If you have this question in mind, which is the best cement for house construction? You are at the right place, read this blog to know the best cement to use depending on the type of construction work.
There are so many types of cement available in the market and depending on the type of construction work, cement must be chosen.
Mainly 3 types of cement are generally used for house construction.
They are:
1.Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC):
There are three grades of OPC available:33 grade,43 grade and 53-grade cement.
Cement grade is based on the compression strength (Mpa) of the concrete that will attain after 28 days of setting. Grade 33 refers to the cement attaining compression strength of 33 Mpa in 28 days of setting. This is same for 43 and 53 grades of cement.
Grade 33 and 43 were used for construction in the past. As per IS standard code Grade 53 grade of cement is recommended for house construction.
53-grade cement can be partially replaced with 20% of fly ash by the weight of cement in the construction site and can be used.
Partial replacement of cement by fly ash not only saves cost but also improves the durability properties of cement due to the pore refinement (achieved by adding fly ash). This also increases workability and increases strength. OPC cement is used for structural elements like beams, columns etc. Since OPC gains strength early it has a higher heat of hydration and due to this, cracks are formed.
2.Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC):
PPC cement is generally used for plastering, brick masonry and waterproofing works. PPC has a lower heat of hydration and it is prone to fewer cracks compared to OPC. PPC has lower strength than OPC but PPC provides better workability and finishing than OPC. PPC provides greater resistance to chemicals.
3.Portland Slag Cement (PSC):
PSC is used for structures built near the sea shore. PSC provides excellent resistance to sulfate and chloride. PSC has excellent corrosion resistance properties, hence it is widely used in coastal regions, sewage disposal, and water treatment plants.
Conclusion: Which is the best cement for house construction? OPC or PPC or PSC?
When it comes to choosing the best cement for house construction you should keep these things in mind.
- What kind of work is done? OPC is good for structural elements (beams, columns, slabs etc),PPC is very good for plastering and finishing.
- After how many days you want to remove the formwork? OPC takes lesser time to set than PPC.
- If you are construction near seashore areas, PSC must be chosen over PPC and OPC because of its excellent corrosion resistance properties
