Glossary of Decorative Concrete Terms

Provided by The Concrete Network
www.concretenetwork.com

A-C |D-F | G-I | J-L | M-O | P-R | S-V | W-Z

W

water-cement ratio - The ratio of the amount of water to the amount of cement in a concrete mixture. The key to producing high-quality decorative concrete is to keep the water-cement ratio as low as possible without sacrificing workability.

water plug - A hydraulic cement used to fill cracks and to prevent the migration of moisture.

water reducer - An admixturethat either increases the slump of freshly mixed concrete without increasing water content or maintains workability with a reduced amount of water without affecting the strength.

welded wire mesh - A woven mesh of wire strands, welded at each intersection, used to reinforce concrete slabs. Also called welded wire fabric.

wet polishing - A method for polished concrete that uses water to cool the diamond abrasives and eliminate grinding dust. Not as commonly used as dry polishing, because the process creates a tremendous amount of slurry (a soupy mixture of water and cement dust) that must be collected and disposed of.

white cement - A portland cement with a low iron content that hydrates to a white paste. Often used in integrally colored concrete to produce pure, bright color tones, especially pastels.

workability - The ease with which concrete or other cementitious materials can be mixed, placed, and finished.

working time - The amount of time available for placing and finishing a cement-based material before it begins to set. Often depends on the ambient temperature and substrate temperature.

X

xylene - A common solvent. Used as a carrier for solvent based sealers. High in odor and flammability.

A-C |D-F | G-I | J-L | M-O | P-R | S-V | W-Z

Site Sponsors