Wood is all around us. It is essential to our daily lives yet most of us are not aware of the various types of wood that are available. What’s more interesting is that different types of wood have varying properties such as hardness, weight, etc.
The first thing which strikes us when we hear the word ‘ wood’ is the furniture that we have in our home. Be it a bed, table, door, window, etc. So to have quality in all those above-mentioned objects we always tend to go for the best one, we go for the luster, shine, and many other qualities.
Every wood has unique qualities. Some are suitable for construction purposes, some for domestic purposes, and many more. If you are interested in knowing the different types of wood present in our world then this blog is for you. So, first, let’s get to know what wood actually is and how it benefits us as in whole.
Wood is the primary product of any trees. Different wood possesses different qualities and is used for various purposes daily. It is renewable and sustainable. Read Also:Types of Hardwood Trees.
The advantages of wood: It helps in reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, air and water pollution, and other impacts. Compared to building materials such as Steel and concrete, which generates heavy amounts of harmful pollutants, wood is an excellent exception. Its great insulating ability helps in improving energy efficiency. The manufactured product from wood stores carbon which helps in mitigating climate change providing a good option for materials requiring a big amount of fossil fuel.
Use of Woods: It is used in making various types of furniture, small bridges, houses, short and tall fence posts, wood pallets, paper, fiberboard panels, rayons, and many other synthetic fibers.
Types of wood
As we have stated earlier that there are various kinds of wood varying in their qualities. So let’s learn about the most prominent ones that have the largest industrial applications:
1. Akasa wood
It’s a kind of sapwood and heartwood mainly used in light structural work, flooring, and for all interior-related work. Its grain line is parallel and its color ranges from grey to brown.
2. Ash Wood
This kind of wood has the ability to offer distinct luster when polished. It has a smooth-grained structure and its outer wearing is very hard and reflects light color. Ash Wood is mostly used for frameworks, staircases, making handles of various tools, etc.
3. Balsa wood
Balsa wood is hardwood but it is soft and light in weight, mainly used for surfboards, sports kits, and models(buildings models, airplane models, etc.).
4. Bamboo wood
The most common wood as compared to others and the cheapest one. It can last for a long time as it generally has a light golden color. As bamboo is not affected by moisture it can be used for flooring in wet areas like bathrooms, conservatories, etc. It is also used to make ladders, stairs, chopping boards, etc. Read Also:Advantages and Disadvantages of Bamboo Flooring.
5. Beechwood
One of the hardest durable wood that is mostly found in European, America, Australia, and Japan. It has a homogeneous surface with parallel grain. Beechwood is mostly suitable for any structural work and for making indoor furniture. Although it is a durable wood, it easily rots due to moisture which makes it unsuitable for outdoor use
6. Brazilian Mahogany wood
Brazilian Mahogany wood is rich in color, its color varies from pinkish-brown to reddish-brown. Denser than most of the African mahoganies. Usually, used for boat production, carving, furniture, veneers, musical instruments, etc.
7. Cedarwood
Cedarwood comes with a pinkish-red color. It is durable and does not easily decay or swell even in severe weather conditions. Cedarwood is mostly used for making pencils and several outdoor appliances.
8. Celtis wood
Usually, Celtis wood grain is straight but interconnected. It has a fine texture with a yellow to grey-colored surface. Mainly used for interior work, flooring, molding, etc.
9. Conifer
Conifer wood is a type of softwood with a nearly uniform surface. It is the most popular wood to produce timber.
10. Cherrywood
Cherrywood is a smooth-grained and reddish-brown colored hardwood. The majority in this business believe that it is the best wood for carving because of its softness but hard enough to hold its shape. Due to its rich and beautiful color, it is in high demand for carvings, musical instruments, furniture, and decorative items.
In a nutshell, cement is a binding material made of lime or clay, mixed with water to form mortar, or mixed with sand, gravel, and water to make concrete.
Cement is the substance that is used extensively in the work of construction to set or harden or adhere materials. The main function of cement is to bind the material together and that is why cement is essentially known as a binding agent.
There are very rare occurrences of cement being used on its own, cement is always used with aggregates, the likes of sand and gravel along with water. Through many surveys, cement came up as the most commonly and extensively used material in this world and it also takes only the second place when it comes to consuming resources, losing the first place to water.
Cement mixed with sand, gravel, and water produces concrete, which is a common material for all most all types of construction work. Cement also produces mortar for masonry works by getting mixed with finer aggregates.
Nearly 4 billion tons of cement are produced every year, globally. If the cement industry is considered as an independent country, it would be the third largest emitter of carbon dioxide, with nearly 2.8 billion tons every year. The initial process of cement production is responsible for nearly 4% of global CO2 emissions.
The history of cementing material is as old as the history of engineering construction. Some kinds of cementing materials were used by Egyptians, Romans, and Indians in their ancient constructions.
Chemically speaking the cement we see today, (a product of lime that works as a primary bonding agent) is far away from the material used in past for cementation. The Assyrians and the Babylonians were found to use bitumen to bind their alabaster or burnt bricks.
Ancient Egyptians on the other hand used mortar, made of half burnt gypsum and sand to cement their blocks of stone. Most of these mortars more than often had calcium carbonate present in them.
In ancient Greece, especially in Crete, lime was used. There is also evidence that supports the use of crushed potsherds as artificial pozzolan, in the place of hydraulic cement.
These pozzolans were found as different tuff in Roman and Greek civilizations. Whereas the Greeks, generally used volcanic tuff that they got from their island of Thera. Meanwhile, the Romans used volcanic ash with lime.
From the middle age, there are no such knowledge found as a literature form, but the military engineer and medieval masons used a mixture of aggregates and lime mortar as a cementing agent to build structures like fortresses, harbors, mansions, and even canals.
Then, in the 16th century, Spaniards introduced Tabby to the Americans. Tabby was a building material where the binding agent was the lime found in the shells of oysters and the whole oyster shell was a part of the concrete.
Then in the 18th and 19th centuries with the advancement of chemical engineering, cement went through many experiments and experiences to finally create the great binding agent, that we see today.
There are various types of cement available in the market today, but the most common type of cement is Portland cement which is used all over the world. We have already discussed ‘types of cement’ in another article, you can read it here – Types of Cement.
Best Sage Green Paint Colors: Although nowadays there are many color shades available in the market, the one that is most popular and is in high demand is sage green paint colors. In sage green, there are different shades as well but overall the whole sage green category is very popular. The color is something that makes one feel like they are in close proximity to nature. It brings them calmness and makes them feel relaxed and refreshed as well.
10 Sage Green Paint Colors – Choose According to Your Taste!
The bits of green are too many people’s nostalgia which takes them to their past which they have spent in the lap of nature. The increased use of color is a symbol that many are trying to keep themselves relaxed and refreshed. We will see below the sage green paints that are very popular and are used highly. Read Also:Characteristics of an Ideal Paint.
1. Chamber Green
The color green is a very popular color and in many royal architectures, we have seen it being used. The royal families liked it very much as they not only used the color in their places but they loved to collect different precious items of this color. Emerald was a very precious stone back then as well. The furnishings of those old places were also done in shades of green.
The chamber green shade we are talking about complements other colors very well. A room with this shade and woodwork also of the same shade would feel like a match made in heaven. Chamber Green is a very pleasant shade and it radiates calm, peace, and mood is also enhanced by it.
2. Sparkling Sage
Sparkling Sage
Sparkling Sage is a color that is mossy green along with grey. It is a perfect color for those who are very optimistic because this shade gives hope that the spring is on its way. The ones who find this color attractive are the ones with the finest taste in this world. It would be a perfect fit for a room that can appreciate the beauty of nature, the sunrise, and the sunset.
So, those who are very fond of enjoining nature’s beauty with a cup of coffee should try this color shade as it will make the whole thing astonishing and mind-blowing. Sparkling Sage is a very likeable shade of color and will give more mental calmness, and composure.
3. Gumdrop
Gumdrop
Gumdrop is another sage green color that is more green than the others we have mentioned above but looks just outstanding. This color would not only have an appeal to the elders but also to children. There is nothing better than the whole room being colored gumdrops whatever their age might be. To make this color look more beautiful one has to do nothing as such because even the simplest and ordinary decorations will work perfectly.
One will think that he has come into a fairyland if he ever goes to a room covered in that color. The calmness and happiness radiated by this color can reduce all types of stress to a certain point for sure. So, if someone wants a room to feel magical to their eyes for sure gumdrop is a color they would really like and give a try. Read Also:Different Types of Defects in Painting.
4. New Leaf
New Leaf
New Leaf is a sage green color that has in its essence a bright lemon. It is a very good color for the living room as well as the bedroom because it gives a calm and refreshing vibe. New Leaf is a color that is a perfect fit for bedrooms and the persons who want their rooms to have light colors and radiate calmness and feel refreshing every time they open up their eyes.
So, if someone does not want to have deep shades in his bedroom or living room, must give a new leaf a try and know how different it is from others and how it affects mental health. For people who want a lite color like this to work with some heavy shades, it is also a good choice. New leaf works perfectly with other colors like gold, orange, and some shades of blues as well.
5. Hillside Green
Hillside Green
Hillside Green is a pretty common color if one has the knowledge about it. We usually find it as the paint that is used to paint the greenhouses. It is a darker shade of green with a touch of grey which gives it the perfect shade. It is also a very likable color. It is acceptable for living room, bedroom as well as for kitchen walls & cabinets. Read Also:Partition Walls.
If someone loves the greenery of the garden & outside and also loves to cook, it will be a perfect color for them to paint their kitchen cabinets. The cabinets of hillside green along with the white walls and the back marbles would be a great combination for sure. It would be a heavenly feeling to someone who loves this combination mentioned before and make them feel comfortable and focused on the kitchen as well.
6. Mizzle
Sage Green Paint – Mizzle
Another popular sage green paint color is Mizzle. Mizzle is a pale shade of green and it has a very pleasing effect on the eyes. It is a perfect color for a house or a room that has lots of decorative pieces from the past and needs a good background to get the attention of the decor. It is certainly a perfect fit for living rooms and each and everyone would love this pale color because it won’t feel stressful to the eyes.
If someone is planning to paint their living room with a mizzle color they should understand that selection of proper decors is to be done by them. Moreover, the roof of the room should be painted white as it would complement the color even more, which will make the room more pleasing to the eye. Light colors like the mizzle are very good for the pleasantness, calmness, and freshness they provide. So, if this color ticks someone’s checklist, they should for sure give it a try to it.
7. DKC-26
DKC-26
KC-26 is a sage green color that is not very commonly used by people. Its color is of a greyish shade with some green in it giving it a grey-like color. It is also a very calm and tranquil color which can make someone feel better. As it is very uncommon but still we can see it in some palaces of St. Pittsburgh in Russia and many country homes with this color. If someone loves to stay together with nature and wants all his things to be in green color, it is a perfect paint for them. DKC-26 blends in well with the green around it so using it not only inside the house but also in the doors outside will give a unique calmness and make everyone admire it as well.
8. Serene Green
8. Serene Green
A refreshing and energizing shade of green. This is one of the most popular green colors. It is the green shade of the green color we know. Using this color in the living room along with some fancy or wooden furniture would be a godly combination. In whichever room the color is used, it will surely bring life to that room. Some decors along with indoor plants will compliment serene green very much. So, if some love having indoor plants in their room with the right choice of furniture, they should use serene green to make their room livery and full of energy.
9. Farrow and Ball French Gray
9. Farrow and Ball French Gray
Farrow and Ball French Gray is a very interesting color that appears in different shades depending on the amount of light it receives. Sometimes it’s in a green shade meanwhile it can look like a grey shade as well. It is a perfect example of how the amount of received light can change a paint’s color. The color looks muted green or even deep green in a room which gets proper light from the outdoor. However, in a room with not much outdoor outside light, its color looks grey.
Farrow and Ball French gray is a perfect color for every room. The color suits furniture made out of wood and decors that feel natural. One needs to do a proper study of the color and then take the decision to select the right setting to use it. It is an exciting color and proper application of it could make room the stand out in every way.
10. Spring Bud
10. Spring Bud
Spring Bud is a very light color that looks more like off-white but has a greenish touch in it when looked at closely. The colors suit a living room or a dining room which has wide access to a garden or greenish outside. Moreover, it would act as a perfect background for some amazing paintings as almost all of the paintings look like they come even more to life when such light colors are in their background.
So, anyone who is fond of wall painting or even is a painter should try this out because it will provide an experience that no other colors can provide as such. Spring Bud is a beautiful sage green color and those who understand colors appreciate it very much. As it is a very light color, calmness is something that automatically comes out of it and would make one feel calm.
Insulating your home is one of the most significant things you can do to increase its energy efficiency and save money on your utility bills. The heat that is already present in your home during the winter is kept there, and the heat that would otherwise enter your home during the summer is kept out. You may be able to reduce the amount of money you spend on your monthly energy costs and increase the comfort level of your house as a result.
Because there is such a wide variety of insulation currently on the market, it is essential that you select the one that is most appropriate for your dwelling. Insulation is typically manufactured out of foam, fiberglass, or cellulose. It is possible to place it on the walls, ceilings, and floors of your home, as well as around the pipes and ducts.
Home insulation can provide a number of benefits, including:
1. Lower monthly costs for energy use:
Adding insulation to your home can help you to cut down on the amount of money you spend on your monthly energy costs. It may also save the cost of installing an air conditioning system. You may lower the costs of heating and cooling your home by retaining the heat inside the house during the winter and allowing it to escape the house during the summer.
2. Improved levels of comfort:
By helping to keep the temperature in your house more stable, home insulation can make it a lot easier for your body to spend time there. This may be of particular use to you if you reside in a location where the temperatures tend to be either high or very low.
3. Enhancements to the acoustics:
Home insulation can help to minimize the noise coming from the exterior of your home as well as noise traveling through your home from one room to another. You and your family may find that this leads to a more serene environment as a result.
4. Improved quality of the air found inside:
Home insulation can assist in enhancing the quality of the air inside of your home by reducing the amount of outside air that is able to enter. People who suffer from allergic conditions or asthma may benefit from this.
5. An increase in the value of the home:
Increasing the amount of energy efficiency that your home has can lead to an increase in its value. If you ever make the decision to sell your home, you can use this as a selling factor.
6. Decreased impact on the carbon cycle:
Adding insulation to your home is one way to help lower your household’s overall carbon footprint. You can help the environment and fight against climate change by decreasing the amount of energy you use to heat and cool your home.
7. Improved resistance to wear and tear:
Insulation is a great way to help protect your property from pests and damage caused by the weather. During the colder months, insulation can help protect your pipes from freezing and bursting by retaining heat and letting cold air pass through them.
Increasing the amount of insulation in your home is one of the best things you can do to make it more energy-efficient. If you are unsure which kind of insulation to purchase, consult with an experienced contractor if you want their advice. They are able to evaluate your requirements and advise you on the solution that is most suitable for your home. ContactiFoam right away if you are interested in learning more about their house insulation goods and services; they are one of the most reputable brands in the industry. When you are making your choice, make sure to keep in mind the seven advantages that insulation provides.
In the present world cement industry is one of the largest and the most important industries. The United States contributes about 2.1% of the total cement produced all over the world. The USA comes in the fourth spot after China, India, and Vietnam in the production of cement. In the United States, most of the cement companies are subsidies by some multinational company which is from Europe and Central America.
Out of 50 States of the USA 34 states, there are cement manufacturing facilities. They are 96 integrated cement production plants and 8 plants are grinding plants. Usually, In a cement factory, 5 types of cement are produced; 1. Portland Cement, 2. White Cement, 3. Blended Cement, 4. Slag Cement and 5. Masonry Cement. However, Portland cement is the most used cement in the world so its production is also very high. So let’s take a look at some of the major players in the cement industry in the USA.
1. LafargeHolcim
LafargeHolcim is a Swiss multinational company who are specified in the manufacturing of building materials. It is one of the best cement companies in the US as well as in the whole world. The company is also known as Holcim Limited. The company is present in a total of 70 countries in the world. The company was established in the year 2015 when Lafarge and Holcim combined together and formed LafargeHolcim.
The headquarters of the company is located in Zug, Switzerland. There are a total of 2,315 places where the company’s operating sites are located throughout the whole globe. The products that the company produces are cement, aggregates, concrete, and all the other types of building materials. Jan Jenisch is the CEO of the company at present with Beat W. Hess being the Chairman.
In their company, there are a total of 70,000 employees all over the world. In the United States, LafargeHolcim has a total of 7000 employees and 13 cement-producing plants with a 22 million tonnes annual production capacity. There are three main production lines that produce cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, asphalt, and other materials. In the USA, the headquarter of the company is located in Chicago.
The company’s annual production capacity is around 380 million tonnes throughout the globe. Two major works that LafargeHolcim is part of in the United States are One World Trade Centre in New York and St. Croix Crossing Bridge. As per Forbes Global 2000, in 2020, the company ranked 280th spot in the list of the largest public company in the world.
2. CEMEX
Cemex is a building material manufacturing company that originally belongs to Mexico. It is a multinational company and is spread in more than 50 countries all over the globe. Cemex was ranked fifth, in 2020, in the manufacturing of building materials all over the world.
The company was founded by Lorenzo Zambrano Gutierrez in 1906. The headquarters of the company is located in Monterrey, Mexico. Rogelio Zambrano Lozano and Fernando A. González are the executive chairman and the CEO of the company respectively.
Building materials like – cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, fly ash, and slag cement are the main products of the company. CEMEX is spread over four continents and has 64 cement plants, 1,348 ready-mix concrete production plants, and many more minor plants and distribution hubs as well. Worldwide the annual cement production capacity of the company is about 93 million tonnes. The total number of employees in the company is more than 41000.
In the United States of America, CEMEX has a total of 10 cement plants and about 50 cement terminals which are located in very strategic locations. Moreover, there are 280 ready-mix concrete manufacturing facilities along with 50 more aggregate quarries as well.
Energy Management and sustainability is something that CEMEX USA is very regularly associated with because of its efforts towards it, and this has led the company to earn the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year award for back to back three years in 2019, 2020, and 2021. The company is very popular in Orlando and Arizona for its work and the concert volcano at the Universal Theme park is a project constructed by them.
3. Lehigh Hanson(Heidelberg Cement)
The company was founded in 1897 as Lehigh Cement Company. The first plant of the company was set up in Ormrod, Pennsylvania. The company flourished in the early 1900s as during that time there was a huge demand for cement for construction. The company kept on becoming big by acquiring smaller factories and increasing the production of cement at that time.
At that time, the company became the largest producer of cement and building materials in North America. In 1977, HeidelbergCement, a German company acquired Lehigh Cement Company and made it the subsidiary of one of the biggest building materials manufacturing companies. At present time, the Lehigh and Hanson businesses in the USA are collectively known as Lehigh Hanson, Inc.
Therefore, HeidelbergCement is the parent company of Lehigh Hanson, Inc. The parent company’s current Chairman and CEO are Dr. Dominik von Achten. Production of cement, aggregates, concrete, and asphalt is the company’s main domain.
The ground as a whole has its presence in about 60 countries with an employee count of about 57000. The company has 139 operational cement plants, more than 1,500 ready-mix concrete production facilities, and above 600 aggregate quarries.
However, in the United States, Lehigh Hanson has 13 cement plants and many more production units which deal with all the other building materials like ready-mix concrete, asphalt, etc. No doubt, it is one of the best cement companies in the USA at the present time. Read Also:Top 15 Construction Companies in the U.S. as of 2022.
4. Buzzi Unicem
One of the leading companies in the production of cement in the United States is Buzzi Unicem. The company is a multinational company and was founded in Italy. In 1907, the company was formed as Fratelli Buzzi SpA by two brothers Pietro and Antonio Buzzi. After that, the company was reformed in 1999 when Buzzi Cementi took over Unicem and combined together to form Buzzi Unicem. The original headquarter of the company is located in Casale Monferrato, Italy.
The company has currently two co-CEOs Pietro Buzzi and Michele Buzzi and Sandro Buzzi is the chairman of the company. In 2004, the parent company made its presence in the USA by merging with RC Cement and Lone Star Industries. In the United States of America, the headquarters of the company is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The company produces cement, concrete, and construction aggregates.
In the United States, there are a total of 8 cement production plants with a production capacity of 9 million tonnes of cement. Buzzi Unicem has a total of 34 cement terminals in the United States which helps in the distribution of its building construction products. The employee count of the company in the United States is 1,400.
The company provides masonry cement and ready-mix concrete to highway and airport paving firms, concrete block companies, and concrete product firms. Globally, the company operates in 14 countries( such as Italy, United States, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, etc.) and has a total of 10,000 employees.
5. Ash Grove Cement Company(CRH)
Ash Grove Cement Company is another company that ranks among the top in cement production in the United States. The company was founded in 1882 as Ash Grove White Lime Association in Ash Grove, Missouri. The company started cement production in 1908 at a manufacturing plant in Chanute, Kansas. Until 2018, the company was the largest cement company that was US-owned.
However, in 2018 CRH plc acquired the whole company whose headquarter is located in Ireland. Over the years the company has always been a major supplier in many infrastructure projects over the years. Portland Cement, fly ash cement, masonry cement, oil well cement, lime, aggregates, and soil stabilizer are the building materials that Ash Grove Cement Company produces in their manufacturing sites.
CRH, the parent company of the Ash Grove Cement Company is a multinational company and has its presence in 28 countries. The company is amongst the leading in cement manufacturing globally as well. There are about 77,000 employees of the parent company CRH in 3,235 locations that are currently under operation.
In 2021, 14.3 million tonnes of cement were produced by 12 Ash Grove cement manufacturing units in the USA. The Ash Grove Cement Company has 2,500 employees and there are 45 cement terminals throughout the USA. The company is an ISO-certified company as they adhere to the international standards for cement manufacturing which are set for the protection of our environment.
6. Martin Marietta Inc.
Martin Marietta Inc. is another American cement producer that has made its way into this list. The company was founded in 1993 in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. The company’s real origin dates back to 1939 when ‘Superior Stones’ company was founded which was an aggregate production factory.
After that, in 1959, Marietta Corporation bought the company and a year later merged with another company Glenn L. Martin Company which led to its name being changed to Martin Marietta Corporation. C. Nye is the CEO and the president of the company meanwhile Jim Nickolas is the CFO of the company.
The company manufactures building materials like – asphalt, cement, ready-mix, and aggregates cement-treated materials. Unlike the majority of companies in the list which are spread in so many countries around the globe, Martin Marietta is not so spread and is only available in Canada and the Caribbean island outside of the USA.
However, in the United States, the company is spread in 26 states. The company mainly provides its products for the construction of roads sidewalks and foundation work. According to 2019, the company had 8,714 employees.
7. Eagle Materials
Eagle Materials is another cement manufacturing company that is a fully USA-based company. The company is one of the major producers of building materials in the United States. In 1963, Centex Construction Company was founded and Eagle Materials was part of it with a different name which was Centex Construction Products.
However, on January 30, 2004, the company became independent and was renamed Eagle Materials. After becoming an independent company in May 2005, the announcement of a $65 million expansion of the LaSalle plant in Illinois was made. The Eagle Materials company kept on growing and in 2012, plants in Sugar Creek, Missouri, and Tulsa, Oklahoma were acquired from Lafarge for $446 million.
CRS Proppants LLC, a frac sand supplier was acquired in 2014 by the company for a sum of $225 million. Furthermore, another cement plant in Fairborn, Ohio was acquired by the company from Cemex for about $400 million. The building materials produced by the company are cement, concrete, construction aggregate, gypsum, wallboard, paperboard, and sand for hydraulic fracturing.
Currently, the CEO and President of Eagle Materials is David B. Powers. The company has 7 cement plants along with 17 cement distribution facilities. Moreover, there are many more facilities for the manufacturing of the other products like – 1 slag grinding plant, 5 gypsum wallboard units, 3 units for frac sand drying, and 6 locations for frac sand trans-load.
Over the year, it has been continuously upgrading and modernizing its facilities which have led to an increase in the production of different building materials. At present time, around 2,220 employees working for the company. The company has currently a total production capacity of 5 million tonnes of cement.
8. Argos Cement(Argo Group)
Argos Cement is a multinational building material manufacturing company that is originally from Colombia. The company is a part of a conglomerate known as Grupo Argos. Grupo Argos has invested largely in the cement and energy industries. The Agro group was founded in 1934 in Medellin, Colombia. Argos Cement has its operating locations in Colombia, the United States, Panama, Honduras, and the Caribbean.
The company has a total of 18 cement plants of which 11 are located in Colombia, 4 in the United States, and the rest are in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Panama. The four northeastern cement plants in Colombia are the ones that are responsible for the export of cement all over the world.
There are a total of 134 concrete production facilities in the United States with an annual capacity of 8.9 million cubic meters per year. The total number of mixers in the USA is 1,350. The company acquired the operation of the Lafarge in the southeastern USA. Through this acquisition, the company got 2 cement plants, one clinker grinding, and 79 concrete facilities as well. Argos Cement has received a Green Star certificate from the National ready-mix concrete associates.
9. St. Marys Cement
One of the major cement companies in the United States, St. Marys Cement is originally from Ontario, Canada. The company was founded by John Lind and Alfred Rogers. It is the major producer of building materials in the great lakes region. St. Marys Cement has a total of 6 cement production plants in the USA and Canada out of which 4 are in the USA and 2 are in Canada.
The production capacity of the company is 5 million metric tonnes. The company is a part of Votorantim Cimentos. Votorantim Cimentos is among the largest producers of cement in the whole world. Some of the major buildingsthat were built with the cement from the St. Marys Cement company are CN Tower, Roy Thompson Hall, Maple Leaf Garden, etc.
There are several types of brick cuts that are generally created to fulfill the requirement for brick masonry work. In this article, I will show you all types of brick cuts that are usually used in brick masonry work.
Different Types of Brick Cuts Used in Brick Masonry
1. CLOSER
It is nothing but a piece of bricks used to close up the bond at the end of the course. It is prepared by the worker with the edge of the trowel. In this case, the cut is always done along with the longitudinal edge. Broadly closer are divided into the following categories – king closer, queen closer, beveled closer, mitred closer.
2. QUEEN CLOSER
This is longitudinally cut, half-brick. These cut bricks are obtained by cutting a full brick longitudinally in two equal parts. The queen closer is ever used immediately after quoin header to obtain the break of vertical joints from the brick course immediately below this course.
QUEEN CLOSER
3. QUEEN CLOSER (QUARTER)
When the queen closer or half queen closer is further divided into two equal parts along its wide is called quarter closers.
QUEEN CLOSER (QUARTER)
4. KING CLOSER
This piece of brick is obtained by cutting a triangular portion of the brick along the middle points of the length and width of the brick. It is mostly used near the door and window opening to get a proper arrangement of the mortar joints.
KING CLOSER
5. BEVELED CLOSER
It is another type of brick closer. Beveled closer is prepared by cutting a triangular portion of the brick in such a way that the cutting portion is started from a corner of the brick and ended at the middle portion of the other header face. This closer appears as the queen closer from one face but the full header from the other face. It is usually used for splayed brickwork, as in the case of jambs of doors and windows.
BEVELED CLOSER
6. MITRED CLOSER
Mitred closer is obtained by cutting a triangular part of the brick in such a way that the cutting face is inclined at 45 to 60 degrees with a longer stretcher face of the brick. One longer face of this closer is smaller than its original length, whereas another longer face is intact.
MITRED CLOSER
7. BAT
It is a piece of a brick and is designed according to its length or we can say it is part of a brick named according to its length. Generally, bats are classified into three categories, they are Half bat, three-quarters bat, and beveled bat.
8. HALF BAT
Half bat – In simple words, when the brick length is Half then it is called Half bat. In other words, if the bat is Half brick in length, it is termed Half bat.
HALF BAT
9. THREE-QUARTER BAT
If the bat is three-quarters of the brick length (i.e. 3/4), then it is called a three-quarter bat.
THREE QUARTER BAT
10. BEVELED BAT
If the bat is prepared as beveled in shape, then it is called a beveled bat.
BEVELED BAT
11. BULLNOSE
When the brick is moulded or cut or dressed with a rounded angle, it is called bullnose. It is used in form of quoin. A brick with a double bullnose is called cownose brick.
BULLNOSE
12. Squint quoin
Squint quoin is a piece of brick. It is obtained by moulding or cutting in such a way that in-plane angle rather than right angle is formed.
Squint quoin
FAQs on Brick Cuts
What is the dimension of three quarter bat brick?
As the name suggests, three quarters that men’s 3 parts out of 4. So, the dimension of a ‘three-quarter bat brick’ is equal to the 3/4th fraction of a brick.
Thinking about getting your house painted but facing a problem in finalizing which paint company to choose? Worry not because we are going to look at the list of the top 10 paint companies in India. We will look into each and every paint company’s popularity, product, etc. in detail.
Top 10 Paint Companies in India
India is the second most populated country in the world. So, it’s pretty much clear that the requirement of each and everything is very high. It is the same with the paint as well. The paint industry is huge and there are lots of companies that provide us with paints solutions.
However, if we want to get the best paints with a huge catalogue for a selection of different shades, we should look at the players who are at the top. In India, about 75% of the market is for decorative paints. This part of the industry is immune to industrial stagnation which helps the paint companies stay profitable. The products used in the decorative paints segment are exterior wall paint, interior wall paint, primers, enamels, wood finishes, etc.
However, the remaining 25% of the market is based on industries. The industrial paint market is not of such hype. The products that are used in this industry are automotive coating, packaging coating, protective coating, powder coating, etc. So, let’s dive into the top 10 paint companies in India. Read Also: 40 Paint Colors for Living Room.
1. Asian Paints Limited
We will kick start with Asian Paints Limited on the first spot in the list of the top 10 paint companies in India. The company was started by a group of four friends in February 1942. The four founding members were Champaklal Choksey, Chimanlal Choksi, Suryakant Dani and Arvind Vakil. All of them were from the Jain families.
The company originally started from a garage in Gaiwadi, Girgaon, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The headquarters of Asian Paints Limited is situated in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. As the company started at the time of the Quit India Movement, the company quickly and easily became very popular for being an Indian company.
The popularity of the company was seen in the sales of the company as well as in 1952, the annual turnover of the company was ₹23 crore. In the year 1967, Asian Paints Limited became India’s leading paint manufacturing company. Until 1990, the majority shareholder of the company were the four founding families.
However, when the international expansion of the company was discussed, disputes began to arise regarding the ownership of rights among the families. These disputes eventually led to a break-up when the Choksey family decided to part ways by selling their shares of 13.7% in 1997.
The shares of the Choksey family were bought by the other three founding families and Unit Trust Of India. Asian Paints Limited has a total of 26 facilities for manufacturing all over the world. Among the 26 facilities, 10 are located in India itself. The company provides its services in a total of 65 counties along with its subsidies. The company is the third-largest paint manufacturing company in Asia as well.
The company has a total of 4,99,185 shareholders. Out of 4,99,185 shareholders, 81 shareholders are from Promoters & Promoter Group and they hold 52.7925% of the total share. And, the rest of the shareholders are public. The total revenue of Asian Paints Limited in 2020 was ₹20,515 crores. The net profit for the same year of the company was ₹2,728 crores.
2. Dulux Paints Limited
Dulux is another most popular paint company which has registered its name among the top 10 paint companies in India as of 2022. The company was founded in the year 1931 in the United Kingdom making it an 89 years old paint company.
The name Dulux was used by two companies in the early days. The two companies were Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) and DuPont. However, the name was later used by ICI which is owned by the AkzoNobel making them the owners of the Dulux as well.
This company was the first one that introduces alkyd-based paints back then. Dulux is a multinational company spread all over the world. In the early days of the company, the main consumers of the company were the decorators and the suppliers. However, in the 1950s, they were available in the retail stores as well.
The word Dulux is a combination of a small segment of two words durable and luxury. Dulux has always been very innovative when it comes to the marketing of its product. In the year 2010, the company’s marketing campaign becomes very popular with the name ‘ Let’s colour project’.
In this advertisement, public places were coloured with vibrant bright colours. Since the arrival of the company under ICI and after being acquired by the AkzoNobel Group, the company has always been amongst the best paint manufacturing companies.
In India, Dulux has five operating facilities and over the years has been able to develop a great network all over the country to make their products available. All the five manufacturing sites have received 14001 ISO certification. Although the company is mainly known for its integrated paints and coatings, they have diversified in the chemical industry and sell about 30 different products to the pharmaceutical companies.
Dulux also introduced Air Clean Biobased paint for better living in your house. This paint is made by using natural ingredients like bamboo charcoal, tea tree oil, etc. It is very good for health as it is environment friendly. Read Also: 10 Sage Green Paint Colors.
3. Berger Paints India Limited
The third spot in the list of the top 10 paint companies in India is Berger Paints India Ltd. Berger paints offer a variety of exterior and interior paint. If you are looking for great paint with great value, then try Berger paint. They provide cost-effective paint as well as gloss vibrant coloured paint that is really the best in quality.
The company was established in Kolkata, West Bengal, India on 17 December 1923. When the company was founded in India, it was named Hadfield’s (India) Limited. After staying with its founding name till 1947 the company was bought by British Paints (India) Limited. In 1951, offices for sales were opened in Bombay and Delhi and along with them, a new manufacturing facility was also opened in Guwahati.
In 1969, the company was bought by another company known as Berger Jenson Nicholson Limited. After this, the company was renamed which is its present name and established itself as one of the leading companies in the paint industry of India. In 1994, Subir Bose become the managing director of the company and continued till 2012, when he retired, passed his baton to Abhijit Roy who is the present CEO of the company.
In the 1980s and 1990s, products like emulsions and distempers were introduced into the market. Although the company started as a small paint company in Kolkata, the city of joy. At present, it has become a multinational company. The Berger paints company can now be found operational in India, Russia, Poland, Nepal and Bangladesh.
At present, there are 16 manufacturing units in India. In India, the company has a workforce of more than 3500 people along with 25000+ distributors all over the country. Berger Paints India has 2 operational manufacturing sites in India’s neighbouring country Nepal. Total revenue of ₹ 6,265.83 crores was registered in the year 2020 with the company gaining ₹ 1798.46 crores in 2021.
4. Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd
Kansai Nerolac Paints Limited has acquired the fourth position in the list of the top 10 paint companies in India. The company was founded in 1920 as Gahagan Paints & Varnish Co. Limited at Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra. The company kept on working normally and had changed its name to Goodlass Walls Pvt. Limited. Kansai Nerolac Paints Limited is a subsidiary company of Kansai Paint of Japan.
In Sweden, the company gained huge popularity in the year 1957 and started to be known as Goodlass Nerolac Paints Pvt. Limited. In that year, they became public and were named Goodlass Nerolac Paints Limited. In 1976, the company acquired a foreign stockholding group when they became members of Tata Forbes Group.
After that, the company focused on becoming competitive and efficient as a result of which a technical collaboration was done. This technical collaboration was done in the year 1983 with the Japanese companies Kansai Paint Co. Limited and Nihon Tokushu Tokyo Co. Limited. Then, the Kansai Paint Co. Limited acquired the entire stack of the Tata Forbes Group in 1999. Eventually, this made the Kansai Paint Co. Limited the parent company of Goodlass Nerolac Paints. Ultimately in 2006, the company’s name was changed to Kansai Nerolac Paints Limited.
Kansai Nerolac Paint has 6 manufacturing units as well as 6-7 manufacturing units that are contractual. The six manufacturing units are located in 1. Jainpur, Kanpur Dehat (Uttar Pradesh), 2. Bawal (Haryana), 3. Lote, Chiplun (Maharashtra), 4. Hosur (Tamil Nadu), 5. Sayakha (Gujarat), 6. Goindwal (Punjab). In the industry of paint category, the company is the most prominent one with about 40% of the market share under them. The parent company Kansai Paint was founded by Katsujiro Iwai in Amagasaki City, Japan in 1918. The company is seen in the countries of the USA, Turkey, UK, Canada, Mexico, UAE.
Kansai Nerolac Paint provides three different types of products and huge importance is given to so the products are healthy and eco-friendly. Among the three different types of paint products, we have decorative paints which are used for interior painting, exterior painting, and metal surface painting. The automatic coating is the second type and it includes Pre-Treatment Chemicals, Electrodeposition, Topcoats, Touch Up paints, underbody paint etc. The third one is Performance Coatings which are seen in household appliances and metal fittings in factories.
If you are looking for a decorative room or house paint, then try Kansai Nerolac Paint, they provide a wide variety of paint with decorative solutions. The advertising face of the company is famous Bollywood stars Shahrukh Khan and Ranveer Singh who appear in commercials. The revenue of the company was ₹ 5,305 crores in 2020. The net income registered by the company for the year 2020 is ₹515 crores. Read Also:Function of Paint.
5. Indigo Paints
The company that has listed its name among the list of the top 10 paint companies in India is Indigo Paints. Indigo Paints is a very young company when we take a look at all the companies which rank above it. This company manufactures as well as distributes their product all over India. The products manufactured by the company are decorative paints, emulsions, distemper, primers, enamels, coatings for wood, putties and cement paints.
The company was founded in 2000 by Hemant Jalan and its headquarter is located in Pune, Maharashtra. The company after its foundation first started manufacturing cement-based paint. From there the company’s presence on this list makes it clear how much Indigo Paints has been successful. The company received a huge investment of ₹ 55 crores in 2014 and ₹ 96 crores in 2016.
The company appointed former World Cup-winning Indian captain M.S Dhoni as their main ambassador in 2018. The appointment of MS Dhoni gives a clear indication of what the company aims for. Indigo Paints established distribution connections in 27 states and 7 union territories of India, this data was revealed by the company founder Hemant Jalan in December 2019.
In 2021, the company raised an investment value of ₹ 348 crores from 25 main investors. Some of the investors who invested in the company are the Government Of Singapore, ICICI Prudential Mutual Funds, Axis Mutual Funds, Fidelity, Goldman Sachs, Nomura, HSBC, Pacific Horizon Investment Trust, and SBI Mutual Funds.
Hemant Jalan is both the Managing Director and the Chairman of the company. Indigo Paints currently have its three manufacturing plants located in Jodhpur, Kochi and Pudukkottai. In 2021, when the company launched its IPO, its estimated valuation was 1170 crores. The revenue of the company in 2019 was ₹726 crores. This has led the company to the fifth spot in terms of revenue generation.
6. British Paints India Limited
British Paints India Limited is a company that ranks sixth in the list of the top 10 paint companies in India. The company was founded in 1919 in the United Kingdom making it over a century old. However, the company did not arrive in India until 1947. After coming to India, the company gained a lot of popularity.
This popularity was a result of India’s diverse need for industrial and architectural coatings with a lot of colour variations. The company is located in the Indian capital city of Delhi. The company has the year doing a lot of work in the industrial and retail sectors. British Paints India Limited is one of the very few companies which has the solution to almost all the problems.
May it be house surface problems like maintenance and wall care or industrial problems like Epoxy coating, like textured and enamel paints or it is waterproofing related solutions like the British waterproofing. Some of the most commonly used products of the company are Glo Advanced, Expa Cool, Master Blaster, Acri-Silk, British Emulsion, and Shingar Advanced. The motivation of the company is to provide its customers with the best coating solution out in the market.
British Paints India Limited has four manufacturing units which are located in Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and Andra Pradesh. Moreover, there are more than 50 office branches of the company in the country along with 12000 distribution partners. In 1983, the company was renamed Berger Paints. However, in 2009, the old name of the company was again introduced as an SBU of Berger Paints India Limited.
British Paints India has also been popular for providing painting solutions to organisations like institutions, corporations, hospitals etc. The company is known among the best paint manufacturers in the country. If someone goes through the company’s website, they can see how the professionals of the company have given tips about how to paint one’s house and make it beautiful. The popularity of the company is justified when we see the quality of their products and the help they provide to their customers.
7. Sirca Paints
Sirca Paints is the youngest paint company compared to other companies. The company is in the seventh spot on the list of the top 10 paint companies in India. The company was founded on 19 January 2006 by Sanjay Agarwal, Apoorva Agarwal and Gurjit Singh Bains.
The name of the company after its foundation was Sircolor Wood Coatings Private Limited. However, in 2017 after getting the approval certificate from the Registrar of Companies in Delhi the company was renamed as a Sirca Paints India Private Limited. Moreover, in 2018, the company was again renamed after getting a new approval and this time the company was named Sirca Paints India Limited which is its present name.
The company was set up by the founders to provide the Indian population with a taste of foreign presence by providing the highest quality of coating products with technical support to the customers and build a great relationship.
The company after its foundation started by providing Polyurethane Polish products which were imported from Italy, and wall paints & abrasives from Korea which were then sold in India. Sirca Paints became the first Indian company to introduce wood filler which was fully owned by the company and the sites were located in Mumbai and Chennai.
The company operates by repackaging the paints and allied materials that are imported. Then the company markets all these products and trades and distributes them through the network they build. SIRCA SPA ITALY is the company that mainly important products for Sirca Paints India. Thinner, abrasives are the only products that are bought locally from local vendors. Meanwhile, all the other products of the company are imported from outside of the country.
8. Nippon Paint Holdings Co. Ltd.
The company that holds the eighth spot in the list of the top 10 paint companies in India is Nippon Paint Holdings Co. Limited. The company was founded in March 1881 by Jujiro Motegi in Japan. It is multiple national and to its revenue in 2020, it ranks as the fourth largest paint company in the world. The main products of the company are Paints, Coatings and Fine chemicals. They produce paint for home use, architectural structure, automotive coatings, industrial coatings, and marine coatings.
The company was known as Komyosha after its foundation in 1881. However, in 1898, it was renamed Nippon Paint Manufacturing. Moreover, again in 1927, the company underwent another name change and was renamed Nippon Paint. The current name of the company came into existence after the company was reorganized as a holding company in 2014.
Nippon Paint along with Bee Chemical created a new venture in 50/50 shares in 1954. However, the Bee Chemical company became a fully owned subsidiary of the company in 2006. In India, Nippon Paint has been present for more than a decade. They have been one of the main sponsors of the IPL team Chennai Super Kings.
Some of the countries in which Nippon Paint or its subsidiaries are located are Singapore, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, India, United States, Italy, Turkey, Bangladesh etc. The products of the company are machine washable, water-resistant, and germ resistance-shield. In 2020, Nippon Paint Holdings Co. Limited had total revenue of 7.37 billion USD.
9. Shalimar Paints Limited
The company which is in the ninth spot in the list of the top 10 paint companies of India is Shalimar Paints Limited. Shalimar Paints Limited was founded in 1902 by two brothers AN Turner and AC Wright who were British. The company was founded in Howrah, West Bengal.
Moreover, in the same year, a manufacturing plant was set up in Howrah as well and it was one of its kind in entire Southeast Asia at that time. In 1928, the company was bought by Pinchin Johnson & Associates who were from the UK. Again in 1963, the company got new owners in the form of Turner Morrison & Co.
The new management changed the name of the company Shalimar Paints Limited after their arrival. Since its foundation, the company has been manufacturing decorative paints and industrial coatings. Shalimar Paints have been used in painting some of India’s most famous buildings and structures like Rashtrapati Bhawan, Howrah Bridge, All India Institute of Medical Science, Salt Lake Stadium and many more.
Although, Shalimar Paints is such an old company still they are the ones who have invented some of the most important industrial coatings. They have some of the most advanced technology which has helped them to create high-build zinc coating, polyurethane paint for fighter planes and railway coaches, and radiation-resistant coating for nuclear plants.
The first company that painted an Indian Army fighter jet was the Shalimar Paints. In 1989, the company was bought by O.P Jindal Group and S.S Jhunjhunwala Group of Hong Kong. The IPO of Shalimar Paints was introduced in 1972. Since 2015, the company’s managing director is Surender Bhatia. The total revenue of the company in 2021 was ₹333.09 crores.
10. Sheenlac Paints
The final spot in the list of the top 10 paint companies of India is taken by Sheenlac Paints. The company was founded by John Peter in 1962. The company has its headquarters located in Chennai, India. The first manufacturing unit of Sheenlac Paints was set up in Ambattur in 1971. This factor was responsible for the manufacturing of wood polish and thinners.
In the same year, Paul Peter joined the company and played a vital part in creating non-alcoholic wood polish. The Sheenlac Paints company became the first company to use HDPE bottles for the packing of their products. The company started its expansion in other parts of South India in the early to mid-1980s.
In 1982, NC Sanding sealer was introduced for the first time by the company in the Indian market. The company attached huge attraction when in 1986, a new factory was set up in Ambattur where Automotive Paints were made and the shades of colour were also created and launched regularly.
Sheenlac Paints set up the first thinner and polished manufacturing plant in India in 1991 in Thirumazhisai, near Chennai which was fully automatic. The main products of the company are Thinner, Paints and Wood Polish which are used both for decorative and industrial purposes. The company at present has four manufacturing units in India.
Sheenlac Paints is also an international company because its products are used in Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Vietnam, and Nepal as well. In 2016, the company entered into the decorative section after acquiring Jenson & Nicholson. The company provides more than 2000 different shades of colours to its customers. Although the company is not very old, still its growth is enormous over the years.
There are 26 branch offices of the company all over India and a dealership network of more than 15000. This company has now a diverse range of products, among them some of the most important ones are emulsions, primers, wall and wood putty, thinners, and paint removers. In 2020, A. R. Rahman the winner of the Oscar Award was signed by the company to endorse its products.
Sand and gravel are essential ingredients for construction work. The development of infrastructure is not possible without aggregate materials. There are thousands of sand and gravel producer in the United States. Sand and gravel are mostly used in the construction industry. Therefore, the business of mining sand and gravel is increasing every year, which is now a multi-billion dollar business. In this article, I will give you basic information about the top 10 sand and gravel producers/Companies in the United States.
1. Oldcastle Materials
Oldcastle Materials is the number one company for producing building materials all over the USA. Oldcastle is a subsidiary of HRC Inc. This company gained popularity in the field of several construction materials like asphalt, cement, sand, gravel, concrete, rock, etc.
💰 Revenue: 7 billion USD.
👷 Employees: 18,000.
🏢 Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
📅 Founded: 1978.
👨💼 CEO: Randy Lake.
2. Vulcan Materials Company
The volcano materials company is one of the largest sand and gravel producer companies in the United States. The company produces several types of construction materials such as – sand, gravel, crushed stones, and also other aggregates. Volcano materials is a US-based public company, located in Birmingham, Alabama, US.
💰 Revenue: 4.9 billion USD.
👷 Employees: 8,400.
🏢 Headquarters: Birmingham, Alabama, United States.
📅 Founded: 1909.
👨💼 CEO: J. Thomas Hill.
3. Lehigh Hanson, Inc.
Lehigh Hanson is a leading material-producing company in North America. The company mainly focused on producing cement and aggregate( sand and gravel). But they also provide asphalt, and Readymix concrete as well. The company is a subsidiary of HeidelbergCement, which is one of the largest aggregate producers in the world.
💰 Revenue: Unkown.
👷 Employees: 10,000.
🏢 Headquarters: Irving, Texas, U.S.
📅 Founded: 1897.
👨💼 CEO: Chris Ward.
4. LafargeHolcim
LafargeHolcim or Holcim Group is one of the largest building materials producers all over the world. Their business is running in around 70 countries with 2,315 operating zones. This is a Swiss multinational company based in Zug, Switzerland. The company produces, cement, sand, gravel, concrete, ready-mix concrete, and other building materials. The company in the United States Provides its materials in around 43 states.
💰 Revenue: 26 billion CHF.
👷 Employees: 72,500.
🏢 Headquarters: Zug, Switzerland.
📅 Founded: 2015.
👨💼 CEO: Jan Jenisch.
5. Cemex
Cemex is a multinational building materials industry. This is one of the leading companies all over the world. It produces cement, sand, concrete, and other aggregates. In the USA, it has 50 aggregate quarries with 10 cement plants and also 250 Readymix concrete plants.
💰 Revenue: 13 billion USD.
👷 Employees: 46,000.
🏢 Headquarters: San Pedro Garza García, Mexico.
📅 Founded: 1906.
👨💼 CEO: Fernando A. Gonzalez.
6. Martin Marietta
Martin Marietta is an American-based materials supplier industry located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. The company supplies different types of aggregates like sand, gravel, crushing stone, etc. It also distributes heavy building materials all over the country.
💰 Revenue: 4.7 billion USD.
👷 Employees: 8,700.
🏢 Headquarters: Raleigh, North Carolina, United States.
📅 Founded: 1993.
👨💼 CEO: C. Howard Nye.
7. MDU Resources
MDU Resources group Inc. is a multibillion-dollar US-based construction material supplier and producer. The company’s headquarters is located in Bismarck, North Dakota, United States. They also simultaneously run their service businesses with materials supply in around 48 states of the US. The primary product supplied by the company is sand, gravel, ready-mix, and asphalt.
💰 Revenue: 5.62 billion USD.
👷 Employees: 12,994.
🏢 Headquarters: Bismarck, North Dakota, United States.
📅 Founded: 1924.
👨💼 CEO: C. David L. Goodin.
8. Granite construction
Granite construction is a popular sand and gravel producing company in the USA. This company is primarily a civil general contractor but it is also well known as a construction materials producer. The company was founded in 1922, and the headquarters of the company is located in Watsonville, California, US. The company produces sand, gravel, ready-mix, asphalt concrete, etc.
💰 Revenue: 3.32 billion USD.
👷 Employees: 4,200.
🏢 Headquarters: Watsonville, California, United States.
📅 Founded: 1922.
👨💼 CEO: Kyle Larkin.
9. Summit Materials
Summit Materials is a leading material-based company and is a new company as compared to above all companies except LafargeHolcim. The company supplies several types of construction materials in the United States, such as – ready-mix concrete, cement, sand, gravel, asphalt, and other materials.
💰 Revenue: 882 million USD.
👷 Employees: 5,000.
🏢 Headquarters: Denver, Colorado, United States.
📅 Founded: 2009.
👨💼 CEO: Anne P. Noonan.
10. Mitsubishi Cement Corporation
Mitsubishi cement corporation debuted with shipping services in Japan. Now, it is one of the most famous cement and aggregate manufacturing companies in the US. The company’s headquarters is located in Lucerne Valley, California, United States. They are well known as a mining and metal-based industry. The company produces all types of portland cement and other building materials.
💰 Revenue: 160 million USD.
👷 Employees: 100.
🏢 Headquarters: Lucerne Valley, California, United States.
Thinking about building your dream house? Well, a dream house is not only about the designs or styling but also the building materials that are prioritized for a healthy, strong as well as a long-lasting (for at least two to three generations) housing.
Keeping these facts in mind, we are here to discuss one of the essential materials which play a crucial role in making the building, i.e. CEMENT.
Before buying cement for any construction, we usually do not want to compromise with the quality of it but sometimes, we have to consider the budget factor also.
Thus, along with a brief understanding of the definition and composition of cement, we will discuss about the top 10 cement Companies or brands in India as of 2023.
Cement is generally a material used for construction, with a binding, hardening and adhesive capacity. When it is mixed with fine aggregate produces mortar, and coarse aggregate produces(like gravel) concrete.
It is basically a calcium-based substance, made up of Calcium Silicates and a little proportion of Calcium Aluminates.
Generally, limestone, clay, mudstone or shale, are the popular and major sources from which, calcium is derived. In addition to this, near about 5% of gypsum is also used for the cement making process.
China leads in the worldwide cement production, followed by India at the second position. India has the potential capacity of producing an average of 151.2 million tons of cement.
For this reason, India has become a nation with about 185 large cement plants. 77 plants are confined only to states of Rajasthan, Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh depending upon the geographically favourable locations for limestone production.
First ever Indian cement plant i.e. Indian Cement Company Ltd. was established in Porbandar, Gujrat in 1914.
Although, before 1914, there was a small company called South India Industrial Limited.
Indian Cement Industry has been able to engross huge national as well as foreign investments after the deregulation process in 1982 and to engage ~20,000 people under the downstream sectors for every million tonnes of cement production.
As per the IBEF reports, the production capacity of cement is 502 MTPA (Million Tonnes per Year). By the financial year of 2019 to 2021, the expected capacity addition is 20 MTPA and it is expected that the production will reach 550-600 MTPA by the year of 2025.
Now, coming to the India’s leading 10 cement companies which belong to very high quality. Depending upon the budget and the market availability, any company from the following list can be chosen for the building purpose. Following are the top 10 best cement companies in India as of 2023.
1. Ultra Tech Cement
Ultra Tech Cement is considered to be the leading cement company in India with a market capacity of 219524.24 Cr. grabbing the percentage share as 36.828%. It was started in 1983 and its Head Quarter is located in Mumbai.
There are 22 integrated plants, 1 clinkerisation plant, 27 grinding units, and 7 bulk terminals under this company. It has a consolidated capacity of 116. 8 MTPA and comprises more than 22, 000 employees spread across 5 counties.
It is the largest producer of grey cement, ready mix concrete and white cement in India. In market it goes with the brand name called Birla White in the white cement segment. Ultra Tech Building Solutions (UBS) is there to provide ‘one-stop-shop solutions’ to the individual building developers.
At present contest UBS brand chains are situated in diversified locations in all over India with more than 2500 stores. Ultra Tech is a signatory to the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) Climate Ambition, 2050 with a firm belief and aspiration to deliver Carbon-Neutral Concrete by 2050.
It is India’s first and Asia’s second company for issuing the ‘dollar-based sustainability linked bonds’. Moreover, Ultra Tech is bounded to help near about 2.1 million beneficiaries in more than 500 villages in India covering the areas like health, education, community infrastructures, sustainable livelihoods, as well as social causes.
Ambuja Cement Ltd. is the second-largest cement manufacturing company in India. The company “Ambuja Cement” is well known for its ‘sustainable building solutions in the global perspective along with a net profit of 24,148.00 Cr., Market Capacity of Rs. 57,484 Cr., Market share of 6.2%. It was founded in 1983, in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Presently, there are five integrated plants for the cement manufacturing and eight cement grinding units under Ambuja Cement Ltd with 5180 employees. In all over India providing an annual cement capacity of 29.65 million tonnes.
Ambuja cement is built up through a responsible resource usage with a focus on getting profitable growth sustainably and to reduce carbon footprints. 7.1% of its power needs are fulfilled from renewable resources.
Since 2006, Ambuja Cement Ltd. is also a member of ‘Holcim’ which aims to provide environment friendly and sustainable building solutions globally by promoting ‘Green Cities’.
Ambuja Cements Ltd. is associated with 30 functioning ‘Ambuja Knowledge Centres’ across India by serving as a knowledge sharing platform of professional related to construction works. Read Also: Types of Cement.
With over 90 ready mix concrete plants, 17 cement plants, nine captive power plants, more than 6,600 employees, 50,000 channel partners, ACC cement is one of the leading cement companies in India. It holds a revenue of Rs. 15,398 Cr, and the market capacity of 34,543 Cr with a 6% of the market share and a production capacity of 28.4 MTPA.
F E Dinshaw was the founder of this company. Since its inception in 1936, ACC has successfully contributed in India’s structural development projects with consistency.
It is associated with India’s biggest projects including the Bhakra- Nangal Dam, Mumbai-Pune Expressway etc. There are five subsidiary companies under ACC Ltd. including Bulk Cement Corporation (India), ACC Mineral Resources Limited, Lucky Minmat Limited, National Limestone Company Private Limited and Singhania Minerals Private Limited Along with the profit-making initiatives, ACC Ltd. also focuses on environmental protection, sustainable development as well as corporate business strategies.
ACC become a part of Holcim, Switzerland in 2005. Later, with the merge of Lafarge with Holcim, formation of Lafarge-Holcim took place within the cement map of the world. Being a part of this group, ACC also started to be stronger in terms of research and development in the construction field.
In terms of Sales perspective, Shree Cement Ltd. occupies the fourth rank with annual revenue of 13,142 Cr. while, as per the market share dimension (7%), it holds the second rank among the companies based in India.
Initially, it was incorporated by the Kolkata based Bangur family in 1979. In 1984, the initial public offer was made and considered under the listing of National Stock Exchange, Mumbai. The very first integrated plant of 0.6 MTPA came into existence at Beawar, Rajasthan in the year of 1985. In 2009, it becomes India’s first company to produce synthetic gypsum.
It was recognized as the ‘New Sustainability Champion’ by the World Economic Forum. It got the Five Star rating by Whitehopleman for the first time to any cement company in the world. Presently, it holds a production capacity of 29.30 MPTA. Read Also: Necessity of Adding Gypsum (CaSO4) in Cement Manufacture.
Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited, founded by Jaydayal Dalmia as a 100% subsidiary to the Dalmia Bharat Ltd. in the year of 1939, is one of the pioneering cement companies in India. There are thirteen cement plants and grinding units which are spread across the states including West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha (Mainly the Eastern States).
The company holds a manufacturing capacity of 30.75 MTPA with a market capacity of 16.343 Cr., 9484 Cr. revenue and a share of 5.5% in the cement market.
It is recognized as India’s largest slag manufacturer as well as a firm leader in super-specialty cement for oil wells, railway sleepers, and airstrips. It has a very high service network of 20,000 dealers and sub-dealers in more than 22 states of India.
Dalmia Cements has a target to become 20 time water positive by the year 2030. It has achieved the rank 1 for ‘business readiness of lowest carbon transition’ in global cement manufacturing sector by CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project)
6. Birla Corporation Limited (Cement Division)
Ten cement plants are there under Birla Corporation Limited within seven locations like Durgapur (West Bengal), Chanderia (Rajasthan), Butibori (Maharashtra), Raebareli & Kundanganj (Uttar Pradesh), Satna & Maihar (Madhya Pradesh). Brands like MP Birla Cement PERFECT PLUS, SAMRAT ADVANCED, ULTIMATE ULTRA, UNIQUE, SAMRAT, ULTIMATE, CHETAK, PSC, MULTICEM & CONCRECEM are counted under the common brand of MP Birla Cement. The varieties of cements under this brand incorporates OPC (Portland Cement), PPC (Portland Pozzolana Cement), fly Ash-based PPC, PSC (Portland Slag Cement), Low Heat Cement, Sulphate Resistant Cement and Low Alkali Cement.
After the acquisition of the 100% shares of Reliance Cement Company Private Limited has turned into a wholly owned subsidiary of Birla Corporation Limited with three additional cement plants of reliance which incorporates two grinding units at Kundanganj, Uttar Pradesh) as well as Butibori, Maharashtra respectively and an integrated plant a Maihar, Madhya Pradesh. This company has a market share of 3.2% with a production capacity of 15.5 MTPA annual revenue of Rs. 6778 Cr. Currently 5776 employees are working under this company.
7. India Cements Limited
The establishment of India Cements Limited, India’s one of the pioneer cement industry can be traced back to the year of 1946 in the form of a cement factory founded by Shri S N N Sankaralinga Iyer and Sri T S Narayanaswami at a small hamlet called Talaiyuthu in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. The real beginning of the enterprise took place with the starting of its very first plant at Sankarnagar (Talaiyuthu) in 1949.
Presently, India Cements Limited runs eight integrated plants in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan whereas, there are two grinding units under this company located at Tamila Nadu and Maharashtra respectively. Its Head Quarter is situated in Chennai.
Production of Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) commenced on 16th September, 1999. With 4300 working employees, India Cements comprises a production capacity of 15 MTPA, Rs. 5770cr. of annual revenue and a market share of 3%. Read Also: How to Store Cement in a Proper Way.
8. Ramco Cements Limited
Ramco Cements Limited is another popular south India Based cement company with the Head Quarter situated in Chennai. It acquires a production capacity of 16.45 MTPA within which the satellite grinding units alone stands for 4 MTPA. 3034 workers are there within the shade of this company. This company holds a market share of 3% and annual revenue of Rs. 5, 310 Cr.
It is well known for the production of Ready Mix Concrete and Dry Mortar products also. There are five integrated plants located in Ramasamy Raja Nagar, Virudhunagar District, Tamil Nadu; Alathiyur, Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu; Ariyalur, Govindapuram, Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu; Jayanthipuram, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh and Mathodu, Chitradurga District, Karnataka and whereas, the Uthiramerur, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu; Valapady, Salem District, Tamil Nadu; Kolaghat, Purba Medinipur District, West Bengal and Vizag, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It is also responsible for operating one of the largest wind farms in the country.
Orient Cements was established in 1979 as a part of Orient Paper & Industries but it was demerged in 2012. Since then, it has become one of the fastest growing and top most cement brands in India. Cement production started by this company at Devapur in Adilabad District of Telangana. A split-grinding unit was established at Nashirabad in Jalgaon, Maharashtra in 1997. Commercial proction of cement through the integrated plants started at Chittapur, Gulbarga, Karnataka. This company holds a total capacity of 8 MTPA with a large service area including Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujrat and Chhattisgarh.
Under the brand name of Birla.A1 Premium Cement and Birla.A1 Strong Crete, the product mix like Pozzolana Portland Cement (PPC) and Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) are marketed. Orient cement has been awarded the prestigious TPM (Total Plant Maintenance) excellence award by the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance. It has been awarded the ‘Green Pro Certification’ by CII Green Products and Services Council for the Birla.A1 Premium Cement (PPC). Products of this brand are suitable for any kind of commercial, residential and industrial construction. Read Also: 6 Ways to Check The Good Quality of Cement on Site.
10. Heidelberg Cement India Limited
This Company is a subsidiary of the Heidelberg Group of Germany. With 1100 employees, Heidelberg has a production capacity of 5.4 MTPA. It holds a market share of 1.1% and revenue of 2,182 Cr. per year. The company mainly operates in Central India, covering the places like Damoh at Madhya Pradesh, Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh.
Moreover, it has its function in South India also (at Ammasandra, Karnataka). Heidelberg Cements has been able to increase their capacity to the 5.4 MPTA through the process of brown field expansion of the services in Central India in 2013.
Due to the usage of the increased manufacturing capacity, the Company has become able to amplify its market share in the areas of Central India like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh as well as Bihar, Haryana and Uttarakhand.
Good quality products along with supportive sales strategies have enable this company to curve out a new brand niche for its brand “mycem” in the new markets. Beside this, it has improved the brand positioning of the existing ones.
A comparative chart for the price range of cement under different brands has been listed below in the table.
Serial No
Cement Brand
Average Price/Bag
1.
Ultra Tech Cement
Rs. 390
2.
Ambuja Cement
Rs. 280 -375
3.
ACC Cement
Rs. 330-450
4.
Shree Cement Limited
Rs. 330
5.
Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited
Rs. 320 – 450
6.
Birla Corporation Limited
Rs. 295 – 350
7.
India Cements Limited
Rs. 350
8.
The Ramco Cements Limited
Rs. 345
9.
Orient Cements Limited
Rs. 245
10.
Heidelberg Cement India Limited
Rs. 330
All of the aforesaid brands are good in the production and sales perspective. Considering the Top 10 brands, it can be said that as per the availability in the market in different parts of India, any of these can be chosen for a sustainable present and future housing. Apart from the above companies, there are many other brands that are popular in different parts of India which includes J. K. Cement, Konark Cement, Sanghi Ind, JK Lakshmi Cem, Orient Cement, Sagar Cement, Star Cement, Mangalam Cement, Ramcoind, KCP, HIL, NCL Industries, Udaipur Cement, Visaka Ind, Deccan Cements, Saurashtra Cem, Guj Sidhee Cem, Everest Ind, Anjani Cement, Shree Digvijay, Burnpur Cement, Sahyadri Ind, Kakatiya Cement, Niraj Cement, Katwa Udyog, Shiva Cement, Barak Valley Cem, A Infra., Keerthi Ind, Andhra Cement, Skyline Millars, Jaiprakash Asso, etc. Read Also: Quantity of Cement, Sand & Aggregate in M20, M15, M10 Concrete.
FAQs
What is the Top Cement Brand in India?
Ultra-Tech Cement followed by Ambuja Cement and ACC Cement are the top three cement brands in India.
What are the Popular Cement Brands in South India?
Ramco Cements and Orient Cements are the two major cement brands based in South India.
Where was the first-ever cement plant established in India?
Indian Cement Company Ltd. was established in Porbandar, Gujrat as the first Indian Cement Plant.
Millions of years ago humans learned to use stone as a tool. No doubt, this is one of the most ancient materials that has been used for construction purposes. At present time, stones are largely used for foundation work, railway ballast, roads, concrete, walls, columns, lintels, flooring, etc. If you want to learn about stone and the use of stone then you are in the right place.
Uses of Stones
If you are a history lover then you have already heard about the monument, sculptures, and statues which are made of stone in ancient times. The Great Pyramid of Giza, Moai Statues, The Roman Colosseum, the Tower of Pisa, the Taj Mahal, etc. all are examples of the most popular stone monuments.
You know, all the basic structures of a building can be made of stone. In this article, I will show you some uses of stone. So, let’s start.
1. Foundation Work
Stone is one of the most preferable materials for foundation work. It is more durable and less permeable than brick. Stone also reduces the chance of settlement of a structure. It also reduces the sinking effects. Generally, before concreting, a layer of stone gravel is laid to make the foundation base hard and loads reliably.
Stone for Foundation Work
2. Wall
Stone is used to make an external wall, retaining wall, boundary wall, partition wall, etc. Stones are more durable than bricks. It has weather-resisting properties and does not easily decay by chemical action. That is why they have gained popularity in the field of construction.
Use of stone for Wall
3. Column
Stone is also used to make columns of a building. To make such a type of verticle structure one stone is laid over the other, and mortar is used to join them together.
Stone Column
4. Lintel
Some types of stones are available in a large sizes, these types of stones are mostly used for the lintel structure. They are placed horizontally over the opening portion of a building.
Stone Lintel
5. Railway Ballast
You may have noticed that there are usually crushed stones around the railway tracks. These crushed stones are called ballast. The stone helps to hold the track firmly to its position. There are several materials available for railway ballast but the stone is most commonly used as ballast because of its hard, durable, non-porous properties. Read Also: – Advantages and Disadvantages of Broken Stone Ballast.
Use of Stone for railway Ballast
6. Flooring
Stone is a common material for flooring. Several types of natural stones like- granite, marble, limestone, slate, etc. have been using flooring purposes. As they are durable, hard, and good in appearance they are preferable for outdoor as well as indoor flooring.
It is also used for covering the floor of residential, commercial and industrial buildings. I have already discussed about stone flooring in another article, you can check it here – Flagstone flooring.
Use of Stone for Flooring
7. Concrete
You must have heard about concrete. At present time, most of the buildings are made of concrete. The coarse aggregate which is used for making concrete is one type of stone. In another way, we can say that stone is the basic material of cement concrete.
Use of Stone as Aggregate
8. Roof
Some stones (like- slate, limestone, etc.) are also used for roofing. They are generally cut into rectangular pieces like tiles before using them as roof covering. It is the best material for creating a leakproof roof covering.
Use of Stone for Roof
9. Road Construction
Stone is also a common material for road construction. They are used for paving roads, footpath, and as base course materials. Granite and basalt are the important stones used for road construction. Basalt is used for road pavement and as a coarse aggregate for concrete.
