What is the difference between concrete, mortar and cement?
06th May 2020 Concrete, mortar and cement are all common materials used in construction – but do you know which you will need for your DIY project? We run through the key differences in composition and usage.
Concrete
What it is
Concrete is a mixture of sand, water and aggregates, bound together using a hydraulic binder: cement. These components react together in order to create a highly durable material that grows stronger over time.
What it’s used for
Concrete has excellent compressive strength, which makes it the most popular construction material in the world. From driveways and foundations, to walls and flooring, concrete is present in the majority of construction projects to some capacity.
Mortar
What it is
Like concrete, mortar consists of a mixture of sand, water and cement. The absence of larger aggregates and a higher water to cement ratio means that mortar is much thicker and more paste-like than concrete. Lime is usually added to improve its durability.
What it’s used for
Mortar is used like a ‘glue’ that holds building materials like stones and bricks together. However, mortar is not as strong as concrete, which makes it unsuitable for use in as many applications as concrete.
Cement
What it is
Cement is a binding agent - a bit like flour when you bake a cake. On its own, cement is nothing more than a fine grey powder, so is not usable as a building material in itself. Cement is commonly made using a mixture of limestone, shells, sand or chalk which is then heated to a very high temperature in a kiln before being ground down into cement powder.
What it’s used for
Many people use the terms cement and concrete interchangeably, but this is incorrect; cement is the necessary component within concrete that reacts with water to give concrete its strength. This occurs through a process called hydration. During this process, the cement compounds form strong chemical bonds with water molecules to form a rock-like mass.
The LGW Group are leading providers of ready mix concrete and concrete pumping services in the South West and South Wales. If you require our assistance with a DIY project this year, don’t hesitate to contact our team.