Cement is a hygroscopic, it absorbs moisture and undergoes a chemical reaction termed hydration. Therefore, cement remains in good condition as long as it does not come in contact with moisture. If cement is more than three months old, then it should be tested for its strength before use.

No. The quality of cement depends upon the raw materials used and the quality control measures adopted during its manufacture, and not on the shade of the cement. The cement gets its colour from the nature and colour of raw materials used, which will be different from factory to factory, and may even differ in the different batches of cement produced in a factory. Further, the colour of the finished concrete is affected also by the colour of the aggregates, and to a lesser extent by the colour of the cement. Preference for any cement based on colour alone is technically misplaced.

Precautions that must be taken in the storage of Portland cement are given below in a series of DON’Ts.
1. Do not store bags in a building or a godown in which the walls, roof and floor are not completely weatherproof.
2. Do not store bags in a new warehouse until the interior has thoroughly dried out.
3. Do not be content with badly fitting windows and doors, make sure they fit properly and ensure that they are kept shut.
4. Do not stack bags against the wall. Similarly, don’t pile them on the floor unless it is a dry concrete floor. If not, bags should be stacked on wooden planks or sleepers.
5. Do not forget to pile the bags close together.
6. Do not pile more than 15 bags high and arrange the bags in a header-and-stretcher fashion.
7. Do not disturb the stored cement until it is to be taken out for use.
8. Do not take out bags from one tier only. Step back two or three tiers.
9. Do not keep dead storage. The principle of first-in first-out should be followed in removing bags.
10. Do not stack bags on the ground for temporary storage at the work site. Pile them on a raised, dry platform and cover them with a tarpaulin or polythene sheet.