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Five Tips for Choosing Cement Correctly

In Costa Rica, as in much of the region, cement supply is wide-ranging. However, for construction projects to be of quality, the product must possess some fundamental characteristics.

General-purpose cement is designed for all those parts of the construction that do not require high resistance, such as floors, sidewalks, and non-load-bearing walls.

On the other hand, industrial cement is a product designed for structural loads such as beams, columns, floors, and prefabricated elements, among others, which accelerates the work speed of the construction, ensuring good performance.

Luis Baltodano, Quality and Environment Manager at Cementos Progreso Costa Rica, explains that it is very common for individuals to rely on the builder’s knowledge, completely dissociating themselves from cement purchasing. «It is very important to know these five recommendations for making a proper purchase and ensuring our investment,» he says.
  1. Cement must have at least 45 days of having been produced. This is because after this time the hydration process begins affecting the materials performance “Where it is made is an important factor that brings security to the project.”
  2. In Costa Rica, a regulation exists which stipulates that cement must be certified by the Institute of Technical Standards (INTECO). This certification ensures that the cement meets the national regulation quality standards.

     

  3. Cement must have stable performance: this characteristic in construction translates to savings. This confidence allows for mixture optimizations, whereas if the cement has high variability, it has been proven that it can fail at any time.

     

  4. Storage matters: Cement easily reacts with water or moisture, so special care must be taken with the conditions in which it is stored. It is important to prevent direct contact with the floor or walls, so using wooden pallets is recommended. During rainy season, it should be adequately protected under a roof since high humidity accelerates cement hydration, even if it is correctly stored.

     

  5. Some environments or locations present conditions that are more aggressive than others. For instance, beach areas are considered chemically aggressive due to the high salinity conditions. Therefore, environmental conditions define the need for more or less resistant cement types.

Do you have questions? We can help you!

Cementos Progreso operates its production plant in Abangares de Colorado, Guanacaste, from where it manufactures, markets, and distributes nationwide.

If you have inquiries about the characteristics of the cement, a team of expert advisors awaits you from January 24th to 27th at the Cementos Progreso stand in the Pedregal Events Center.

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