The Guide To Terrazzo: Everything You Need to Know

 

Terrazzo, which gets its name from the Latin word for ground, terra, is an old composite material that lends a handmade, Mediterranean vibe to any room.

What is terrazzo?

It is a type of building material that is capable of creating various unique finishes. If terrazzo could be summed up in one sentence, it would be described as a composite material that is either prefabricated for precast terrazzo or poured in place for floors, bases, walls, stair treads, countertops, and other customized goods.

Terrazzo consists of chips of marble, granite, quartz, glass, shell or other suitable materials. It binds with either an epoxy matrix or a cement matrix.

Why choose terrazzo?

It is incredibly durable and offers nearly limitless color and material options—fragments might be made of anything from marble to quartz, glass, and metal. In addition, terrazzo is a sustainable alternative for interior design since it is manufactured from leftover materials.

Different Types of Terrazzo Flooring

If you like the way terrazzo tile looks, you should give this flooring option some serious thought for your future building project. The price is more than that of carpets, wood, tile, laminate, and other flooring options, but if you want a floor that will last forever and can withstand a lot of damage, the extra cost might be acceptable.

There are numerous materials and installation choices available, which is why the price range for terrazzo flooring is so wide. Everything depends on the design you desire and the installation location.

To assist you in making a decision, here is a comparison of various terrazzo flooring options.

• Traditional

Depending on the system used, this option is typically the most expensive. It is breathable (won't delaminate like epoxy in the presence of moisture), needs sealing, the heaviest terrazzo option, the most durable indoors and outdoors, has a wide range of color and combination options, needs a concrete foundation, and has bonded and unbonded options to suit different construction requirements.

• Polyacrylate

Cheaper, breathable, needs sealer, installs more quickly, needs a concrete foundation, and only needs a tiny chip size.

• Epoxy resin

Cheapest, practically infinite color combinations, indoor usage only (fades in sunshine and could rip from moisture due to lack of permeability), repels moisture meaning no staining, does not need a concrete foundation and can be installed on wood subfloors.

Where can you use terrazzo?

It can be applied to any interior wall or floor, including kitchens and bathrooms, after being sealed to assure water resistance. Effective heat retention makes terrazzo a great material for underfloor heating. Additionally, because it can be poured into any mould, it is increasingly utilized to make furniture and household items.

Is it easy to maintain?

Cleaning it only requires a simple steam mop or nylon scrub brush. However, poured terrazzo is more prone to breaking than slab terrazzo. The floor will need to be re-ground and re-polished by a professional in order to be restored.

What are the latest innovations?

Terrazzo is now produced using resin in addition to the conventional cement. Although it costs more, it has a smoother surface and is incredibly resilient to cracking and scratches.

Tile Adhesive: The Best Mixes for Different Uses

 Flooring is an essential component of any structure, as it gives beauty and charm to each room and, eventually, to your home. Tiles are the most commonly used flooring material because they are extremely durable and reasonably priced. 

Tile adhesive is a sort of glue that is used to adhere the tiles all around the house. Tile adhesive is a ready-to-use combination consisting of Portland cement, polymers such as epoxy, and chosen aggregate particles, along with additional additives to optimize its laying properties.

Tile adhesives are used to adhere tiles to walls, floors, swimming pools, and other surfaces that may be made of cement, wood, glass, or other materials. Cement, epoxy, and polymer are the most common materials used.

We've attempted to provide a brief overview of tile adhesive and its various forms, which a homeowner must be aware of before placing Terrazzo tiles on their floor.

Tile adhesive is a versatile material that does not shrink or crack as a result of changes in humidity or temperature. Tile glue is used to keep tiles from crazing and thinning. Tile glue is simple to use because ready-made bags are available and only water needs to be mixed.

JK White cement is among the largest cement companies in UAE. It's Tile adhesives that have already been mixed are readily available on the market. They can also be used to fix or prevent water seepage beneath the tiles.

JK Cement Tile adhesives are classified into the following categories based on their intended use:

JK CEMENT TileMaxX TA11

JK CEMENT TileMaxX TA11 is a factory-controlled single-component cement-based tile adhesive for broad sense applications. Ceramic and Vitrified Tiles benefit from their unique composition, which provides good performance and high adhesive strength.

Features

• High Adhesive Bonding Strength Environmentally Friendly
• It's simple to use; all you have to do is add water ad mix it.

Application areas

• Designed to work with both wall and floor tiles
• Suitable for both interior and exterior use
• Ceramic and Vitrified Tiles are two types of tiles.

JK CEMENT TileMaXx TA22

TileMaxX TA22 by JK CEMENT is a factory-controlled single-component, polymer-modified cement-based tile adhesive with outstanding water resistance. Its special formulation provides superior performance with extremely high adhesive strength for a wide range of Ceramic, Vitrified, Terrazzo tiles, and Mosaic Tiles.

Features

• Superior Adhesion Strength 
• Water Resistance 
• Suitable for a Wide Range of Tiles

Application areas

• Designed to work with both wall and floor tiles
• Suitable for both interior and exterior use
• It's perfect for wet places like kitchens and bathrooms.

JK CEMENT TileMaxX TA33

JK CEMENT TileMaxX TA33 is a factory-controlled single-component, polymer-enriched cement-based tile adhesive that provides increased durability. Its unique formula provides the optimum efficiency for a wide range of Ceramic, Vitrified, Mosaic, and Porcelain Tiles, as well as a very high adhesiveness.

• Features
• Excellent Workability and Bonding Strength
• Superior Anti-Slip Performance

Application areas

• Designed to work with both wall and floor tiles.
• Suitable for both interior and exterior use. 
• Ideal for wet spaces, like kitchen or bathroom.

JK CEMENT TileMaxX TA44

JK CEMENT TileMaxX TA44 is a factory-controlled, high-polymer-dosed cement-based tile adhesive that provides greater flexibility and durability. For several types of Ceramic, Vitrified, Mosaic, Glazed tiles, Porcelain, terrazzo cement tile, Marble, and Granite tiles, its unique combination of formulas provides robust efficiency with very high adhesion.

• Features
• Superior Slip Resistance 
• Workability with a Longer Open Time
• Suitable for a wide range of tile types and offers the best overall bonding performance.

Application areas

• Designed to fit all types of interior and exterior areas with the finest durability for wall and flooring Terrazzo tiles. 
• Ideal for damp spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms.

JK CEMENT TileMaxX TA77

JK CEMENT TileMaxX TA77 is a factory-controlled single-component, polymer-modified cement-based tile adhesive with outstanding water resistance. Its unique composition provides superior performance with extremely high adhesive strength for a wide range of Ceramic, terrazzo cement tile, Vitrified, and Mosaic Tiles.

Features

• High Water Resistance 
• Superior Bonding Strength

Application areas

• Designed to work with both wall and floor tiles
• Suitable for both interior and exterior use.
• Ideal for wet spaces, such as kitchens and bathrooms.

JK CEMENT TileMaxX TA88

JK CEMENT TileMaxX TA88 is a factory-controlled single-component, polymer-enriched cement-based tile adhesive with increased durability. Its unique composition provides the optimum performance with extremely high adhesive strength for a wide range of ceramic, vitrified, mosaic, and porcelain tiles.

Features

• Exceptional Bonding Strength
• Excellent flexibility and availability
• Superior Anti-Slip Performance

Application areas

• Designed to work with both wall and floor tiles
• Appropriate for damp spaces such as kitchens and bathroom
• Suitable for both interior and exterior areas.

Choose Best, choose JK White Cement

Different tile adhesives are recommended for different applications. In order to find the best tile adhesive for your project, you'll need to consider the application, ingredients, and who will be laying the tile. Always choose the best for your house from JK White cement, a big name among the largest cement companies in UAE.

Top 10 Cement Companies in UAE 2022

The following is a list of the top ten cement companies in the UAE. Cement is the most frequently utilized building material on the planet.

It delivers advantageous and desirable features for several construction purposes, like compressive strength, durability, and beauty.

1. Union Cement Co.

Union Cement (UC) was the UAE's first cement manufacturer & it, therefore, tops the list of top cement companies in UAE. The company was founded in 1972, and production began in 1975, under the administration of Norcem AS, a subsidiary of HeidelbergCement.

Union Cement is now the UAE's second-largest cement plant in Ras al-Khaimah, with a production capacity of 4.8M tonnes/year.

UC is the only company in the UAE that makes cement for oil wells. It makes API 10 A Class G (HSR) oil well cement under the Norwell brand.

UCC, like many other producers, has posted solid financial results as the UAE's building market recovers.

2. Binani Cement Co. 

Binani Cement is the UAE's largest freestanding clinker grinding facility in Jebel Ali, Dubai. Binani is also one of the largest cement-producing cement factories in the UAE. Binani Cement has a manufacturing capacity of 2 million tonnes per year.

Along with its investment in China, the Indian producer's latest foreign efforts include a grinding mill or factory.

3. Emirates Cement Company LLC (Lafarge)

Emirates Cement Company LLC (Lafarge) is a joint venture between Dubai Holding LLC and the Fujairah government.

In Fujairah, Lafarge Cement operates the country's third-largest comprehensive cement factory, with a production capacity of 3.2M tonnes/year.

4. Fujairah cement Co.

Fujairah Cement Co. was founded in 1979 with the installation of a cement plant with a capacity of 520,000 tonnes per year at Dibba, Fujairah. It secures a good position among top cement companies in UAE.

It is a completely owned company of JK Cement India. The factory had its initial expansion in 1995, increasing the kiln capacity from 500,000 tonnes per year to 825,000 tonnes per year.

Additional extensions from 1998 to 2004 raised the plant's capacity to 1.5 million tonnes per year. Due to the development boom in 2007, Fujairah Cement decided to build a Polysius 7500 tonnes per day kiln next to the current facility. It is the largest manufacturer of cement adhesives, Tile adhesives & grouts, wall putty, & floor screed.

5. Jebel Ali Cement Co. 

This is a clinker grinding factory in Jebel Ali, Dubai, that produces 840,000 tonnes per year. The plant was founded in 1978 with the goal of producing oil well cement. The Jebel Ali Cement Plant constructed a new ball mill in 1999. The factory produces ground granulated blast furnace slag, and it is the UAE's first slag cement plant (GGBFS).

6. National Cement

National Cement is a clinker grinding factory in Abu Dhabi with a capacity of 2 million tonnes per year. It is 44 percent managed by the Holcim company, which has complete management responsibility.

The factory is part of a joint venture with EIIC (Emirates International Investment Co). There are two clinker grinding mills in the unit or factory.

National Cement Co. runs a cement plant in Dubai with a capacity of 1.5M tonnes/year, making it one of the UAE's smallest comprehensive cement factories. The company was founded in 1968 with an expectation of the UAE's construction boom and has been serving the market since then

7. Ras Al Khaimah Cement Co.

RAK White Cement is another name when it comes to the top 10 cement companies in UAE. It was established in 1980 for White Cement & Construction Materials manufacturing. Concrete blocks and lime are also produced by the company. The white cement production capacity of the RAK White Cement factory is 610,000 tonnes per year. 

Originally, the plant featured three Taiheiyo dry-process kilns with a capacity of 460 tonnes per day, but since 2006, considerable modifications have expanded the kiln capacities to 520 tonnes per day.

In Khor Khwair, Ras al-Khaimah, Ras al-Khaimah Cement operates a cement plant with a capacity of one million tonnes per year.

8. Sharjah Cement

Sharjah Cement operates a cement plant with a capacity of 2 million tonnes per year. It is another name that comes when you talk about top cement companies in UAE. The plant was completed in 1977 under the management of APCEM Engineering Co Ltd, a Blue Circle Industries affiliate.

Sharjah Cement announced that sales increased by 18.7% to US$ 104 million in the first half of 2014, compared to US$ 88 million in the same period of 2013. In 2014, Sharjah Cement's net earnings increased by 135% year on year to US$ 8.5 million. Sharjah Cement attributed the spike in business to an increase in exports, while the higher net profit was primarily due to increased investment income.

9. The Star Cement Company 

UltraTech Cement, another name among top cement companies in UAE, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of India's Aditya Birla Group, which owns Star Cement.

Star Cement runs a 2.4M tonnes/year integrated cement plant, a 1.2 million tonnes per year cement crushing plant in Abu Dhabi, and a 900,000 tonnes per year cement crushing plant in Ajman. Star Cement owns the most cement plants or factories in UAE.

10. Gulf Cement Co.
Gulf Cement is a cement plant in Ras al-Khaimah with a capacity of 2.7M tonnes per/year. It was founded in 1977 and began cement production in 1981.

Polysius AG and ThyssenKrupp erected the second kiln in 2005-2006 with a clinker capacity of 2.8 million tonnes per year. The plant's overall clinker production capacity of 3.8M tonnes/year makes Gulf Cement the UAE's largest clinker manufacturer making it to the list of top 10 cement factories in UAE.

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Cement Adhesive & Rush coat plasters: All we need to know?

 There are a plethora of various cement adhesives to choose from. So, how do you tell which one you need when there are so many different adhesives on the shelves of craft and home improvement stores?  For some surfaces, cement adhesives & rush coat plaster are the most effective materials. 

Cement adhesive, often known as a contact adhesive, is a neoprene rubber adhesive that forms a durable, rapid, and flexible bond. It can be used for nearly anything, but it's particularly useful for gluing together nonporous materials that conventional adhesives can't. It is ideal for plastics, veneers, rubber, glass, metal, and leather. It's also used to adhere to large surfaces, like kitchen and bathroom counters. 

On the other hand, rush coat plaster, a dry-mix bonding coat is ideal for concretes, concrete blocks, etc. It is suitable for both interior & exterior use. It can be applied using a Tyrolean box/spray hopper/powder pattern spray gun. 

What is cement adhesive used for?

Cement adhesives are used to adhere laminates to counters. Laminates are hard, thin plastic surfaces. Other glues would not work since they are applied wet and must be allowed to dry once the parts are assembled. 

When nonporous materials are connected, moisture cannot escape, and the glue either does not dry completely or takes a long time to dry, necessitating the employment of clamps. But if you just touch, contact cement is already dry. 

The cement makes a flexible bond with no residual moisture once the solvent evaporates. Because no clamping is required, it can also be used to glue floor tiles.  Note that cement adhesive is different from cement for wall plastering.

What is a rush coat plaster used for?

Rush coat plaster is made from high-Quality Portland Cement, Hydrated Lime, & carefully selected processed natural mineral aggregates. It contains binding powder Polymer and very special chemical additives for performance enhancements. It offers superior adhesion to dense concretes. Rush coat plaster is best suited for AAC and lightweight blocks.

Is Cement adhesive the same as other adhesives?

Cement adhesive differs from other adhesives in that it must be allowed to air dry for 15 to 20 minutes before use. The cement must be applied to both parts in order for the glue to adhere to itself. 

The adhesive itself is a solid substance, therefore contact cement isn't sticky. The solvent is used to make the application simpler, but it must evaporate entirely before the two portions may be joined. It's difficult to use because the glue only needs a brief contact to make a permanent bond.

Choose the best for your project 

​​Both cement adhesive & rush coat plaster are used for various applications. In order to find the best ones for your project, you'll need to consider the application & materials. 

Choose the best for your project by choosing JK White Cement cement adhesive & rush coat plater. JK White cement is among the leading cement factories in UAE & all of its products are of high quality offering higher durability.

Why is Reinforced Cement Concrete important in Building Construction?

 In the past, the mortar was commonly used in construction, however, today, concrete is the primary element. The main difference between mortar and concrete is that the latter is far more durable. Reinforced cement concrete is made from cement clinker, gravel or crushed stone (coarse aggregate), and water. Sand, on the other hand, is the only aggregate used in mortar.

What are some of the benefits of reinforced cement concrete?

Following are some of the advantages of reinforced cement concrete:

Steel and concrete bars: Because RCC combines the qualities of concrete, which are strong in compression, and steel, which is strong in tension, it offers the best of both worlds.

Cast into any shape: Fresh concrete will be in the form of a fluid, which allows it to be poured and molded into any shape. It makes it easier for the engineer to choose the structure's shape based on architectural considerations.

Fire and weather resistance: RCC can sustain a fire for 3–4 hours if properly covered. With sufficient quality control and durability concerns, RCC will also withstand any form of weather.

Less maintenance: Concrete structures require less maintenance when they are completed than other types of structures (steel and wood).

Availability: Because steel and concrete are extensively utilized construction materials, reinforced cement concrete is readily available.

Cost-effective: It is cost-effective when compared to other materials such as steel structures.

Properties of Reinforced Cement Concrete 

Reinforced concrete is made from cement clinked or white clinker. It is a structural material that must meet all of the specifications to ensure its quality and longevity. R.C.C. is the most often used building material for practically all sorts of structures, and it is also utilized in atomic power plants to protect against radiation. 

Here are a few characteristics of good R.C.C.

• It must be resistant to compressive, tensile, bending, and shear stresses.

• It should provide total sound and heat insulation.

• Ensure the structure's long-term viability.

• The R.C.C. structure should be able to withstand any load.

• It should keep the reinforcement from corroding by providing enough protection.

• Hair cracks should occur within the acceptable range.

• A good R.C.C. can be molded to the desired form and size when it is fresh.

• It should be able to control the cross-sectional requirements well.

Challenges of Using RCC 

Time: For this style of building, a longer period is required. Only after 28 days will reinforce cement concrete (RCC) structures reach their optimum strength. As a result, it is a sluggish process that cannot be employed for urgent tasks. Despite the fact that admixtures can speed up the strength gain.

Requires form works: The right forms must be built to the exact size and shape after the concrete is poured. Once the concrete is hard enough, the forms are removed. This process needs a lot of time and effort.

Wrapping Up 

R.C.C is undeniably an important construction material. There are many types & sellers in the market to choose from making it overwhelming to select one. We suggest you go for JK White cement for all your construction materials needs. 

JK White cement is among the leading cement factories in the UAE. It has an extensive range of building materials including Tile grout & adhesives, white cement, floor screed, wall putty, plasters & renders, & much more.