cement color- gray, more precisely from light gray to dark gray and even greenish. Dark and marsh shades are not allowed. Good cement should crumble in the hand, and when compressed, it should not crumple into a lump;
• The fineness of the grind affects the curing process. The smaller the fraction of particles, the faster the composition will harden and the higher its price. Too fine a fraction increases water consumption, so ideally it is better to take cement where fractions from 40 to 80 microns are found;
• does not interfere with assessment of the composition and characteristics of cement. It is not difficult to do this, but in advance it is necessary to prepare bicarbonate-sodium water (Borjomi is suitable) or bicarbonate-chloride-sodium. It is necessary to release gas from the water. Next, we use it for kneading cement dough and forming cakes with a diameter of 15 cm from it. In the center it should be thicker (5 cm), narrower towards the edges (1 cm). High-quality cement should begin to set no later than after 10 minutes, and the thickened part will noticeably heat up. If setting does not occur even within 30 minutes, then you have a composition of poor quality.

No. 7. The best cement manufacturers

Finally, we emphasize once again the need for information on the brand of cement, its properties, production date and contact details of the manufacturer on the packaging.

Cement refers to the most popular building materials. It belongs to the group of hydraulic binders that are used in the process of fixing various surfaces. The properties of this material vary greatly depending on the required tasks. To find out which cement is best for the foundation - you need understand the types of cement, its brands and main characteristics.

Cement is a free-flowing powder of dark gray color. It is the main component of concrete. It is mixed with sand, water and gravel - resulting in a monolithic composition that can withstand significant loads.

Features of cement for the foundation

On the package of cement is marking, which helps determine the percentage composition of additives and loads that future structures can withstand.

When choosing cement for pouring the foundation, you need to knock on the bag to determine the degree of flowability of the material. If the consistency of the composition is with fossils, then such a product should not be purchased. Availability lumps in powder indicates a too long shelf life of cement. When choosing a product, consider resistance to aggressive factors.

The cement must have the following characteristics:

The advantages of cement mixtures include:

Calculation of cement for the foundation

For many brands of cement, certain values ​​\u200b\u200bare already provided, which are taken as the main measure when building a foundation:

Certain additives have an effect on improving the quality of cement. There are special components that allow the solution to be used at very low temperature values. For the construction of foundations for buildings, a brand of cement for the foundation M300 and above is selected.

Knowing the consumption of cement for cubic meter, you can calculate - how much building material will be needed. Simple calculation of the amount of sand and cement with the addition of crushed stone: for one part of cement, three parts of sand and five gravel are taken. In this case, water must be added to dilute the solution of medium consistency.

Deciding: what kind of cement is needed for the foundation, you need to pay attention to the quality of sand and gravel. The sand should not contain clay substances, as this reduces the binding properties of the cement. It is also worth considering that the cement fraction does not exceed 40 mm.

Varieties

In the construction industry, there are more than 30 varieties of cement. The most commonly used types are:

There are a lot of types of cement, therefore, when choosing a material for the base, the grade of cement for the foundation is considered the most important parameter. Each of them has a certain class of strength and frost resistance.

Brand selection

It should be borne in mind that damage to the packaging will cause the material to absorb moisture and become unusable in a few days. It is important to know how to calculate the cement for the foundation correctly in order to accurately calculate how many packages will be needed and not buy material in reserve.

In addition to the marking of cement, the bags are written additional indexes:

• D0 says that the cement without additives.
• D20 means that the composition contains 20% additives.

Various abbreviations are also used. HRC stands for Portland cement, Pl- frost-resistant and plasticized. If the soil is dry, then Portland cement is used.

The quality of the prepared concrete is affected by the type of soil where construction works. For rocky and sandy soils you can use concrete M250 or M200. It should be borne in mind that the brand of cement for the M400 foundation is used to create M200 concrete. The ratio of cement, crushed stone and sand is 1 to 4.8 and 2.8. For the M250, this ratio is 1:3.9:2.1.

When building a foundation on clay soils M300 concrete is used, which has more durable properties. It is obtained from M500 cement, and the ratio of the starting material, crushed stone and sand is 1 to 3.7 and 1.9.

Before preparing the solution, you need to check the quality of the sand. Sand is poured into a tank of water and left for a day. If during this time the water has become cloudy, then the material cannot be used to prepare the foundation. You also need to check the quality of the cement. It should not contain fossils. This material begins to harden in the corners of the package. Therefore, all corners are first checked for softness.

The best option for the construction of the foundation is Portland cement without additives. You can also use pozzolanic and slag type of material.

The foundation is the foundation for every building. The durability and reliability of the structure depends on its quality. Therefore, the choice of cement must be taken with responsibility. Knowledge of brands and their characteristics will help to avoid mistakes when buying.

Cement is one of the most common building materials. Only steel can compete with it. The production of cement in the world is very large. Before building a house, you need to understand the markings and varieties of material in order to choose the most the best option. To determine which cement is best for the foundation, it is also recommended that you carefully read the regulatory documentation.

The situation with cement is similar to what happens with other common building materials such as rebar and concrete. New regulations oblige the use of markings that differ from the old one. At the same time, many manufacturers and builders continue to use outdated names, and young professionals are studying new regulatory documents. There is confusion. To deal with it, it is necessary to compare the markings offered by the new and old GOSTs.

Marking according to GOST 10178-85 (1985)

According to this regulatory document, 5 most used brands can be listed:

• ShPTs-300 was used for the manufacture of low-grade concrete, foundation concrete blocks (FBS), trays and rings;
• PC-400 D20 was the most common construction cement;
• PC-500 D0;
• PC-550 D0;
• PC-600 D0.

Marking PC, means Portland cement, ShPC - slag Portland cement. For ShPTs, the content of the additive (slag) is normalized in the range of 20-80%. If the marking indicates the designation D0, then this implies that the additives in the composition contain no more than 20%. D0 - additive-free cements (used for the manufacture of high-strength concretes). The number in the marking is the strength grade, the value is given in kgf per cm2.

Marking according to GOST 31108-2003 (2003)

This document is designed to bring grades in line with the European standard EN-197-1:2000. The designations in these two documents are similar, therefore, knowing domestic standards, one can guess the brand of products of foreign firms. The difference lies in the alphabetic abbreviation, in one case they use the Cyrillic alphabet, and in the other the Latin alphabet.

Labeling describes the product in more detail, which is its undoubted advantage. You can make markings by moving through the columns of the table.

*Unlike the old GOST, the new one uses not a strength grade in kgf/cm², but a strength class in MPa.

When designating between a group and a subgroup (if any), it is necessary to put a solid line. The last two groups are extremely rarely used in construction.

Comparison of old and new markings

When buying, it is important to know the compliance of cement grades so as not to make a mistake with the choice if the manufacturer still uses outdated regulatory documents. It is important to remember that the strength comparison is approximate, since the brand and class do not match in MPa values. For convenience, the following table of the most common cements can be used.

Marking according to GOST 2003 is more accurate, but has one important drawback: the values ​​for the strength of materials do not match exactly. The following comparisons can be made.

From the table it can be seen that the corresponding values ​​are lower than in the old document, this must be taken into account when designing foundations.

When pouring the foundation, it is necessary to use the right binder. Mark, which is needed for the joint venture "Concrete and reinforced concrete structures» can be determined from the table.

For private construction, it is more reasonable to stop at CEM II / A-sh32.5 or CEM I 32.5 (PC-400 D0). This brand will become the most optimal solution in terms of price / quality ratio. If you want to get a foundation of increased strength for a heavy house, it is better to use CEM l 42.5 (PC-500 D0).

Additives in concrete

To improve the characteristics of the mixture or finished construction in addition to cement, special modifiers are added to concrete. Among the most common are:

• plasticizers and superplasticizers. Allows you to reduce the amount of water for mixing. This increases the strength, frost resistance of the finished structure, reduces the likelihood of cracks, and reduces shrinkage. It also increases water resistance.
• Antifreeze additives. Used when filling is required low temperatures. Allows you to work up to -15 degrees Celsius.
• Additives for self-compacting. If it is planned to fill thin-walled structures, these substances are introduced into the solution.
• Additives to accelerate curing. They are used to increase strength in the first day after pouring.
• Additives to slow down hardening. Use if it is necessary to maintain the mobility of the mixture for a sufficiently long time.

Most often in modern construction plasticizers are used. The use of complex additives for concrete mix.

Important points when buying

When buying material yourself, you must carefully examine the product. This will avoid problems during the construction and operation of the building. A few tips that will help when purchasing cement for pouring the foundation:

1. The origin of the material is very important. Cement is produced in many countries, but it is better to give preference to domestic brands. Climatic conditions in different regions are different, and the requirements for concrete are different. Particular attention should be paid to the material from Turkey, Iran and other countries with a warm climate. This cement does not meet Russian standards for frost resistance and moisture resistance due to differences in environmental conditions. It is better to use raw materials that are produced specifically for the northern regions.
2. To make sure that the manufacturer indicated on the package is really one, you need a special document - a sanitary and epidemiological conclusion, which indicates the address of the production. The seller is obliged to present this document at the request of the buyer. The absence of a conclusion should cause suspicion of the quality of the goods.
3. Careful inspection of the packaging will also ensure the quality. It should have small holes designed to remove excess moisture.
4. It is not recommended to use cement that was made more than 2 months before the date of construction. The quality of the material may be unsatisfactory. When buying, pay attention to the date of production. Stones and hardened areas can form in old cement.
5. Even if the date of manufacture satisfies the requirements, the package is probed for the presence of stones and seals. If the contents of the package are loose, cement is bought without fear.
6. The standard weight of a bag of cement is 50 kg, the permissible deviation in both directions is 1 kg. If the condition is not met, the material was poured into the bag by hand in a small factory, which cannot guarantee the quality.

To avoid problems when pouring, it is recommended to buy one test bag of material and mix the concrete solution. If he succeeds good quality, you can purchase material for the entire scope of work. But it is very important to buy material from the same lot. One manufacturer may vary in quality from batch to batch.

A competent choice of a binder for a concrete mixture will guarantee high reliability of the structure, subject to the technology.

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