10 Things You Must Know Before Buying Cement in Nepal
Top 10 Things You Must Know Before Buying Cement in Nepal!!
You are planning to construct a house, school, building, bridge, or anything…….You want it to be strong and long-lasting, isn’t it? Selection and use of the right cement make your construction long-lasting and strong.
Nepal faced a devastating earthquake of 7.8 in Richter scale in 2072 BS. Many houses, heritages, and buildings collapsed. Only the building and houses that used the best cement and construction materials remained still and strong.
Now, do you understand why the use of the right cement and the use of good construction material is important?
If you are thinking to construct a house, school, building, bridge, or anything….make sure to make it earthquake resistant. And also make sure to use good brand cement.
Today in this article we present to you 10 Things You Must Know Before Buying Cement in Nepal.
So, let’s jump right into the topic:
10 Things You Must Know Before Buying Cement in Nepal
10 things you must know before buying cement in Nepal are listed below:
1. Types of Cement in Nepal
Before buying cement, you must have an idea about its types, features, advantages, and disadvantages. So, let’s learn the basic types of cement that are used worldwide and in Nepal as well. They are:
Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)
- Most common cement used around the world.
- Made from a mix of limestone or chalk, and from aluminum oxide, silica oxide, ferric oxide, and magnesium oxide found as clay or shale
- In Nepal, OPC is available in three grades i.e. grade 33, grade 43, and grade 53. The higher the grade higher is its quality.
Advantages
- Has great resistance to cracking and shrinkage but less resistance to chemical attacks.
- The initial setting time is faster.
- The curing period of OPC is less than PPC.
- Has greater strength than PPC.
Disadvantages
- OPC is costlier than PPC.
- Concrete made using OPC is less durable than concrete made using PPC.
- Concrete made using OPC is less cohesive than concrete made using PPC. Therefore, concrete pumping becomes a little difficult.
Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)
- PPC cement is basically OPC cement with some slight variations.
- Commonly used for plastering, brick masonry and waterproofing works.
- In Nepal, PPC is only available in 33 grade.
Advantages
- Good resistance to chemical attacks.
- PPC provides better workability and finishing than OPC. It is highly durable.
- PPC is cheaper than OPC
- Bond of Concrete to Steet is praise-worthy.
Disadvantages
- The initial setting time is low. But hardens over a period of time with proper curing
- Difficult to handle due to its high fineness than OPC.
- The curing period of PPC is a little lower than OPC.
- The strength of PPC is a little lower than OPC.
Both types of cement are best in their own places. You can choose according to your requirements and usability. So, one of the things you must know before buying cement in Nepal is the types of cement and its pros and cons.
2. Features/Properties of Cement
Before buying the cement, you must know the properties of cement and the properties that you want in your purchased cement. So, let’s learn the properties of the cement.
Fineness
This property is the size of cement particles. The fineness of cement directly affects the hydration rate i.e the rate of water absorption which in turn influences other properties like setting time and Consistency.
Soundness
This property is the ability of the cement to retain its shape and volume upon hardening. Good cement retains both its shape and volume even after hardening.
Consistency of Flow
As the name says, this property of the cement is its fluidity at different hydration levels. A standard should be met at a set hydration level for cement to be considered to be of good consistency.
Strength
The strength of the cement can refer to different things such as Compressive strength, tensile strength, and Flexural Strength. Different types of cement have different levels of tensile, compressive, and flexural strength which then determine which area the cement is used.
Setting time
This property of the cement is the time taken for it to harden after being hydrated. This can vary on multiple factors including the fineness, water to cement ratio, and chemical contents.
The heat of Hydration
When cement is mixed in with the water, a small amount of heat is produced. This can affect the quality of the cement. This is an important property as it determines whether or not cement can be used in a certain climate or not.
These are some general properties that you should know about. Besides these, there are also some properties that are specific to a particular type of cement as well. However, knowing the listed ones before buying cement is usually enough for general purposes.
3. Purchase the Cement from Authorized Company Dealers Only
One of the things you must know before buying cement in Nepal is whether or not the company you are buying cement from is an authorized company.
Always buy the cement from the authorized company only.
Top 10 Cement Companies in Nepal
- Jagdamba Cement
- Udaypur Cement
- Hetauda Cement
- Arghakhachi Cement
- Shivam Cement
- Sona Cement
- CG Cement
- Bishal Cement
- Unitech Cement
- Agni Cement
Click on the link to know the 10 Best Cement Brands of Nepal.
4. Check NS Mark
The Nepal Standard (NS)mark is a certified mark that is used on industrial items sold in Nepal such as cement.
Cement having an NS mark has been tested for quality and has passed the test with flying colors. So, you must check the NS Mark before purchasing cement. Do not buy cement that lacks an NS mark.
Checking the NS mark is one of the things You Must Know Before Buying Cement in Nepal.
5. Check Manufacture Date
Always check the date of manufacture in the bag of cement before purchasing it. Do not buy the cement bags manufactured before 3 months of the purchase date.
The strength of cement decreases over time. So, always make sure to check the date of manufacture before purchasing the cement.
Checking the manufacture date is one of the things You Must Know Before Buying Cement in Nepal
6. Check the Condition of the Place where the Cement is Stored
One of the things You Must Know Before Buying Cement in Nepal is the condition of the place where the cement is stored.
Avoid buying the cement stored in a moist place. Check the condition of the cement before buying it. Sometimes, due to exposure to moisture, the cement becomes rock hard. Such cement is useless.
Also, check the stitching of the cement and make sure it is not re-stitched.
7. Cost of Cement
Now, this is obvious, one of the things You Must Know Before Buying Cement in Nepal, is the cost of cement of course.
Have detailed knowledge of the cost of cement you are planning to purchase.
8. Quantity
Always know the quality and quantity of cement you need. Don’t buy more than the requirement thinking you can keep it in stock.
To keep cement in stock requires a separate place that should not have any trace of moisture. Why does this hassle? So, always buy only the quantity you need.
The right amount of Quantity is one of the things You Must Know Before Buying Cement in Nepal.
9. Grade
Another thing You Must Know Before Buying Cement in Nepal is the Grade.
As mentioned before, OPC is available in three grades in Nepal i.e. grade 33, grade 43, and grade 53 and PPC is available in 33 grades.
Buy the cement according to the suggestion of the engineer or architect.
10. Transportation and Storage
Last but not the least, transportation and storage are other things you must keep in mind before purchasing cement.
If you need one or two sacks of cement, transportation is not a problem for you. But if you need cement in large numbers, you will need a vehicle to transport it to the destined place. And after it reaches its destination, you will need a place to store it.
So, manage transportation and storage room beforehand.
Conclusion
10 Things You Must Know Before Buying Cement in Nepal!!!
The above mentioned are the things you must know before buying cement in Nepal. Never compromise while choosing the brand and type of cement. Tyes of Cement and the brand of Cement you use are going to determine the quality and duration of your house or building.
Use the best cement and make your building strong and long-lasting.
We hope you enjoyed reading our article on the topic 10 Things You Must Know Before Buying Cement in Nepal.
Thank You for reading it till the end!!
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