Water Cement Ratio

The importance of water cement ratio in
concrete countertop mix design

Basic Ingredients in Concrete
Three simple ingredients can be blended and proportioned numerous
ways to make concrete, and the ratio of the water to the cement is
particularly important.
 aggregate
 cement
 water
The Importance of Water

In concrete, the single most significant influence on most or all of the
properties is the amount of water used in the mix.
In concrete mix design, the ratio of the amount of water to the amount
of cement used (both by weight) is called the water to cement ratio
(w/c). These two ingredients are responsible for binding everything
together.
The water to cement ratio largely determines the strength and

durability of the concrete when it is cured properly. The w/c ratio refers
to the ratio of the weights of water and cement used in the concrete
mix. A w/c ratio of 0.4 means that for every 100 lbs of cement used in
the concrete, 40 lbs of water is added.
Typical Water-Cement Ratios in

Concrete Mixes
Typical w/c ratios are as follows:
 Normal for ordinary concrete (sidewalks and driveways): 0.6 to 0.7

 Specified if a higher quality concrete is desired: 0.4
The practical range of the w/c ratio is from about 0.3 to over 0.8.
 A ratio of 0.3 is very stiff (unless superplasticizers are used).

 A ratio of 0.8 makes a wet and fairly weak concrete.
Typical compressive strengths when concrete is properly cured are:
 0.4 w/c ratio –> 5600 psi
 0.8 w/c ratio –> 2000 psi.
Mix Design for Concrete

Countertops
Concrete countertops, sinks, fire features and furniture require vastly
higher quality concrete than sidewalks or even foundations, in terms of
both performance and aesthetics. One of the keys to the best concrete
countertop mix design is to keep the water cement ratio very low.
Typically concrete countertop artisans use w/c ratios of about 0.32%.
The CCI from-scratch mix designs adhere to this principle.
Implications of Water-Cement Ratio
Variations
The simplest way to think about the w/c ratio is to think that the
greater the amount of water in a concrete mix, the more dilute the
cement paste will be. This not only affects the compressive strength, it
also affects the tensile and flexural strengths, the porosity, the
shrinkage and the color.
The strength is reduced mostly because adding more water creates a

diluted paste that is weaker. Think of it like over-diluting grape Kool-
Aid. The more water you add, the weaker the Kool-Aid is.
Explained more technically, more water results in larger spacing of the
cement particles. As the crystals grow, they are too far apart to knit
together and form strong bonds.
Problems Caused by High Water-

Cement Ratio
Concrete with a higher w/c ratio is also more susceptible to cracking
and shrinkage. Shrinkage leads to micro-cracks, which are zones of
weakness. Once the fresh concrete is placed, excess water is
squeezed out of the paste by the weight of the aggregate and the
cement paste itself. When there is a large excess of water, that water
bleeds out onto the surface. The micro channels and passages that
were created inside the concrete to allow that water to flow become
weak zones and micro-cracks.
Using a low w/c ratio is the usual way to achieve a high strength and
high quality concrete, but it does not guarantee that the resulting
concrete is always appropriate for concrete countertops. Unless the
aggregate gradation and proportion are balanced with the correct
amount of cement paste, excessive shrinkage, cracking and curling
can result. Good concrete results from good mix design, and a low w/c
ratio is just one part of a good mix design.
HOW TO CALCULATE WATER CEMENT
RATIO FOR CONCRETE
The water to cement ratio compares how much water versus cement is used in a
concrete mix. A low water cement ratio leads to stronger concrete, but is more difficult
to work with.
HOW TO CALCULATE WATER CEMENT RATIO
The water to cement ratio is calculated by dividing the water in one cubic yard of the mix
( in pounds) by the cement in the mix (in pounds). So if one cubic yard of the mix has
235 pounds of water and 470 pounds of cement- the mix is a .50 water to cement ratio.
If the mix lists the water in gallons, multiply the gallons by 8.33 to find how many pounds
there are in the mix.
USE A LOW WATER TO CEMENT RATIO
A low water to cement ratio is the number one issue effecting concrete quality.
Low water cement ratio impacts all of the desired properties of concrete listed in
the desired properties of concrete section.
Use a maximum .50 water to cement ratio when concrete is exposed to freezing and
thawing in a moist condition or to deicing chemicals per the 1997 Uniform Building
Code.
Use a maximum .45 water to cement ratio for concrete with severe or very severe
sulfate conditions per the 1997 Uniform Building Code
Water permeability increases exponentially when concrete has a water cement ratio
greater than .50.
Durability increases the less permeable the concrete mix is.
Strength improves with lower water cement ratios. A .45 water cement ratio most likely
will hit 4500 psi (pounds per square inch) or greater. A .50 water cement ratio will likely
reach 4000 psi or greater.
For complete Uniform Building Code information regarding concrete construction,

review with your architect, your ready mix supplier, or at your local library.

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The importance of water cement ratio in

concrete countertop mix design

The Importance of Water

The water to cement ratio largely determines the strength and

Typical Water-Cement Ratios in

 Normal for ordinary concrete (sidewalks and driveways): 0.6 to 0.7

 A ratio of 0.3 is very stiff (unless superplasticizers are used).

Mix Design for Concrete

The strength is reduced mostly because adding more water creates a

Problems Caused by High Water-

HOW TO CALCULATE WATER CEMENT RATIO

USE A LOW WATER TO CEMENT RATIO

For complete Uniform Building Code information regarding concrete construction,

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