Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Adding Sand to Premixed Mortar?
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Handyman_2005
10-09-05, 05:48 PM
Need help from the resident, expert masons here.
I have a 1960's brick vaneer house that was built using a very light grey "Jefco" 12"x3" brick. I recently removed a 2'x4' window that I now need to brick in... so I visited my local stone yard and they set me up with some 12"x3" splitrock bricks (identical color, slightly different texture - they'll work). The problem I'm encountering is that the mortar they used on the house originally is much lighter than the standard Quikrete Mortar Mix (Type N, yellow bag, green/black writing).
Hence, my question. I have found that if I mix 3 parts Quikrete Mortar Mix with 1-1.5 parts white silica sand, I get a mortar color that is very close to matching the house's original. The problem is that I don't know if this is OK to do? Will adding that much sand (33% more to whatever is already premixed in) affect the quality & performance of the mortar?
I need to determine if it's OK to just add the sand... or if I need to look to mixing my own mortar "from scratch" (and solve my problem by only using white sand - no yellow like Quikrete does).
Thanks.
I have a 1960's brick vaneer house that was built using a very light grey "Jefco" 12"x3" brick. I recently removed a 2'x4' window that I now need to brick in... so I visited my local stone yard and they set me up with some 12"x3" splitrock bricks (identical color, slightly different texture - they'll work). The problem I'm encountering is that the mortar they used on the house originally is much lighter than the standard Quikrete Mortar Mix (Type N, yellow bag, green/black writing).
Hence, my question. I have found that if I mix 3 parts Quikrete Mortar Mix with 1-1.5 parts white silica sand, I get a mortar color that is very close to matching the house's original. The problem is that I don't know if this is OK to do? Will adding that much sand (33% more to whatever is already premixed in) affect the quality & performance of the mortar?
I need to determine if it's OK to just add the sand... or if I need to look to mixing my own mortar "from scratch" (and solve my problem by only using white sand - no yellow like Quikrete does).
Thanks.
marksr
10-09-05, 06:17 PM
Welcome to the forums
Adding sand to the premix will weaken the mortar. I'm not a mason but hopefullly one or two will chime in soon :)
Adding sand to the premix will weaken the mortar. I'm not a mason but hopefullly one or two will chime in soon :)
Concretemasonry
10-09-05, 08:34 PM
mrksr is right.
Adding sand will also make the mortar less durable and harder to work with.
If you really want to match the existing color you probably will have to mix from scratch.
How do you know the mortar you have does not match? Mortar will change color (lighten) as it cures, so a sample today will be a different color in a few weeks. How and when you tool the joint also can affect the color.
Mix some mortar, try to compress it to similate a joint, tool it and let it sit outside for a few days. You will get an idea of what the real color could be.
There are many ways to lighten a mortar. Light sand is one way. Adding white cement amd/or lime will also help.
Dick
Adding sand will also make the mortar less durable and harder to work with.
If you really want to match the existing color you probably will have to mix from scratch.
How do you know the mortar you have does not match? Mortar will change color (lighten) as it cures, so a sample today will be a different color in a few weeks. How and when you tool the joint also can affect the color.
Mix some mortar, try to compress it to similate a joint, tool it and let it sit outside for a few days. You will get an idea of what the real color could be.
There are many ways to lighten a mortar. Light sand is one way. Adding white cement amd/or lime will also help.
Dick
Handyman_2005
10-09-05, 09:38 PM
Thanks Guys.
Dick: I actually did a process very similiar to what you described. I took 1/4 cup of the Mortar Mix and combined that with 1, 1.5, 2 and 3 tablespoons of white sand (4 different samples). I formed each of the 4 mixes into a 'joint'.... and then I sat all 4 in the sun for the day to dry... and then used a hair dryer (no jokes needed) to get 'em to dry quicker. Of the 4, the 1.5 looks the closest. But, as I mentioned, I'm nervous about adding 3 parts Mix to 1.5 parts white sand (there's about 3 tablespoons in a 1/4 cup).... which would be adding 50% more sand in total volume.
I think the white cement might be the ticket. Could I safely add 3-4 cups of white cement to a standard 60lb. 1:3 Type N mortar mix? If so, maybe I'll play with that. Otherwise, I think I'm looking at picking up the cement and mixing my own sand in (not using the premixed).
Dick: I actually did a process very similiar to what you described. I took 1/4 cup of the Mortar Mix and combined that with 1, 1.5, 2 and 3 tablespoons of white sand (4 different samples). I formed each of the 4 mixes into a 'joint'.... and then I sat all 4 in the sun for the day to dry... and then used a hair dryer (no jokes needed) to get 'em to dry quicker. Of the 4, the 1.5 looks the closest. But, as I mentioned, I'm nervous about adding 3 parts Mix to 1.5 parts white sand (there's about 3 tablespoons in a 1/4 cup).... which would be adding 50% more sand in total volume.
I think the white cement might be the ticket. Could I safely add 3-4 cups of white cement to a standard 60lb. 1:3 Type N mortar mix? If so, maybe I'll play with that. Otherwise, I think I'm looking at picking up the cement and mixing my own sand in (not using the premixed).