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Masonry and Cement Products Buying Guide

Brian Gregory

By Brian Gregory
Updated October 6, 2022

The first step to a good masonry project is choosing the right product. With such a wide selection, how do you decide? Use our guide to put your project on a firm foundation.

A man using a trowel to level concrete.

Concrete

While often confused as being the same, there's a big difference between concrete and cement. Concrete is normally used as a structural component in building projects and is a mix of materials, while cement is just one ingredient in concrete, acting as a binder. Cement can't be used alone for concrete projects. It's only the binder that holds the gravel, sand and other materials of concrete together.

Mortar

Mortar acts as a bonding agent for brick, block and other building materials. For projects or repairs that don't require a lot of concrete or mortar, look for smaller-sized bags of concrete and mortar mix. They're easier to manage than full-size bags and don't leave you with as much leftover material to store. 

Coatings

Coatings are used to weatherproof and protect masonry structures.

Patches

Patches are used to repair and fill cracks and holes in masonry applications.

Masonry Accessories

Masonry tools and accessories make working with concrete and mortar easier.

Calculating the Number of Bags

Concrete mix doesn't expand when water is added, so a good rule of thumb is: The area the bag of concrete mix takes up will be the same size it will be when water is added and it hardens. This rule of thumb is best used when laying a 4-inch-thick concrete pad. Most concrete bags are 4 inches thick, so if you lay the bags end to end, you can measure out the number of concrete mix bags you'll need for a designated square footage.

For More Calculations:

What is Rebar?

A single piece of steel rebar on a white background.

Rebar is a type of steel bar designed to be incorporated into concrete structures. This product helps to strengthen the concrete and prevent cracks. You’ll find rebar in a wide variety of installations including concrete posts, slabs, floors and walls.

Rebar Size Chart

When considering all the various rebar sizes, it’s important to choose the right one for your project. The combination rebar weight chart and size chart below will help you determine the dimensions you need.

A rebar size chart.
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