If you’re planning a weekend with some DIY building work, chances are that you’ll need to choose cement. However, it’s not as simple as grabbing the first bag at the hardware store. You might only know the quality of the cement once you use it, but there are ways to make sure you’re using a reliable product. When buying your cement, look at details like the brand, the strength class, mix designs and technical support offered by the company.

According to the experts at PPC Cement, the quality of concrete is mainly dependent on the strength and composition of the cement, the quality of the aggregates, the concrete mix design and the water to cement ratio, so make sure you follow the instructions on the back of the pack – don’t guess! The correct application of high-strength, quality cement will give you a strong, reliable concrete, mortar and plaster and structures that are durable.

• Try not to buy more cement than required, as it has a limited shelf life.
• Add just enough water to make the mix workable, too little water will make the mix difficult to compact; too much water will lower the potential strength.
• Mix until the colour and workability of the mix are uniform.
• Use a concrete mixer, or mix using a shovel on a dry, clean non-absorbent surface.
• Cure your concrete for a few days by keeping it covered, spraying with water mist or using a curing compound.