What is White Cement?

White portland cement is very similar to regular gray portland cement and is often used for small or decorative concrete applications because of the price. White cement is more expensive than regular portland cement because it takes more to refine white cement to ensure it stays white.
White cement can be used interchangeably with or instead of regular portland cement at the same mix ratios you would use for a regular concrete mix. These two types of cement are quite similar, however, there are a couple of differences between them other than just the color.
Obviously, white cement is white and not grey. The white color is achieved by using slightly less raw materials, leaving out the ingredients and refining processes that contribute to the gray color. Materials like iron oxide and manganese are minimized to it white and during the refining process, an oil-fired kiln is used instead of coal or natural gas to avoid contamination from coal ash.
White cement powder is a finer consistency than regular cement powder. The fineness of the cement makes the initial set up time faster because the fine powder allows for faster and more thorough water absorption to begin the actuating process (hardening). The finished strength and quality of white concrete compared to regular concrete is basically the same.
White cement is typically used for smaller projects and decorative applications simply due to the high cost of it compared to regular concrete. Making concrete slabs, driveways or sidewalks is basically unheard of because of the prohibitive cost of the white concrete in those large amounts.
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#CreatingConcrete #whitecement #whiteconcrete #cement

[@patrickohara227]

Your intro sequence and song remind me of a sitcom! -- talented approach to welcome viewers!

[@creatingconcrete]

Thank you. I find your positive comment encouraging.

[@deathsromath]

I am able to find the stuff pretty easily for around 30 a bag in my local metro area (45 minutes away). I love working with it, the mines in the mountains around here have so much white sand so it’s a great mix.

[@raappant]

Sometimes the grey cement has a red hue on it. About 20 years ago I worked on construction sites and one summer the local concrete suppliers were having problems in getting enough cement. They decided to ship cement from Egypt. That batch had exceptionally high concentration of iron compounds in it and the concrete was more red than grey. They used it mostly on floors and other covered structures but it would have been fun to see red foundations or bridges.

[@nattyw495]

Thank you found it interesting and informative just learning about these different type cement/ concrete, trying to make rocks for dotting and saying from silcone molds for outside..

[@yt4krist0f]

Great summary, thanks!

[@thejuanderful]

Have you looked into glass aggregate for making concrete? I did a quick search of the channel and didn't see anything but I'd love to know your thoughts. They say it makes concrete more resistant to water, easier to work, and more durable, according to the university that did the study. I'm looking to build a bird fountain and I'm planning on white cement for recipe but haven't decided on the aggregate(s) yet. I was thinking of using fine broken glass as a decorative aggregate then I came upon the studies saying you can replace 20% of the cement in the recipe with powdered glass, and since cement is so energy intensive this significantly reduces the carbon footprint. Also it's double the savings with white cement because it costs twice as much, sounds like a win/win/win.

[@kookia213]

The only thing that was missing for me (and still have no good answer) is how to make a white cement plaster (For example), or even, what mix did you use to make your products.

[@plantempowered9409]

Great video! Do you know what would be the application with white portland cement as opposed to micro cement in houses and bathrooms?

[@elmasg4411]

Hi 👋 What about white cement on facades at home ? What a product need to covered/protect it from outside climate factors with? . Or maybe not need to covered ? Will it change its original appearance and color after a few years without top varnish or paint ?☺

[@taladiv3415]

Thank you for your explanation video. It sounds like I was lucky enough to walk into a construction site near my apartment and find an abandoned, partly torn, bag of white cement. I dug with my palm through the crusted layer and took a few fistfuls of the soft white powder... I live in Israel though.

[@SailPlanB]

I use marble dust for countertops cant find white sand in my area. Do you think using marble dust be a issue?

[@harviecz]

I am thinking about using 1:1 gray:white protland cement as a slurry (with acrylic modifier and water) to match color of premixed thinset to fix tiny bubbles and cracks surface.

[@Weyni77]

Thank-you..is there a big difference between white sement and glasstone ( rhinolite) strength wise?

[@bertassoa]

If you were pouring a slab, could you broadcast white cement and/or white sand and float the top to get a lighter color? Would this work? Over time, or with damage, you would of course expose the darker/gray color; but would it work initially?

[@goldcountryruss7035]

I want the maximum reflectivity from a new concrete slab under a bifacial solar panel array. To minimize cost would it be possible to use a thin layer of white mortar to top a just poured normal gray slab? There would only be occasional foot traffic on the final slab so strength is not a critical factor though it should have at least a 20-year service life. Just painting a normal slab white is an option but frequent repainting would probably be an issue.

[@bigdaddyyc]

Yes you can parge with white cement and it'll last the 20-yr service life if done correctly (surface prep, good mix). Though white paint is more reflective (80-90%) - perhaps an epoxy paint is your best bet here, should last the 20 years+ if there's minimal foot traffic.

[@creatingconcrete]

A plaster render will likely fail. It needs water covering it to maintain constant temperature, as without this the plaster layer will delaminate from the substrate layer. I would instead paint with white portland cement slurry onto your regular concrete. It will adhere nicely and definitely be bright and white. Re application every few years will also be simple. Very cost effective to do this.

[@latedemaya]

I see in other videos you mix this with a white sand. Is that kind of just making a white thin set like for setting tile?

[@renebeussen3374]

Have you tried white Portland cement mixed with titanium oxide? Just to add a deeper white. Or is it a waste of money?

[@AbhijatDwivedi07]

Bro can we apply white cement on hardened white cement will it stick?

[@mzawngrgor7275]

Is it okay to make fire brick by it ? if not give me your suggestion .....thanks

[@Spad68]

Trying to find white concrete or cement here in montreal. Looking to making white concrete counter tops

[@jevannawarren369]

Can I use white cement and water only? Is that still strong?

[@MervynChandrakumar]

Can I use white cement to finish the floor of the house?

[@themgmpk3335]

Can this be applied to Sheetrock as a accent wall finish?

[@tradergirl7067]

ive been using bags of pre mixed white countertop concrete. took me a second to realize cement is not concrete. i still have bags of white cement not sure what to mix with it yet.. the white concrete mix has a ton of stones added to it compared to say Cement All which is just dust.

[@creatingconcrete]

Use the white cement and mix it with water. It is now a white wash product you can use for literally pennies to paint block walls, concrete, even other materials as well. This is product / process that made white washing / lime washing obsolete because the white portland cement is superior.

[@MaximumEfficiency]

why not simply put lime into concrete to whiten it?

[@creatingconcrete]

It would not whiten the cement. The gray from the cement powder is like a pigment or dye. Adding 50% white to 50% gray would result in 100% gray material. It takes a ton of coloring to move gray cement from being anything other than gray.

[@MaximumEfficiency]

@@creatingconcretethanks, I knew that cheap solution probably wont work. However iron oxide powder works well for changing the color.

[@louie5187]

They must have broken bags of white cement maybe

[@MarkMichalowski]

Boy, they sounded kinda jerkish!!

[@creatingconcrete]

I was not impressed with how the phone call went

[@salvadorpalma8173]

@@creatingconcrete When they mentioned the truck load you should have asked: "how much for 2?".

[@salvadorpalma8173]

Sad to hear the company gave you a cold shoulder. Some companies really don't know how to market their stuff, even going so far as shooting themselves in the foot. It's the old school mentality. I bet if it was a shitty local cable television asking to make a piece for a news programme that nobody watches they would take the whole day off and ask the employees to come with brand new uniforms that day. It's a bit pathetic :)