Showdown: concrete vs. plaster vs. Cement

Tomato, tomahto, potato, potahto. Same things, different pronunciation, right? While that may be true for these two items, it’s not the case for concrete, plaster, and cement. While many folks like to use these three words interchangeably, they have distinct properties and purposes in the world of construction.

Let’s break it down: 

Concrete

  • Made of: Cement, water, and aggregate (sand, rock, or gravel)

  • Behaves like: A binding agent when mixed with water

  • Cleaning technique: Depending on its purpose, you can try a few different things. For indoor concrete like countertops, try a mild cleaning solution mixed with water. For outdoor concrete like patios, use bleach, ammonia, or even vinegar. 

  • Best for: Patios, sidewalks, countertops, floors, bridges, sidewalks. Often sealed after curing.

Plaster

  • Made of: Lime, sand or cement, water

  • Behaves like: A binding agent, which expands as it turns from liquid to solid

  • Cleaning technique: Use a soft sponge and water or water mixed with a mild cleaning agent.

  • Best for: Coating ceilings, walls, and other partitions. It’s usually then covered with paint.

Cement

  • Made of: A mixture of ground limestone and clay

  • Behaves like: A binding agent when introduced to water

  • Cleaning technique: Since cement is powdered, it shouldn’t be cleaned!

  • Best for: An ingredient in sidewalks, patios, walls, and more when made into concrete

The differences between concrete, plaster, and cement

As you can see from above, cement is a ground-up ingredient v. an end product—even though concrete and cement are the most commonly incorrectly interchanged phrases.

Concrete and plaster, on the other hand, have more related purposes. While both can be spread on a surface to create a hard finish, in the end, concrete is harder than plaster. Plaster is strong, but not strong enough to build a structure required to have super strength. For example, you wouldn’t want to risk building a dam with plaster! Plaster is much less malleable and more easily cracks. There are many reasons concrete is a great building material, and one of those is it retains its strength under duress. 

Got questions about concrete? Mathews Readymix can help! We’ve been committed to providing our customers with the highest quality concrete and best service in the area since 1947. And best of all, our mixes can be designed to meet the needs of any application, big or small. Contact us today to find out more! 

Aaron Bacon