How to ensure the quality of white cement?

White cement is one of the important raw materials used for construction of your house. It has high degree of whiteness and is mainly used for architectural beauty, interior and exterior decorations. To make sure the quality of white cement you can apply the following tips.

• Check fineness of white cement: After sieving, the cement on IS test Sieve No.9 (B.S. Sieve No 170) should not exceed 10% in case of Ordinary Portland Cement. The specific surface by Air Permeability method should not be less than 2150 sq. cm/ kg in case of Ordinary Portland Cement.
• Ensure the soundness: Alternatively autoclave expansion should not be more than 0.5% when tested according to IS 269 of 1989.
• Check setting time: Setting time of any type or any grade of cement when tested by VICAT apparatus method described in IS: 4031 should confirm following requirement.

a) Initial setting time: Not less than 30 minutes

b )Final setting time: Not more than 600 minutes i.e. 10 hours

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How to prepare & utilize ready mix concrete?

Ready Mix Concrete, known as RMX refers to a concrete mix in plastic or unhardened state. It is prepared in a factory or batching plant as per required specification. The concrete is mixed under computer-controlled operations according to quality control norms. At mixing site the ready mix concrete is prepared by mixing Portland cement, water, coarse aggregate comprising gravel or crushed stone and fine aggregate consisting of coarse sand which are procured separately and be mixed in specified proportions.

How to utilize ready mix concrete?
After mixing cement concrete, the mix is carried through trucks mounted with transit mixer on working site and is placed at required component of building/work with the help of sophisticated equipments and methods. Ready mix concrete is preferred to on-site concrete mixing due to non-availability of good raw materials at site, lack of facilities and non-availability of trained technical staff. However, ready mix concrete prepared at sites of longer distances can reduce the flexibility in supply chain and in actual components of the building.

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Material purchasing guidelines from Gharexpert.com

Do you know homeowners can be charged of more money while purchasing raw materials and during execution construction works? You can save lots of money on your home construction projects following ‘Raw Material Purchasing Guidelines’ from www. GharExpert.com

• Buy quality cement and bricks: The strength of a building depends on the quality of cement which should be from a reputed manufacturer bearing his trade mark and its grade. The cement of inferior quality can cause cracks in building. Also ensure that first class bricks are used for foundation and strong construction.
• Purchase good steel bars: Steel bars should be sound, free from cracks, surface flaws, laminations, jagged and imperfect edges. They are free from dust, loose rust, and coats of paints, oil or other coatings which reduce the strength of bond. The steel bar is bent accurately to the size and shape as shown in drawings.
• Ensure the quality of marble and granite: Marble stone should be hard, sound, dense, and homogeneous in texture. It should be uniform in color, veining and be free from stains, cracks, decay and weathering etc. Granite is becoming popular as it is hard and available a variety of colors. Check patches, discoloration, hairlines, cracks, deep pin holes on the surface.

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Quantity of water used for construction

Inadequate quantity of water has adverse effect on the strength of mortar and cement concrete. The concrete does not produce required results despite using best raw materials, cement and tested water. Sometimes even executing engineers and contractors do not pay proper attention to water cement ratio or quantity of water for concrete mix.

The water mixed in mortar reacts with cement and forms a binding paste which fills small voids in the sand. This creates a close cohesion of sand particles and cement. In cement concrete, the voids formed between sand and coarse aggregate gets filled with the paste forming a cohesive substance/concrete. The water more than required quantity weakens the strength of cement paste. The following quantities of water should be used for one bag mix.
• Approximate 32 liters of water is required where the ratio 1:2:4 of cement concrete is used.
• Approximate 30 liters of water is required where the ratio 1:1.5:3 of cement concrete is used.

The water for ordinary cement concrete mix should be equal to 5% by weight of aggregate and 30% by weight of cement.

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Checklist before Laying Cement Concrete

There are many precautionary measures before you lay cement concrete for any good construction. Make sure form work /shuttering for line, level and its strength. Steel bars and their placing should be checked. Ensure that there is proper cover to steel bars and adequate numbers of sports/chairs under crank bars. The planks or plates provided for walking over reinforcement are not disturbed during working.



Electrical pipes, fan boxes etc. are laid before lying cements concrete. The gap in shuttering plates is sealed properly by jute bags /mortar /rubber etc. and shuttering plates are properly oiled. Proper curing must be ensured after laying RCC slab. Raw materials should be of good quality and sufficient in quantity. The arrangements are taken in advance in case of rains etc.

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Purchasing Guidelines for Cement

PRECAUTIONS WHILE PURCHASING CEMENT

Cement is the most important raw material used in a building. You should ensure the quality of ‘Cement’ using the following guidelines.
1. The cement should be factory manufactured instead of plant manufactured.
2. The cement should be packed in the bags of synthetic jute or polypropylene bags.
3. The cement bags should not be hand stitched.
4. The cement bag should bear manufacturer's name or his trade mark on it if any.
5. The cement bag should bear the grade and type of cement.
6. The cement bag consignment must have identification mark on package.
7. The cement bag should indicate the date of manufacturing.
8. One cement bag should have 50 Kg. weight.
9. The cement bags should not be older than six weeks from the date of manufacturing.
10. Do not purchase cement bags which are partially set due to moisture. Do not purchase if there are small lumps in the bags.
11. Do not purchase cement bags which are pressed or have lumps due to high pressure of stack having more than 10 to 12 bags.
12. Do not take cement bags which are torn by side and stitched in later.

PRECAUTIONS WHILE TRANSPORTING THE CEMENT BAGS
1. Care should be taken to carry the bags in a clean vehicle which is not dustier or on earth etc. It will reduce the strength of the cement.
2. During monsoon season the cement should be carried under covered Polythene or ‘Tarpaulin’.
3. Care should be taken that the labor should not tear the bags while loading and unloading the cement bags.
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