scesnick
Veteran Member
I am building a rock retaining wall in front of the house. What I need to know is what is the ratio of water and sand to the Brick-Lok type "S" Mortar? ( BTW- Brick-Lok already has the lime in the mortar.) thanks.
Type "S" Mortar Mix ratio?
- Thread starter scesnick
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About 3 or 4 parts sand per briklok. The dryer the better, it will shrink less, so start adding water until it's just damp enough to work with. The bag probably has instructions on it. Also note you need mason's sand, which is coarser than other sand.
OP
scesnick
Veteran Member
Nope, no directions on bag. I do have masons sand. So, that would be one shovel of BrikLok for every 3-4 shovels of sand correct? Then water.
forgeblast
Elite Member
Water ratio depens on the time of day. early when cooler you can get away with a stiffer peanut butter mix, but when it heats up you want a bit more water. I also keep a spray bottle with me to spray the surface and the back of the stone and then put the mortar on when it gets hot, in fact i should be out there now.
Correct on the mixture. If you're mixing by hand in wheel barrow, combine all dry ingredients first, then add water as you mix it together. If you're using a mixer, put about half the sand in first with some water then add the brix, then the rest of sand and water. If you add brix to water without any sand, it gets like lumpy gravy and it will have to mix a long time to break down the lumps.
You can also spray your stone ahead of time with a hose so it absorbs some water. The deal with any cement product is the drier you can pour it, and the slower you can cure it, the stronger it will be and the less it will shrink. So you don't want water running off the stones, but if they're damp that will prevent them sucking water out of the mortar mix. Also if you can keep it out of the sun that helps.
MikeD74T
Veteran Member
http://www.essroc.com/assets/essroc/corporate/ds_bricklok_masonry_cement.pdf
I always used 14 shovels of sand to 1 bag (7 shovels) of mortar for hard brick. For granite with little or no absorbancy 1 bag mortar, 1/2 bag portland, 21 shovels of sand, may be proportioned for smaller batches. . MikeD74T
I always used 14 shovels of sand to 1 bag (7 shovels) of mortar for hard brick. For granite with little or no absorbancy 1 bag mortar, 1/2 bag portland, 21 shovels of sand, may be proportioned for smaller batches. . MikeD74T
KRBrouwer
Bronze Member
1 shovel of type S mortar to 3 shovels of sand, and water so its workable, been doing that for 30 years.
Ken
OP
scesnick
Veteran Member
Thanks fellas, Turns out there was directions onthe bag but it was for a mechanical mixer. I am going to be mixing this by hand.
forgeblast
Elite Member
If mixing by hand, its a pita. Get a five gallon pail, put in your mix and get a cheap paddle from harbor freight, mix it up in the bucket with a drill. It will save your back.
