While cement and concrete are often used to describe the same things, like a driveway or a sidewalk, each word carries a different meaning. Here’s a summary of the difference between concrete vs. cement:
- Cement is an ingredient in the mix that creates concrete.
- Concrete is the final product of a mixture of cement, water and aggregate.
What Is Cement?
Cement is not a surface but rather an ingredient in the mix that creates a surface. It makes up roughly 15% of the mixture used to produce concrete, combined with water and other aggregates. In this mixture, cement binds the aggregate like a paste to form concrete.
Portland cement is the type most commonly used for commercial and residential purposes. It is also a key ingredient in grout, mortar and stucco and is one of the most widely used materials in the world.
How Is Portland Cement Made?
Portland cement is made using a mixture of hard and soft rocks that are either mined or dug using excavators. Once gathered, the hard materials are crushed and ground, while the soft materials are stirred with water to break them into smaller pieces.
The ground materials are then blended in the correct amounts and burned in a kiln to create clinker. Finally, the clinker is ground together with gypsum and stored in siloes for distribution.
What Is Concrete?
Concrete is the final product of the mixture of cement, water and aggregate, which includes stone and sand. Installation of the mixture is time-sensitive, as it binds very quickly to form concrete, which is why you often see trucks transporting the mixture while mixing it.
For example, when Portland cement is mixed with water and laid down to form a driveway, it only takes a few hours to set. Once the driveway sets, it will take a few weeks to fully harden. Concrete is one of the most common surfaces for driveways and sidewalks, as well as for constructing homes and commercial buildings. It is designed to withstand exposure to the elements and strengthen over time.
Other materials added to concrete may change its properties. Some varieties contain additional ingredients, like recycled byproducts, which enhance the performance. Some ingredients help it set faster or resist freezing.
What Is the Difference Between Cement and Concrete?
Cement is a powdered ingredient produced by mining, crushing, blending, burning and grinding. This ingredient is part of the mixture used to create concrete, the hard surface that makes up driveways, sidewalks and buildings. Other ingredients besides cement include water and aggregate.
What Are the Benefits of Using Concrete?
Concrete and the cement used to make it have various uses across numerous applications, from bridges and commercial buildings to residential driveways and sidewalks. Builders can form this versatile material into different shapes for any application. It hardens in almost any temperature, making it easy to work with.
The material is solid and durable, keeping structures standing for years. It’s also cost-effective due to its low production costs and offers resistance to temperature and water, allowing its use in numerous environments.
Maintaining Concrete Surfaces
While extremely durable and resistant to numerous environmental influences, concrete still risks structural damage if it is not properly maintained. The best way to make sure you concrete remains structurally sound is to have a professional apply a penetrating sealer that strengthens it from within. This sealer enters the surface’s pores and helps prevent damage caused by freezing and thawing. While it enhances function, it doesn’t change the appearance of surface, so you can keep the existing look.
Additionally, hiring a professional to wash your concrete regularly is the best way to remove surface contaminants. A professional can use the proper cleansers to create a quality result.
For the best results on these surfaces, try to seek washing annually. You can follow this maintenance directly with a penetrating sealer, which applies to wet surfaces.
Turn to Perfect Power Wash for Concrete Wash and Seal Services
At Perfect Power Wash, we have spent 20+ years helping customers clean and protect their concrete surfaces. Our long track record in the industry has made us experts in the material and its maintenance process.
For more information, read about our concrete wash and seal process or call 866-289-8224 to get a quote for our services.
