Dragon Alfa Portland cement

[AkiN]

Has anyone used this brand of cement? Was offered this by my local builders merchants today when I went to buy the bricks and blocks for my extension. Slightly put off as I have never heard of it before and from the name thought it might be an inferior product. A quick google search suggests that the company behind it is a uk based cement importer with the OPC having a strength rating of 42.5r. No information on how this product fares compared to the more well known brands.

Anyone who has used this product care to share their experiences please? Or should I steer clear and go with a known brand like blue circle or Quinn's?

Thank you!

I should add I have been offered this at £3.50 a bag.

 

[tomfe]

If it really is 42.5 then it's stronger than the normal bags you get as it contains less fly ash/ fillers. So you can use less!!!!??!!

I am sure it'll be alright just tell your BM if it's crap you'll send it back.

 

[chappers]

it has a BS and CE cert so will be fine.

 

[AkiN]

Thank you guys. Think I'll give them a go. I'll let you know what my brickie thinks of it!

 

[^woody^]

Cement is cement.

 

[tony1851]

With a name like that it sounds Chinese? Yet would it be worth exporting cheap heavy stuff from that far away?

 

[stuart45]

It's the name of the company that imports it.

 

[lostinthelight]

Cement is cement.

Unless one wants to use Sovereign waterproofer which data sheet states a cem 1 cement should be used.
Has anyone found a readily availabe cem1 cement?
litl
http://www.sovchem.co.uk/media/media/PDF/Tech_Datasheets/Waterproofer_TDS_24_V3.pdf

 

[^woody^]

Unless one wants to use Sovereign waterproofer which data sheet states a cem 1 cement should be used.
Has anyone found a readily availabe cem1 cement?
litl
http://www.sovchem.co.uk/media/media/PDF/Tech_Datasheets/Waterproofer_TDS_24_V3.pdf

My comment was a bit glib, but for general use, any old cement from the merchant will do.

A few years back, ordinary common cement (OPC) was CEM1, but with the current sustainability push, CEM2 is now the new common OPC as it's got more unburnt limestone, replacing clinker - thus less processing and energy use.

There is little difference for the average extension use - some minor early strength and plastic shrinkage IIRC and some others, but it's a technical difference rather than a practical one.

Blue Circle Procem is a CEM1 product.

 

[lostinthelight]

Blue Circle Procem is a CEM1 product.

Yes TP sell it but only by the pallet load.
litl

 

[^woody^]

Snowcrete?

 

[lostinthelight]

Snowcrete?

I'd need a bigger pension
litl

 

[^woody^]

Use a different additive then. Keep your pension for fuel bills.

 

[chappers]

It's the name of the company that imports it.

yep welsh you see, the import company is backed up by a Spanish producer though