How to Mix Mortar

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When building a brick structure, you will save time and money if you know how to mix the right amount of good quality mortar. You need to mix so that the mortar does not dry out and reach the right consistency. Once you know the proportions of the ingredients as well as the steps to mix and use the grout, it won’t take long to get good batches of grout. Then you just have to start building.

Table of Contents

Learn the recipe

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Measure 3 parts sand and 1 part construction cement. To get a standard mortar mix, you need to mix sand and cement in a ratio of 3 parts sand and 1 part cement. If you mix a whole bag of cement, the amount of sand used will be 3 times that, and the result will be a large batch of mortar. You should only mix just enough to use. ^{[1] X Research Source}

The measurement doesn’t have to be as precise as the cake recipe. Usually when mixing large quantities, sand will be calculated as the number of “shovels full” per bag of cement, usually about 15 to 18 shovels, depending on the size of the shovel. Mixing the right proportions is important, but you can estimate by eye, not the exact amount of spoon.

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Use the right amount of water. One bag of mortar needs to be mixed with about 12 liters of clean water to achieve the right consistency. The amount of water used depends significantly on the weather, the wetness of the sand, and the type of mix used, so read the instructions carefully before adding water.

Environmental conditions (temperature and humidity) will affect the mix and need to be taken into account.
The drier mixture will have a stronger bond. Wet mix may be easier to build. This depends on your experience.

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Use the right amount of sand and cement. It is more appropriate to use fine-grained construction sand than other types, and it is more effective to use unopened new construction cement bags than to use old ones. Cement mixes with brands such as Quikrete, Sakrete, and others are suitable for construction. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Some come as pre-mixed grout, which means you don’t need to mix the sand. These grades are usually more expensive than Portland cement, but are better for small projects. Read the label on the package to see what extra you need. Even if no sand is added, the grout mixing process is the same.
Portland Cement is not a brand of cement. It is the name of a material most commonly used to mix mortar, concrete, and other adhesives.
Store the dry cement and sand mixture as dry as possible. The material will break easily if wet. Try to mix only as much as you need, but it’s a good idea to use up all the dry mix to get the most out of the material.
Check the cement bag for lumps. Cement bags with lumps or hard blocks mean they have been exposed to moisture and the adhesion will not be good, so they need to be discarded.
Different brands may have slightly different mixing ratio instructions. Read and follow the instructions on the packaging of the product you have chosen to purchase. In general, a 3:1 ratio is usually appropriate and effective.

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Consider using lime as an additive. In some areas where the walls are subject to strong winds or other weather elements, lime is often added to the mortar to increase the adhesion and strength of the building. If you add lime, you also need to add sand to balance the ratio, creating a stronger, more cohesive mortar.

If you want to add lime, the appropriate ratio is 6 parts sand mixed with 2 parts lime and 1 part cement.

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Remember that the mixture with the addition of lime will set more quickly. This means you need to work faster or mix fewer batches of grout.

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Adjust the mix to suit the weather. In cold and wet climates, grout will behave differently than in hot and dry climates. You may find that it is more effective to use less sand and more water in this case. You may need to experiment a few times to find the right mix and consistency.

In general, it is easier to use grout in moderate and dry weather than in cold and wet weather. While it’s not always possible, you can learn to recognize the right consistency and use the right amount of water.

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Mortar of the right consistency should stick to the trowel on a 90-degree slope, but must also be wet enough to allow easy handling during construction, as well as being able to be drained and poured into buckets.

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If working in near freezing cold, try adding more lime; In hot/warm weather, you need to add more water to increase the hydration of the cement and help the cement to set quickly. Remember that the finished product must be kept from freezing before setting. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Mix a batch of mortar

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Wet mixer, wheelbarrow and/or bucket. Before you begin to add dry ingredients, you need to wet all tools where you will be mixing, transporting, and contacting the grout so that the grout can slide off easily and with less waste. Pour about half the amount of water needed for the batch into the mixer or tray, and pour some water into the wheelbarrow or mortar bucket.

Depending on the workload, you can use a small mixing tray or a gasoline-powered mortar mixer to mix a large amount of mortar. Multi-blade mortar mixer that holds 3 bags of 36 kg mix can save you effort. You can rent a machine to work, especially if you have to work for many days.

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Add dry ingredients and start mixing. If using a mixer, you need to operate the machine so that the blades stir and gently add the dry ingredients. Be careful not to throw materials into the machine, causing water to splash or damage the cement causing waste.

The order in which the ingredients are put into the machine is not very important, but many people often put cement first, then sand if not using pre-mixed mortar. In general, you just open the cement bag on the mixer, throw the bag away and shovel the required amount of sand in.

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Turn away, wear respiratory protection and do not breathe dust. Mortar mixtures containing silicates can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cancers.

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Add more water if needed. When mixing mortar, or when letting the mixer mix, you should pay attention to the consistency of the mortar. If it feels too dry, you need to add a small amount of water to keep it flexible and wet. Be careful not to add too much water, otherwise the batch of grout will be loose, non-sticky and useless.

Mixing mortar by hand

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Pour a pile of sand and place the corresponding number of bags of cement right next to the pile of sand. The pile of sand will look like a small mountain.

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Cut one end of the cement bag, press the bag with a shovel blade. Lift and pull the bag to empty the cement.

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Use a small shovel or hoe to mix quickly, making sure the mixture is evenly distributed and uniform in color. If the mixture is not evenly distributed, the batch will not have the correct consistency.

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Make a “crater” and fill it with water. The water will begin to settle and seep through the mixture.

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Use a shovel or hoe to scrape the dry mix out of the rim into the center of the water hole. Continue adding the required amount of water, making sure the mixture is smooth and wet. Mix thoroughly to distribute the ingredients evenly.

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Mix for about 3-5 minutes and let stand for another minute. Some brands such as Quikrete recommend waiting a while for the granules to absorb moisture, increasing the effectiveness of the mixture. It is important not to leave it on for too long; otherwise the mixture will harden. Similarly, over-mixing often dries out the mixture and reduces the service life of the grout.

A good way to test the consistency of the grout is to “flip” the trowel. Scoop some grout onto the trowel and shake your wrist so the grout is flat on the trowel, then flip the trowel at a 90-degree angle. If the grout stays on the trowel without slipping, you have a good batch of grout.

Use mortar

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Start building. Check the consistency of the mortar and pour the mortar into the wheelbarrow or into each bucket, pour it into the chute and start building. Make sure all tools are pre-wetted, or you’ll run into trouble with grout. If you do it properly, the grout should slide off easily.

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Always wear protective gear when working with grout. Dry concrete can be very painful and dangerous if it gets into your eyes, lungs or gets into your hands. It is important to wear gloves every time the grout is used, as well as goggles and a mask when mixing the dry cement. Cement can get into the face and be very harmful to the lungs. You need to be careful and always wear safety equipment.

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Add a little water from time to time. Mortar has the ability to dry quickly, which is also one reason it is effective and easy to work with. You need to act quickly to catch up. After a while, the grout in the trough will begin to dry, when you can slowly pour in a small cup of water and mix it with a spatula to maintain the proper consistency.

Too dry mortar will lead to weak masonry, and this is especially troublesome when you are building the foundation. It is important that you keep the grout wet and easy to build to be effective.

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Never mix more grout than you can make in 2 hours. Mortar often becomes too dry and unusable even if you add more water. Plan the job carefully and mix only as much grout as you can do right away, as you won’t be able to use the leftover grout afterwards.

If you add lime to the mortar and it doesn’t work quickly, or this is your first time building a wall, try mixing in small batches that will last 45 – 60 minutes.
If possible, ask someone to mix the mortar and bring it to you.

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Clean the mixer and any tools at the end of the day. After a hard day’s work, you still have one important thing to do: knock all the hard and dry mortar out of the mixer, chute, wheelbarrow and other tools. There are many different ways to do this, but the most effective is also the simplest: Hammer the tools, gather the dry mortar, and pour it out properly.

Don’t forget to wash the tools. Electric mortar mixers can run sluggishly if dry cement is not washed. If you mix the grout properly, there won’t be much dry cement that needs cleaning, but it does.

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It’s better to mix less grout and mix in one more small batch than to let excess material harden on the tool or form a large, hard mass that you have to clean up.

Advice

The wall has a white layer that looks like salt when built, usually because it dries too quickly. This situation will weaken the structure. Cover the wall with a wet cloth, rag, or canvas for a day or two to slow the drying of the wall, increasing the strength and longevity of the structure.
Fill the bucket with water before adding the grout, so you won’t have to dig to the bottom of the bucket to mix.

Warning

Take care to protect your eyes when working with sand, lime and cement as dust from dry cement and lime is extremely toxic, and the mixer can also splash the mixture while it is spinning. You should use safety glasses.
Use a gas mask. You can find this tool at a paint shop. Cement has an alkaline pH, which will burn the sinuses and lungs. You need to prevent getting sick. The wind will also help the dust to fly away from people when mixing.

Things you need

Sand
Lime (hydrolime)
Cement
Water
Shove
Cement mixer

Steps