Overview of mortars for bricklaying

The service life of a building depends not only on the foundation and wall materials, but also on the mounting solution that fastens bricks, blocks or slabs together. Masonry mix for bricks must be strong and durable in order to connect and hold the structural elements in a single monolith. Violation of technology can lead to irreversible consequences in the form of complete destruction of the building.

Based on the name, it is clear that it is intended for fastening the main building material - brick. Masonry mortar is obtained by combining the finished dry powder with water or self-preparation. If a factory mixture is used, it must be diluted strictly in the proportions indicated in the instructions. It is possible to reduce consumption only in one case: to develop the composition immediately, without waiting for the loss of plasticity or hardening.

There are several types of mixture.

1. Universal.

It is intended for an ordinary brick on civil and industrial objects. It consists of cement, sand and water. To improve the properties and aesthetic parameters of such a solution, additives are suitable: plasticizers, hardeners, dyes. The name "universal" is applied to several varieties of the mixture, which differ significantly from each other in their characteristics.

A cement-based masonry mortar is used (the proportions depend on its brand), the aggregate is sand. To increase the viscosity, a little lime is added. In this case, it becomes more plastic, fills voids better and does not freeze longer. But lime is contraindicated in places with high humidity.

As a universal cement mixture, M 150 is most in demand. The addition of plasticizers increases frost resistance and reduces water absorption. The combination of low price and excellent performance makes it indispensable on construction sites. It is used for all types of bricks: ordinary, clinker, silicate. White masonry mortar for bricks is mainly used during the restoration of joints on buildings that have stood for several years.

• Clinker brick.

Due to the specific features of this cladding product, the assembly mix differs slightly from the universal mix in its composition. It contains more mineral binders and fillers, which prevents the appearance of shrinkage cracks. Rhenish trass is added to the mix for low water absorption bricks to promote color retention.

The price of the factory mixture for clinker is higher than the usual one, but experts recommend buying and using it. After all, in itself, such a brick is more expensive than an ordinary one. A developer who purchased such a wall material, but chose a low-quality mortar for installation, runs the risk of completely spoiling the appearance of the building.

2. Color mixtures.

Modern houses are becoming more and more "colored", thanks to pigments. White or dark cement, dyes and polymers are used. A wide range of shades is produced: from white to rich green. Thanks to polymer additives that fix the composition, the seams do not change color under atmospheric influence.

A wide range of colored masonry mixture for clinker bricks is produced. Fine-grained sand was taken as a filler in it, polymers were added. This ensures plasticity and low water absorption. Various shades of the mixture allow you to combine the color of bricks and joints, embodying design solutions. Consumption will be small if you use it only for stitching.

3. Mixtures for aggressive environments.

Designed for those rooms where there is a high level of temperature, toxicity, acidity. These can be ventilation shafts, chimneys, fireplaces, stoves, combustion chambers. The compositions of such mixtures in the correct proportion contain all the necessary components that can withstand temperatures up to 1690 ° C. About 90% are refractory powders (mortars).

To use, add water and stir until the clay is completely dissolved. Then stand for 3 hours, add more liquid. The desired consistency is a stable, but plastic mass, along which the brick easily moves. Laying is carried out at temperatures from +5 to +25 ° C. The shelf life of the dry factory mixture at a moisture content of 60% is unlimited.

GOSTs for different types of compositions

The quality of the masonry mortar is described in GOST 28913-98. The rules are as follows:

*For brands from M25 to M100.

How to prepare a mixture with your own hands?

Masonry work in their modern format is a very democratic phenomenon: you can use well-established folk methods, that is, mix cement and sand in known proportions, or you can keep up with progress and buy masonry mortar for bricks in powder form. The first method is economically more profitable in terms of the cost of materials, but at the same time more energy-intensive. However, thousands of builders use it.

Special knowledge and skills for self-production of the solution is not required. You will definitely need:

• sieve for sifting sand;
• shovel;
• a large tank for mixing like a trough;
• container for mixing additives.

The best option is a concrete mixer, but it does not matter if there is none. You can do everything with your own hands with a shovel.

1. First, the sand is sifted to remove excess from it (pebbles, clay, plant roots, debris). For this procedure, a metal sieve with 3 mm cells is used. Some skip this stage, instead getting problems. There will be foreign objects in the solution, and the time saved on sifting will result in extra cement consumption.

2. After preparing the mixture for dry bricks. The recommended proportions for laying cement M400 and sand depend on the desired strength grade:

• M25 - 1: 5;
• M50 - 1: 4;
• M75 - 1: 3.

There are special tables that allow you to determine the consumption of components for the solution.

3. The third stage in the manufacture of masonry mortar for bricks is direct mixing with water. A third of the liquid is poured into the container and the cement-sand mixture is poured. After that, the rest is poured out. You need to mix for at least 5 minutes to get a homogeneous consistency without lumps. An indicator of quality is the slow sliding down the shovel.

Powdered components are usually dissolved in water and poured with the first portion. Liquid plasticizers are added according to package instructions. The consumption of mortar for laying bricks depends on the thickness of the layer and the size of the blocks.

Similarly, masonry mixture for refractory bricks is made. Its proportions: clay - 60%, sand - 30%, cement - 10%. A do-it-yourself mixture reduces costs, because its price is lower than the factory powder. But we must not forget that this solution is conditionally heat-resistant. It contains combustible cement, so the maximum temperature load is 90 ºС. Such a mixture should be covered with refractory plaster with a 20% content of liquid glass.

average cost

Trade organizations offer to buy ready-made solutions in bags of 25, 30 and 50 kg and in large wholesale lots. The price depends on the purpose, the presence of additives.