Portland cement is the most common type of cement. In particular, “Ordinary Portland cement” is the normal, grey cement with which most people are familiar. Material made by heating a mixture of limestone and clay in a kiln at about 1400 to 1600 degrees (2550 to 2990 F), then grinding to a fine powder with small […]
Pressure Treated Lumber: Definition, Advantages and Disadvantages of Pressure Treated Lumber
Pressure treated lumber is used in many applications such as for fencing or as building materials. But people often wonder what exactly is pressure treated lumber and what can it be used for? Pressure treated lumber is best used outside away from any vegetation that will be consumed by humans or animals. What is […]
What is Fluoropolymer Coating: Advanatges and Disadvantages of Fluoropolymer Coating
What is Fluoropolymer Coating? Many people may not have heard of fluoropolymer coating, but it is around us every day. Fluoropolymer is a polymer that is based in fluorocarbon and contains strong carbon-fluoride bonds. A polymer is a chemical compound that is made of several molecules and has a low mass. The polymer is a large […]
Petrified Wood: Characteristics, Advantages and Disadvantages of Petrified Wood
Petrified wood is the wood that has fossilized and turned to stone by the process of permineralization. All of the organic materials within the wood have been replaced with minerals. It still retains the original structure of the stem tissue; it is a three-dimensional representation of the original wood piece. The process of petrifaction occurs […]
Varnish vs Polyurethane | Difference Between Varnish and Polyurethane
Polyurethane Polyurethane is basically a substance that is used for coating woods. The substance is nothing but oil or water based plastic resin that saves wood from getting damaged due to moisture. Varnish On the other hand, Varnish is another type of wooden finish, derived from oil, solvents and resins. This is basically a traditional […]
7 Mortar and Concrete Differences Every Civil Engineer Should Know – Mortar vs Concrete
Mortar and Concrete Mortar is a mixture of sand and cement that is usually used to build bricks or blocks. Concrete on the other hand has a composition of broken stone, sand, cement and water. This article concentrates on the basic differences in between mortar vs concrete. Differences between mortar vs concrete There are many who […]
Cinder Block Vs Concrete Block – Difference Between Cinder Block and Concrete Block
Cinder block vs concrete block Cinder blocks are hollow rectangular structures usually made of concrete and coal cinders which find application in construction sites. Concrete blocks on the other hand are flattened structures made of steel, wood or cement. The major differences can be illustrated in the form of a table showing the differences between […]
How to Lay Bricks – A Four Step Guide to Lay Bricks with Mortar
Many people often come to a common question how to lay bricks? Laying bricks is basically a systematic approach and it should be done with precision to provide enough strength to the construction. Bricks are considered as foundations of any establishments and thus, this job not only requires precision, but also needs sheer accuracy. When […]
Types of Brick For Different Construction Works
Civil engineers use different types of brick in different construction structures such as buildings, bridges, road construction, pavements etc. The types of brick for a particular construction project is determined according to its purpose, life time expectations, expected weight, Eco conditions, etc. The standard format of laying bricks is to lay them flat on the structure or […]
How to Make Bricks – A Guide to Standard Industrial Process for Manufacturing Bricks
The art of producing bricks is one of the major human inventions in the history of human civilization. In primitive era, our ancestors did not know how to make bricks. But, they applied their innovations and had successfully produced bricks. We are presently carrying their legacy. The urban modernization of the present world would have […]
Different Standardized Brick Dimensions
Manufacturers produce bricks according to their own specifications and in most of the cases, standard brick dimensions are maintained globally. However, if buyers want, they can order for customized brick sizes. In this article, mainly the standard brick dimensions will be discussed. Generally, most of the bricks are manufactured in nominal size. Nominal size bricks […]
Refractory Brick or Fire Brick | Salient Advantages and Applications of Fire Bricks
Refractory brick, also popularly known as fire brick, is a type of brick that is designed or manufactured to cope with high heat environment. For example, to construct kilns and furnaces this kind of brick is used. Numerous manufacturers around the world produce refractory bricks in different sizes, shapes and styles. Most of the manufacturers also deliver […]
How to Remove Paint From Brick – 4 Efficient and Cost-Effective Methods
Paint on bricks may seem impossible to remove, there are some useful methods which can be deployed to remove paint from the bricks with seamless precision. So, if the question is how to remove paint from brick, here in this article you will find some befitting answers. To start with the job, you need a […]
Concrete Dye: Advantages, Disadvantages and Types of Concrete Dying
With concrete dye, it is left to your dreams and imagination to make that beautiful floor space. As with many things though, you need to know exactly what you will be getting into before you can commit. Using the right coloring method will mean a world of difference to your floors and the impact on […]
Sealing Concrete Floors: How to Seal Concrete Floor: Simple Steps
With concrete sealer, concrete is made more resistant to weather exposure, grease and oil stains, water as well abrasion and salts. In addition it is essential to bringing out the concrete’s natural beauty and making it easier to clean when applied right. When concrete is sealed, porosity is reduced so that the level of oil […]
Concrete Overlays: Importance of Concrete Overlaying
Cracks, pop outs, discoloration or any other flaws on concrete shouldn’t be a headache anymore because of concrete overlay. A concrete overlay enables you cover up surface imperfections that may be present on existing concrete. It provides for an alternative to a complete removal or replacement of the concrete and the good news is that they […]
Stamped Concrete: What Makes Stamped Concrete Patio So Special?
The days of traditionally smooth and gray concrete are fast fading with the introduction of decorative concrete. Stamped concrete patio is taking the lead over its plainer counterpart. This is because stamped concrete not only costs less than the more traditional tiles, brick or stone but also offers a wide range of patterns, textures and colors to choose […]
Concrete Resurfacing: How to Resurface Damaged Concrete
Those days are gone when cracked, old, discolored or imperfect concrete was removed or replaced. Today, thanks to concrete resurfacing, you can have your concrete transformed into a new, decorative concrete at a lesser cost than you would spend on replacing or removing it. With concrete resurfacing, the old drab concrete can be given a […]
How to Color Concrete: 5 Methods
Concrete has the ability to take on any number of shapes, patterns, designs or textures if done right. It also has the ability to take on a wealth of color to further add to its decorativeness. Colored concrete is taking over plain old concrete fast because of its diversity in providing a decorative area. There […]
How to Make Concrete Mold: Step by Step
Making concrete mold depends on a number of factors such as the materials used, your skill set, the shape you desire and the tools you have. In order to have a durable mold, it is important to ensure that it is smooth and waterproof with an ability to hold the concrete until it sets. Molds enable […]
What Makes Polymer Concrete Special?
Polymer concrete, also known as resin concrete is conventional concrete that is made from synthetic resins and a hardening agent as opposed to using the more traditional cement binder. In other words, traditional cement comprises of sand, coarse aggregate, and water while polymer concrete comprises of polymer resin and aggregate. Unlike traditional concrete, polymer concrete […]
Prefabricated Concrete: Advantages of Using Prefabricated Concrete
Prefabricated concrete is the concrete that is produced by casting into a reusable mold or form. This type of concrete is produced away from the site and then transported to the site when needed. The production level of such concrete is of the mass production type which makes it ideal for building a large number […]
Acid Stained Concrete: Choosing Colors and Preparing Surface
Acid stained concrete is a water-based liquid that comprises of minerals and acid. When applied to concrete, the stain penetrates to its pores hence forcing a chemical reaction between the available lime in the surface and the muriatic acid. The end result of the penetration is a permanently altered concrete in terms of color. A […]
A Guide to White Portland Cement – Obtain Unique and Sophisticated Concrete
Generally, the term ‘cement’ denotes the usual gray color powder that has been extensively used for building constructions throughout the world. Though gray cement has been found universally, there is another type of cement that can also be found in the marketplace. This type of Cement is known as White Portland Cement or simply white […]
How To Make Cement – Step by Step Guide
Cement manufacturing process is not as complex as it seems to be. Industrial manufacturing process of cement definitely involves step by step methodologies. Furthermore, for producing cement, some machines or tools need to be involved. Apart from the tools, a few basic ingredients are also required to make cement. In this piece of writing, the […]
Stamped Concrete Prices – Different Budget Options for Stamped Concrete Furnishing
The cost of installing stamped concrete can vary widely, depending upon different factors. The basic factors that influence the price for stamped concrete installation are the price of the raw materials, labor cost, etc. Stamped concrete price also depends on the surface area as well. For large surface area, the cost will be higher for […]
Concrete Block Prices – Factors That Influence The Cost of Concrete Blocks
Concrete blocks are often used for building manufacturing and for paving the surfaces. Use of concrete blocks has become quite extensive these days and the prime reason behind that is nothing but concrete block price. Generally, it has been noted that the cost of concrete block is lower than other alternative options. However, cost-effective is […]
Cement Price: Different Influential Parameters
Cement is a basic ingredient for building construction. It has been considered as the basic raw material that builders use for building giant structures or buildings. When it comes to cement, it is generally classified in different sections. Different types of cements are available in the marketplace from the hoods of different manufacturers. Cement cost […]
What Is a Brick Lintel: Plan, Fixing and Structure
Windows and doors generally need support to avoid crumbling in the middle, brick lintel provides this support. The reason why a support is needed is that stones, however thick, they have little or no lateral strength. It means stones don’t have a strong support. However, a brick lintel can give this support. Apart from providing support […]
Lightweight Concrete Mix – Reduce Weight Without Compromising The Strength
Although lightweight concrete has been around for many years, their usability and efficiency is being realized just now. As the name suggests, the main difference between ordinary concrete and lightweight concrete is in the weight. While the ordinary concrete is heavy and bulky, its lightweight counterpart is much lighter and easy to handle. Apart from this […]
Calculating The Cost Of Concrete During Construction
When you are ready to start the construction of your home, estimating the cost of concrete should be one of the first things to do. Although, it seems an easy task, people often forget to take into account factors that significantly add up to this cost, like cost of forms, concrete price per yard, reinforcements […]
Crushed Concrete – Definition, Pricing and Why To Use
Using recycled concrete in a crushed form is one of the easiest ways to reduce the cost of construction without affecting the quality of the work. Crushed concrete is used by not just homeowners but builders across the globe who realize the significance of using this sturdy source of construction. The crushed concrete price is […]
Concrete Cost: Factors Affecting Cost of Concrete
Estimating the cost of concrete is usually a bit difficult for most homeowners when undertaking any project necessarily requiring concrete. But, let’s not forget that calculating price for any product becomes easier if you know precisely what you are looking for and calculating concrete price is no exception. In case of concrete there are two […]
Concrete Fence Posts – Features and Construction Process
What is Concrete Fence Post Building a fence is necessary when you want to cage livestock or designate your yard. It is imperative for the fence to remain functional. Fence posts are needed for attaching the fence and can be made from many materials. Concrete fence posts are durable and provide a long lasting solution […]
Concrete Mix Ratios – Cement, Sand, Aggregate and Water
Concrete mix ratio is a vital topic in concrete mix design. The four basic ingredients for making concrete are: Portland cement, sand, aggregate (stone) and water. The strength of concrete mixture depends on the ratio in which these four ingredients are mixed. Concrete mix ratio of 1:3:3 – On mixing 1 part cement, 3 parts […]
What is Exposed Aggregate Concrete – Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Exposed Aggregate Concrete
You would have surely seen decorative driveways, sidewalks and patios and perhaps wondered how they are achieved. Those are achieved by using exposed aggregate concrete. Those floors are done by removing the top layer on concrete from a surface to reveal the color and texture of aggregate beneath it. Exposed concrete floors are durable and provide skid […]
Step by Step Guide To Build an Exposed Aggregate Patio
Exposed aggregate is gorgeous and decorative that makes it a popular choice nowadays. Homeowners considering replacing their present patio or including patio in their home get a very good option of making a surface-seeding kind of exposed aggregate. This is the best option when the home lacks an arrangement for draining out chemically treated exposed aggregate. […]
How To Mix Concrete Manually By Hand
For a site engineer, mixing concrete is a routine work during concrete casting. Actually, most of the civil engineers do know well about concrete mixing procedures as it is a basic ground in civil engineering construction works. So, this post on mixing concrete manually is for the civil engineering students and for the newbie civil engineers. Materials needed for mixing […]
Concrete Crack Repairing: How To Repair Small and Large Concrete Cracks
Occasionally, homeowners need to undertake repairing of concrete cracks that tend to develop on driveway, sidewalk or walls from time to time. Here you’ll know ways to repair those cracks but first let us see what causes these cracks to appear. What Causes Concrete Cracks There are quite a few factors responsible for causing cracks […]
Concrete Curing Methods – Relative Advantages and Limitations
Concrete curing is the process of keeping concrete under a specific environmental condition for promoting hydration by controlling the temperature and moisture movement from and into the concrete. Concrete curing is done to increase concrete strength & stability. Concrete curing method is decided according to the working procedure and weather condition. Generally, there are some common […]
Difference Among Acrylic Paint, Oil Paint and Latex Paint – Comparison Table
Acrylic paint, oil paint and latex paint are three of the most commonly used paint types. There are many differences in various aspects like application, preferable conditions, costing etc which are important to consider before choosing a specific type of paint. It is impossible to say that one paint is better than another in this circumstance. The […]
Carbon Steel Vs Stainless Steel – Difference Between Carbon Steel and Stainless Steel
Carbon Steel The Carbon steel is presently most widely used type of the steel. Carbon steel is primarily used in a wide variety of products like structural products, automobiles bodies, cans, canisters, cylinders and various kinds of house appliances. The properties of carbon steel are heavily dependent upon the carbon amount among the total ingredients. […]
Efflorescence In Concrete: Causes, Prevention and Solution
Efflorescence is a very common phenomenon associated with concrete foundations. It often appears in the form of a white fluffy material that you may have noticed on the walls of your basement. Good news is that it is not hazardous, being just a salt that can easily be removed using efflorescence removers and other techniques. […]
Advantages and Disadvantages of Geopolymer Concrete
Geopolymer concrete is considered to be an innovative material that is a viable alternative to traditional Portland concrete or cement used in transportation infrastructures, certain constructions and offshore builds. It is very resistant to several of the durability issues that can cause traditional concretes to crack and crumble. This is accomplished by using minimally processed […]
4 Key Characteristics of Stainless Steel
Characteristics of Stainless Steel Stainless steel is not like ordinary steel in that it does not rust or stain, although it is not completely stain resistant. Here are 4 characteristics of stainless steel. 1. Stainless Steel This term does not mean one specific metal; it is the name of a group of corrosion resistant steels […]
Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (ACC) – Advantages and Disadvantages of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (ACC) Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (ACC) is a thermally insulated concrete based material. It is used in both internal and external construction. This is relatively a new product that is being integrated into the construction process. Advantages and Disadvantages of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Autoclaved aerated concrete is quick and easy to install mainly because […]
Ferrocement – Advantages and Disadvantages of Ferrocement
What Is Ferrocement? Ferrocement was developed by an Italian architect named P.L. Nervi in 1940. Ferrocement is generally applied to a Portland cement and sand mixture applied over layers of expanded steel mesh and steel rebars that are closely spaced and also have small-diameter. Ferrocement is also termed as ‘ferro concrete’ or ‘reinforced concrete‘. Wire mesh is used […]
5 Characteristics of Good Bricks – How To Identify a Good Brick
For a good structure, bricks should be good and well burnt. In a construction site, sometimes we need to check if the bricks are of good quality or it is not. We should be able to identify good bricks without any extra instrument. To do that, we need to know the characteristics of good bricks. […]
Fly Ash Concrete – Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Fly ash In Concrete
Fly ash is the residue that is left from burning coal, and this is formed when the gaseous releases of the coal is efficiently cooled. It is somewhat like a glass powder that is fine in nature. However, the chemical constituents of this residue might vary from one other. Fly ash has several industrial applications […]
Glossary of Concrete Terms Commonly Used
Concrete is an essential part of most construction works. It is not possible to understand if there is no idea about the common concrete terms or words or materials used in the construction process. Here is the commonly used concrete terms glossary. Accelerators: Admixtures that decrease the setting time by increasing the rate of hydration. Admixture: A […]
Difference Between Cement and Concrete – Cement vs Concrete
It is quite usual for many to use the term cement and concrete interchangeably. In fact the two are not the same. Concrete is a mixture of a few items, of which cement is an important constituent. The other usual constituents of concrete are aggregates and any type of cement plus water. Cement acts as […]
How Much Does Insulated Concrete Forms Cost
Insulated concrete forms or ICFs are a result of cast in place concrete walls that are between two layers of some kind of insulation material. These forms are strong and very energy efficient. They are generally used in low rise buildings in both residential and commercial. The walls look similar to those of traditional buildings, […]
Concrete Shrinkage | Types, Factors Affecting and Where Concrete Shrinkage Occurs
Concrete shrinkage can become problematic when doing any type of construction, but especially when dealing with floors. Concrete shrinkage is the contracting of the concrete due to the water evaporating from the mixture. This evaporation will cause the concrete to weaken. This can lead to cracks, internal warping and external deflection. Types of Concrete Shrinkage […]
Cellular Concrete | Foamed Concrete and Gas Concrete
What is Cellular Concrete Cellular concrete is a lightweight product consisting of portland cement, cement-pozzolan, cement sand, lime-pozzolan or lime-sand pastes or pastes containing blends of these ingredients and having a homogeneous void or cell structure, attained with gas forming chemicals or foaming agents. For cellular concretes, containing binder ingredients other than or in addition […]
Air-Entrained Concrete Definition – Advantages of Air-Entrained Concrete
Air-entrained concrete is defined as the air intentionally incorporated by means of a suitable agent. The main types of air-entrained agents are: Animal and vegetable fats and oils and their fatty acids. Natural wood resins, which react with lime in cement to form a soluble resinate. Wetting agents such as alkali salts of sulfate and sulphonated […]
Timber Piles | Advantages and Disadvantages of Timber Piles
When Timber Piles are used Timber piles are advantageous in wet and compressive soils to build light structures. Cost is reduced in timber piling. Piles are generally used as friction piles. Timber pile are mostly square or circular shaped. Advantages of Timber Piles Timber piles are used in many developed countries for its ease of […]
Sulphate Attack on Concrete
Sulphate Attack Solid salts do not attack concrete but when present in solution they can react with hardened concrete. Some clay contain alkali, magnesium and calcium sulphate and the ground water in such a clay produces a sulphate solution. Attack on concrete can thus take place the sulphate reacting with Ca(OH)2 and with calcium aluminate hydrate. […]
Concrete Surface Finishing | How to Finish Concrete Surface
Concrete is essentially an artificial stone. It is subjected to weathering agents like natural stone. Therefore, the concrete surface should be given some finishing. The concrete surface finishing is of various types such as plastered finishing, shuttering finishing, dressed finishing and granolithic finishing. Plastered Finishing: This is a very common type of concrete surface finishing. […]
Concreting in Cold Weather | Cold Weather Concrete
Concreting in cold weather offers some special problems. If it is done at a freezing temperature, the mixing water freezes with a consequent increase in the overall volume of the concrete. Further, since no water is available for the chemical reactions, the setting and hardening of concrete are delayed, thus resulting in a poor concrete. […]
Lightweight Concrete | Classification of Lightweight Concrete
In concrete construction, lightweight concrete has become very popular in recent days. Self weight represents a very large proportion of the total load on the structure and there are clearly considerable advantages in reducing the density of the concrete. The chief of these are the use of smaller sections and the corresponding reduction in the […]
Soundness of Cement | How to Keep Cement Sound
Soundness of Cement To keep cement sound we need to be careful in some aspects. It is essential that a cement paste, once it has set, does not undergo a large change in volume. Such changes in volume may take place due to the delay in hardening cement, namely free lime, magnesia and calcium sulphate. If […]
Hot weather Concrete – Behavior of Concrete in Hot Weather
Concreting in hot weather: There are some special problems involved in hot weather concreting, especially arising both form; increased rate of evaporation and fresh mix. These problems concern the mixing, placing and curing of concrete. A high temperature of fresh concrete results in a more rapid hydration and leads therefore, to accelerated setting and to a […]
Cement | Low Heat Portland Cement
When to use low heat cement – Hydration of cement is an exothermic process that produces large quantity of heat. In mass concrete structures such as dams, retaining walls, bridge abutment, raft etc the rate of dissipation of heat of hydration from the surface is much lower than that generated. It causes rise in temperature inside […]
Concrete Curing Methods – Water Curing and Sealed Curing
Concrete curing is the process of keeping concrete under a specific environmental condition for promoting hydration by controlling the temperature and moisture movement from and into the concrete. 2 Concrete Curing Methods Mostly Used Concrete curing is done to increase concrete strength & stability. Generally two types of concrete curing methods are use. Each are […]
Well Graded Aggregate, Gap Graded Aggregate, Uniformly Graded & Open Graded Aggregate
Well Graded Aggregate Dense and well graded aggregates are desirable for making concrete, as the space between larger particles is effectively filled by smaller particles to produce a well-packed structure. A well graded soil is a soil that contains particles of a wide range of sizes and has a good representation of all sizes from the No. 4 […]
Heartwood vs Sapwood | Difference Between Heartwood and Sapwood
What is Heartwood? As a tree increases in age and diameter an inner portion of the sapwood becomes inactive and finally ceases to function, as the cells die. The inert or dead portion is called heartwood. Its name derives solely from its position and not from any vital importance to the tree. Mineral deposits, gums and […]
Concrete Bleeding | Causes, Problems and Remedies
Concrete bleeding is defined as the appearance of water on the surface of concrete after it has consolidated but before it is set. This is a type of segregation where water appears at the concrete surface after placing and compacting, but before it is set. Water may also form a film under aggregate and reinforcing […]
Setting and Hardening Characteristics of Portland Cement
Setting and Hardening of Cement The term ‘Setting‘ is used to describe the stiffening of the cement paste. Setting of cement refers to changes of cement paste from a fluid to rigid state. Setting differs from Hardening of cement. The term ‘Hardening’ refers to the gain of strength of a set cement paste, although during setting […]
Concrete | Advantages and Disadvantages of Concrete
Concrete Concrete is an artificial stone-like material used for various structural purposes. It is made by mixing a binding material (as cement) and various aggregates (inert materials), such as sand, stone chips, brick chips, brick chips, pebbles, gravel, shale, etc with water and allowing the mixture to harden by hydration. Basic advantages and disadvantages of […]
