Portland cement is the most basic type of cement; most construction professionals use it. You can use cement to secure a foundation, to create a low-maintenance floor or to create custom countertops. Cement also makes up a key incredient in other cement products like concrete, stucco and mortar. Construction workers can use wet or dry cement in the building process.
Aside from determing the best way to use cement, you also want a good understanding of the different tools you can use with cement. Using cement building products efficiently means that you:
1. Estimate project costs accurately and use cement efficiently.
2. Determine the best way to mix cement products.
3. Use online tutorials, demonstrations and training to expand your capabilities by using cement to make additional building materials.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Use a project plan to determine what types of cement building products you need
Whether you operate a construction business or want to remodel your office, a project plan can help you determine your needs for cement products. Look for calculators or quantity estimates to help you budget cost or find out the maintenance level for cement products.
I recommend: Quikrete, one of several cement manufacturers, provides project plans for a variety of categories relating to cement products. Targeted specifically to business professionals, it offers product information and a quantity calculator.
The Family Handyman offers a formula for calculating the amount of cement you need for projects.
Mix cement correctly during cement production
Using cement building products means you need to decide whether you want to mix the cement or whether you should hire cement manufacturer to do it. In some cases, you might want to rent a cement mixer. Before you decide which works best, use tutorials and step-by-step instructions to ensure you know the aspects involved in mixing cement.
I recommend: How To Do Things provides an article detailing the steps involved in mixing cement and the different ways to mix it. Use the free tutorials from
Learn2 to find physical requirements and safety issues. Follow the step-by-step article on how to use a power mixer at
eHow.
Incorporate different types of products made with cement
Cement forms the foundation for a variety of building materials including concrete, stucco and shotcrete. This sometimes leads people to use the term cement concrete, however the terms refer to different types of products.
I recommend: Find tutorials on using cement and concrete at
The Mold Store. Visit
Cement Professor for demos and to order videos on using cement building products. Concrete Ideas offers its
Flex-C-Ment training for professionals who want to learn to use decorative concrete.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Ask your cement suppliers for tips on using cement building products and for information on new techniques or products.