Readers ask: How To Make Concrete Without Cement?

What can I use instead of cement?

Concrete: Cement Substitutes

• Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA), aka ‘Fly ash’ as a cement substitute. PFA is a by-product of coal-burning power stations.
• Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS) as a cement substitute. GGBS is a by-product of the iron and steel industry.
• Silica fume.
• Limestone fines.
• Alternative fuels.

Can you make your own cement?

Cement, in fact, is one of several ingredients that are combined to make concrete. Cement is a powdery, dry substance that makes concrete when it’s mixed with water, gravel, and sand. Instead of buying a bagged mix, you can try making your own cement by obtaining and burning limestone.

What is poor man’s concrete?

We have a few companies locally that offer “poor man’s concrete“. I’m not sure exactly what it is, but I’ve seen it in driveways and such. It’s a white powdery material they dump and flatten out and when it gets wet, it’s supposed to harden like cement. But, it’s not as pretty and won’t get as hard.

What is natural cement?

Natural cement is hydraulic cement made from limestone that has a high clay content (argillaceous limestone). The resulting powder is natural cement, which will set when mixed with water, and hardens through a process of cement hydration.

Is it cheaper to make your own concrete?

One of the least expensive ways to get concrete is to mix your own. You can buy bags of the mix from a home improvement store. Typically, you only have to add water for it to be ready to pour. Otherwise, you risk getting a weaker concrete once it cures, which could lead to cracks or crumbles within a couple of years.

What’s the best mix for concrete?

In terms of the ratio for concrete, it depends on what strength you are trying to achieve, but as a general guide a standard concrete mix would be 1 part cement to 2 parts sand to 4 parts aggregates. For foundations, a mix of 1 part cement to 3 parts sand to 6 parts aggregates can be used.

What is difference between concrete and cement?

What is the difference between cement and concrete? Although the terms cement and concrete often are used interchangeably, cement is actually an ingredient of concrete. Concrete is a mixture of aggregates and paste. Cement comprises from 10 to 15 percent of the concrete mix, by volume.

How do you make strong cement mix?

In general, the aggregate component of a concrete or mortar mix is usually several times that of the cement. For example, a simple sand and cement mix should be at least 3 part sand (the aggregate) to one part cement. A strong concrete mix would be something like 1:3:5 (Cement, Sand, Coarse Gravel).

How is cement made step by step?

There are four stages in the manufacture of portland cement: (1) crushing and grinding the raw materials, (2) blending the materials in the correct proportions, (3) burning the prepared mix in a kiln, and (4) grinding the burned product, known as “clinker,” together with some 5 percent of gypsum (to control the time of

How do you make hard cement soft?

How to Soften Concrete

1. Remove all loose concrete. If there is any dried or loosened concrete on the surface of the area, tool, or machinery, remove that by hand before applying the softening agent.
2. Spray the concrete with highly pressurized cold water.
3. Spray with softening agent.
4. Remove the softened concrete.

What happens if you put too much cement in concrete?

Excessive cement means high heat of hydration which lead to thermal stresses in concrete which will lead to cracks in concrete. Shrinkage in concrete is directly proportional to the amount of paste in concrete. So there will many shrinkage cracks in concrete if due precautions are not taken.

What is a 1 2 3 mix for concrete?

Concrete is made from cement, sand, gravel and water.



In making concrete strong, these ingredients should usually be mixed in a ratio of 1:2:3:0.5 to achieve maximum strength. That is 1 part cement, 2 parts sand, 3 parts gravel, and 0.5 part water.

Can you mix cement with just water?

Cement mixed with water alone creates a grout which can be used for repairing any damage on concrete structures. This cement-based grout mix is also used in situations where normal concrete won’t work, such as underwater concreting. Concrete is used all over the world because it is durable, economical and versatile.