How Much Mortar For Utility Brick?

Answer 1

It depends on the sand itself, if it contains silt ( mud), or it contains sulfates , both will crack the mortar, usually in Iraq its one part of cement to 2.25 parts of sand in middle and south of Iraq as its either contains silt from river sand , or sulfate as its from the desert. You better add some latex and shrinkage compensated additives, or the cheapest is concrete admixtures ( water reducing agents, it will improve the workability of the mix and can lower cement content by 10 % percent.

concrete admixtures containing retarders are better from 25 c to very hot weather, use concrete admixtures with accelerators in cold weather. Concrete admixtures are water reducing agents , its universal and subject to ASTM C-494 , you can get it easy, add one litre to 100 kg of cement plus the sand , and its recommended to spray or submerge the bricks in water for 24 hours , you get rock hard bricks, higher adhesion to cement mortar, it will become more water proof,i have seen houses next to Tigris river in Baghdad, flooded with water, no seepage, just the skilled bricklayer saturated the bricks, and used fine cement , another tip is to use hydrated lime as plasticiser it has non shrink capability , if its cheaper than concrete admixtures , use powder form at rate of half kilogram per 100 kg cement , in summer add sugar just one tea spoon to 100 kg cement with hyrdrated lime, so you get retarded mortar mix, extend the mixes pot life, lower waste, use fine sugar, use coffee mill at home or coffee grinder, sugar is good as long as you do not add too much ( one pound with 25 litre water is enough for one ton of cement ).