Which cement is better for foundation

When building a house, the reliability of the foundation is crucial. The safety of the whole structure depends on the strength of the foundation. When laying the foundation, it is important not only to strictly adhere to the construction technology, but also to use high-quality cement of the required grade.

Cement

Cement is a dry inorganic substance that, when interacting with water, creates a binding agent that after solidification, it gains the strength of a stone. Unlike other astringent compounds hardening in the air, it needs wet conditions for maturation. Cement is used in the production of concrete. Brand cement informs about its compressive strength. Such marking is denoted by numbers from 100 to 600. In low-rise construction, M100-M400 cements are used, the more durable M500 composition is suitable for the foundation of tall buildings. Cement withstanding a load of 600 kg / cm ² is used in the construction of military facilities.

How to visually assess the quality of

Must be uniform

Mixture manufacturers always indicate full information about your product, including the expiration date. If there is no such information on the bags, then the quality of the material is doubtful. When you buy cement is to evaluate its appearance and structure. When pressing on the package, the mixture should be elastic and free-flowing, without fossils. After opening, the substance should be uniform in color and appearance. The hue of the cement depends on the composition and ranges from gray to greenish. If there are lumps in the package, you need to try to crush them. Cement, crumbling when pressed without effort, is suitable for the manufacture of concrete, and if it kneads with difficulty, it is better to abandon the use of such material.

First of all, you need to inspect the corners of the bag, where the cement deteriorates first.

What factors influence the choice of

Cement grades

Several selection criteria:

• soil characteristics;
• estimated load on the foundation (number of floors, building material);
• type of cement, presence of additives, strength grade;
• presence of a basement;
• proximity of groundwater.

Several types of cement are made: slag, alumina, portland cement, acid-proof and mixed. The presence of additives in the composition of the mixture changes the properties of the material - increases frost resistance, accelerates hardening, etc. Typically, the amount of impurities is designated D20 - 20% fillers and D0 - pure cement.

Interpretation of manufacturers' markings

Features of the marking

Each bag of cement contains information about its physical and technical properties . Brand cement - the main indicator of the strength of concrete, the higher it is, the more reliable will be the foundation of the house. This number indicates the strength that the solution will receive after maturation after 28 days. For the foundation material is used with an indicator not lower than 200. The digital designation is located after the letter M - brand or PC - Portland cement. The cost of the material increases with its strength.

Next, the number of additives is reported - D20 and D0. The following letters indicate the class of cement:

• Н - made according to the standard composition.
• B - fast-hardening.
• GF - hydrophobic, does not immediately absorb water, has a high resistance to frost.
• SS - sulphate resistant, produced for aggressive environment.
• BC - white, used for decoration.
• PL - plasticized.
• ARCS - a special compound, characterized by rapid solidification and water resistance.

With the addition of slag

There is an updated version of the marking, in which the first designation: CEM I - pure cement, CEM II - with the addition of slag or pozzolana. Next comes the class of strength on a scale of 22. 5 - 52. 5 and the curing rate: H - normal, B - fast.

Cement M400 will be the best choice recommended by professional builders. If you are not afraid of additional costs, you can use the M500, which will provide a solid foundation in all conditions at maximum load.

When calculating costs, it is important to consider that the lower the cement grade, the greater its consumption.

Storage Conditions

Must be stored in the right conditions

Violations temperature and climatic conditions of storage of cement significantly affect its strength. M400 properties worsen to M350 in a month, and in half a year to M300. To judge with confidence the strength of the material, you need to buy cement factory production. It always shows the date of manufacture and there is a marking.

When purchasing cement, it is better to perform preliminary calculations and buy the entire volume of material. In this case, each batch of concrete will have the same properties.

Read also:

• rules for the preparation of cement mortar;
• Tape foundation with your own hands step by step instructions.