How to Mix Mortar for a Brick Hearth

Mix the mortar in a standard wheelbarrow.

Adding brick to a fireplace hearth not only dresses up the architectural feature, it protects the floor in front of the fireplace. If you're laying a brick fireplace around your hearth, mortar is an essential component, because it holds the bricks in place. Before you begin your project, mix the mortar so that it's on hand and ready to use during the installation of the bricks.

Things You'll Need

• 1- or 2-gallon plastic bucket
• Sand
• Lime
• Cement
• Wheelbarrow
• Garden hoe
• Water
• Trough

Instructions

1. Measure 3 parts sand, 1 part lime and 1 part cement in a 1- or 2-gallon plastic bucket.

2. Pour half of the sand into a wheelbarrow. Top the sand with the lime and cement. Pour the rest of the sand on top of the mixture.

3. Mix the sand, lime and cement with a garden hoe. Once the ingredients are well blended, pull them to one side of the wheelbarrow, creating an empty space at the opposite end.

4. Add 2 gallons of water into the empty space at the end of the wheelbarrow. Use a trough to mix the sand, lime and cement with the water. Mix until the ingredients are the consistency of clay. If necessary, add water to the mixture and mix until achieving the right consistency.

References

• Realtor: Mixing and Handling Mortar