Stucco walls, common concrete and joint sealant used to repair cracks are all made with cement. Portland cement and plastic cement, when mixed properly with the right ingredients, produce versatile and durable -- yet different -- building materials with a range of uses.
Portland cement, known also as hydraulic cement, is a finely ground, grayish powder used as a binding material and made from pulverized and burned limestone and clay or limestone and shale mixtures. Plastic cement, a flexible, water-resistant sealant, is made from portland cement.
Mix ordinary portland cement with water, sand and stone to produce concrete. Use plastic cement to fill and seal joints in concrete, wood, metal or masonry building construction or mix it with asphalt to hang roofing tiles. It may also be used to seal parapet walls, flashing, skylights and to repair all types of cracks. Combine plastic cement with plaster sand to make stucco, also known as portland cement-based plaster.
Use plastic cement in well-ventilated areas only, as it produces a solvent odor that may cause some people respiratory distress. Keep plastic cement away from heat or an open flame, as it is highly flammable.