Understand the materials named in floor-heating and snow-melting installation instructions.
- Cement is a binder. Hydraulic cement reacts with water to set and harden.
- Mortar combines cement paste and fine aggregate, such as sand. Formulations can include lime or other ingredients.
- Concrete combines cement, water and aggregates; mixtures may also include admixtures or other cementitious materials.
The terms are not interchangeable. For a heating installation, select the specific mortar or concrete mix required by the system instructions and the material manufacturer. These definitions do not establish a suitable mix or aggregate size.