White Concrete

Throop Company has produced white concrete many times using our mobile batch plants. One of the advantages of using white cement is that it provides a neutral tinting base and consistent color results for decorative and architectural concrete. White cement can be specified in construction projects via a number of different standards – portland cements, masonry cements, and plaster (stucco) cements. Every color option is possible with white cement, from pure whites to bright and pastel colors.

Obtaining the color white requires substantial modification to the method of manufacture, and because of this, it is somewhat more expensive than the gray product. White cement is cement that’s been made little or no iron. Primarily iron and manganese influence the whiteness and undertone of the material. When producing white cement, light-colored sand and aggregates need to be used. Also, the aggregates need to be cleaned; dirty aggregates can dull the color. The color of white cement is determined by its raw materials and the manufacturing process. Light-colored or white aggregates are recommended for light-colored or white concrete because dark aggregates can shadow through the thin layer of surface paste and produce a darker or spotted appearance. Alternatively, purposely choosing aggregates and pigment with dramatic color differences can create striking appearances, such as a salt-and-pepper appearance achieved by a white paste with white sand and black or very dark medium and/or large aggregate.

For decorative concrete, using white Portland cement in place of the standard gray allows for brighter, richer colors to be achieved when pigments are added. But many contractors and architects prefer specify to add no color at all and leave the concrete a bright, gleaming white. Indoors, applications for white concrete include counter tops, decorative floors, fireplace surrounds and even furniture. Outdoors, white concrete is often used for architectural accents, such as pillars and balustrades, and for light-reflective pavements.

White cement is readily available throughout North America.