How to Mix Mortar
Building a wall or a bridge is no easy task; you can’t just keep stacking the bricks or stones, otherwise they’ll fall over. You need to mix an effective batch of mortar. This material acts as an adhesive, putting your whole construction project together and ensuring it stays sturdy.
Types Of Mortar
In old times, clay or mud were used for mortar, but today, home improvement stores offer various types of mortar mixes for different do-it-yourself tasks. Before you purchase a mortar mix, inform the salesperson where you’re going to use it. He or she will give you the one you need. Here are several of the most common types.
Type N - A medium-strength mortar that’s popularly used for projects without a great deal of weight, such as garden walls.
Type M - A heavy duty mortar made for stones and heavy loads.
Type S - Ideal for foundations and retaining walls and is a bit harder to work compared to type N.
Refractory mortar - Made with calcium aluminate base, and more heat-resistant; Great for chimneys and barbecues.
Glass block mortar - It’s just like Type S, except that it’s colored white and can be tinted. Works well for glass blocks.
Mixing The Mortar
Mixing mortar can be tough, especially on your clothes and shoes. Before you begin, slip on a pair of old work boots and old clothes that you can throw away. Mortar is very difficult to remove once it sets on fabric.
What You’ll Need:
Mortar mix
Cement
Shovel
Mixing container (a wheelbarrow is all right)
Sand
Water and watering hose
Bucket
Procedure:
Prepare the cement and the sand. You can use any type of sand, even that you get from the beach. Put these in your mixing container. The ratio is one part of cement to three parts of sand.
Add two gallons of water on the mixture. Afterwards, add in two parts (based on the ratio you used for the sand and cement of mortar mix. Mix this properly with the shovel, folding the mixture from the bottom, then into the water. Keep doing this, until the water isn’t a puddle anymore.
Add one more gallon of water. Keep folding the mixture.
If needed, spray more water on the mortar mixture, continue folding until you get a smooth consistency.
Some Tips:
If the wheelbarrow seems too small, use another mixing container.
It’s best to do this on a not-so-sunny day, with a temperature of 50 to 65 degrees. This helps the mortar to stay moist for a longer time.
If your mortar starts to dry, add more water.
A building or a project’s sturdiness depends on the strength of the mortar , which then depends on the how you mix it. Keep these steps in mind and you’ll end up with a properly mixed mortar that you’ll find reliable.