Cinder blocks are lighter than bricks or concrete blocks.
Cinder blocks are an alternative to bricks for constructing masonry footings and walls. Because they are made from a combination of Portland cement and the cinders from burned coal, they are much lighter than bricks made from clay or concrete blocks made from cement and aggregate. Their light weight makes them easy to maneuver into position, and the mortar you use to hold them in place can be less firm than the mortar you would use for bricks or concrete blocks. Other than this, mixing cinder block mortar is similar to mixing mortar for bricks.
Instructions
1. Pour a quantity of Portland cement or masonry cement into a 5-gallon bucket and transfer it to a mixing trough. If you don't completely fill the bucket, note the level of the cement in the bucket. If you are mixing a large batch and fill the bucket several times, note how many buckets you pour into the trough.
2. Measure out four times as much sand with the bucket and pour it into the trough if you are using Portland cement. If you are using masonry cement, measure out three times the amount of sand, and transfer it to the trough.
3. Mix the dry cement and sand together with a shovel or trowel.
4. Add water incrementally and work it into the mixture. You can regulate the amount of water you add more precisely if you pour it first into a 1-quart jar and transfer it to the mortar mix.
5. As the mixture becomes wet, test it periodically by transferring a little onto a metal plate and turning the plate over. It is ready to use when all of it adheres to the plate. If water drips from the plate, the mixture is too wet, so add more cement and sand in the correct proportions to firm it up.
Related posts
Portland cement is used as the base for many cement and concrete mixtures utilized in various construction projects. Applied alone, Portland cement is too weak to make a good mortar for holding gl...
Cinder blocks are also known as cement blocks. They are the foundation of many homes. Cinder blocks are also commonly used as retaining walls around driveways of homes. They come in different size...
If you live in a small space, storage room can be hard to come by. However, extra storage space is available if you look for it. Most beds take up space without leaving much room underneath for st...
Workability is the important property of mortar cement.Mortar cement is the bonding material commonly used for masonry buildings. The quality of its mixing is crucial to its workability. Mortar is...
Fireproof mortar adds additional fire and heat protection to a wall or building.Most mortar is fireproof to some extent. The materials of clay, cement, lime and sand are naturally resistant to fir...
