What is the Difference between Cement and Concrete?

Concrete and cement are not the same thing. 

While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, cement is actually an ingredient of concrete alongside water, sand and stone.

So, while cement is incredibly important when creating durable concrete, it’s important to understand that they are two distinct things.

At Chorley Concrete, we’re expert concrete suppliers across Wigan, Chorley, Preston, Manchester and the surrounding areas. We’ve spent more than a decade supplying bespoke mixes to domestic and commercial customers, and in this article, we’ll explore one of the main questions we’re asked: what is the difference between cement and concrete?

What is cement?   

Cement is a fine powder that acts as a binding agent when formulating concrete. It’s produced by heating raw materials, most commonly limestone and clay, in a kiln, which is then ground into a powder that is used to make the concrete. 

When cement is mixed with water, it undergoes a chemical change known as hydration. This forms a paste that will bind other materials together, most notably the aggregates that are also used when formulating concrete. 

On its own, cement is not a structural material; it is simply a powder that needs to be combined with other ingredients to create concrete, which provides the strength and durability needed for all manner of construction projects. 

What is concrete?

In contrast, concrete is the final product of different constituent parts, including cement. It is one of the most popular building materials in construction and has been for centuries. It is extremely durable, has a high load capacity and is weather-resistant, giving it all the properties of one of the most reliable materials. 

At Chorley Concrete, we supply a wide range of concrete mixes to our customers, including:

• Ready-mix concrete – This concrete is premixed and delivered to you ready to pour, saving time as it requires no on-site mixing.
• Volumetric concrete – This is mixed on-site using a specialist mixer. Only precise quantities are produced, meaning you’ll only ever pay for what you need.
• On-site concrete – Tailored mixes will be made on-site to suit the specific requirements of your project.

We also supply interlocking concrete blocks, aggregates and offer concrete pumping to move your mix wherever it needs to be.

Key differences between cement and concrete 

Now that we have explained that concrete and cement are not the same thing, let’s look at some of the main differences:

• Composition – Cement is a powdered binding agent, whereas concrete is the final product made from cement, water and aggregates.
• Uses – Cement cannot be used alone, but when mixed to create concrete, the final product can be used for a whole host of applications, from driveways to foundations.  

• Strength – Concrete is renowned for its strength and durability, making it great for load-bearing projects. Again, cement is just an ingredient of concrete and has no strength on its own.

When you order concrete from Chorley Concrete, our friendly team of experts will guide you through the ordering process, making sure you always have the mix you need. Use our concrete calculator to work out how much you need and contact us to place an order.