Cements, Mortars and The Best Mix
My introduction to masonry was in the role of “The Mixer”. I always had a summer job from teenage years on with mixing cement and mortars for my father’s masonry company. As a younger family member, I was stuck mixing as the older boys got to cut, set stone and build. By the time I was 16 years old I knew how to mix a good batch of cement and mortar. Over the years I have seen mixes change and realize that not all mixes are the right choice for the job. Any of us 2nd, 3rd and older generation of masons have been trained with mix recipes handed down over the years. We keep them tight to the chest like a secret family recipe. Those old school mixes have stood the test of time but today mixes have changed in many ways. Today there are pre-mixes of cements, mortars and concrete. These products make the job go easier in many ways, especially when you are dealing with a confined area, an interior job or a smaller sq ft job. Still though, word on the street with some masons is that nothing is better than their family recipe mix. Here are a few mixes and how they can benefit your project.
TIPS ON MIXES
- For larger masonry jobs you go through a good amount of mix. When we were building stone walls, block work, brick work or full bed stone facades our mix was:
-One 94 lb bag of Portland Cement
-1/2 of a 75 lb bag of Type N Mortar
-30 full shovels of sand or a 2 sand to 1 cement ratio.
-Water depends on moisture in sand. Usually between 6 – 10 gallons.
Mixing in an engine paddle mixer you will yield two full wheelbarrows. This mix was great for building fieldstone walls.
2. For smaller masonry or repair jobs there are pre-mixes. These pre-mixes come in 80 lb bags of Type S Cement, Type N Mortar and even Concrete. These pre-packaged mixes have the sand to cement ratio done for you. Just add water and mix. Directions are on the back of each bag. The benefit of these are you can mix smaller amounts in a bucket with an electric paddle mixer. Of course the Pre-mix Concrete should be mixed in a wheelbarrow. These mixes are not best for larger projects due to the smaller yield.
3. For thin sets and engineered mixes ther are products like Ardex, Umaco and others. These engineered cements are top of the line. Each of these manufacturers has a specific mix for a specific job. The majority of thin stone and thin brick veneers are set with these mixes. Mixed in buckets with an electric paddle mixer these smooth thin sets are some of the strongest mixes in the market.
Also some of these manufacturers have premix grout with many color options. These grouts give you the opportunity to create custom combinations of products and grouts for unique looks.
With all the improvements of mixes in the market, choosing the right mix will make the job go faster as well as create the strongest application.
