How to Mix Stone Mortar

If you are working on a construction project that requires laying bricks, creating a solid foundation or doing stonework, you will need to create a bonding material known as mortar. Mortar is a bonding material made with sand, water and cement and is used extensively for bricklaying and cementing various stone fixtures in place. You can make stone mortar using a cement mixer for the best consistency.

Things You'll Need

• Large bucket
• Bag of sand
• Bag of cement
• Cement mixer
• Lime

Instructions

1. Divide the "ingredients" for your mortar mix recipe. The standard ratio for making mortar is one part cement to six parts sand and two parts lime.

2. Prepare the cement mixer. Pour 2/3 of a bucket of water into the mixer.

3. Pour six buckets of sand into the mixer. Fill the bucket completely to the top with sand and proceed to empty the contents into the cement mixer. Repeat six times.

4. Add a half bucket of water to the sand and water mix. Pour half a bucket of water into the sand and water mix to make sure the sand is the right consistency.

5. Add the lime to the mixer. Fill the bucket with lime and add it to the sand and water mixture. Repeat two times.

6. Turn on the cement mixer. Set the mixer to medium-high to begin the mixing process. You will need to leave the mixer on for two to three minutes so that the lime, sand and water are mixed thoroughly.

7. Add the cement. Fill one bucket full of cement and pour this into the mixer.

8. Allow the cement mixer to mix all of the materials. Leave the cement mixer on at a low-medium setting to combine all of the materials until the mixture is of a smooth and even consistency.

Tips & Warnings

• One "part" is equivalent to one bag or one cubic foot.

• Wear appropriate clothing to prevent backsplashes during the mixing process.

• Store prepared mortar in an enclosed bucket so that it doesn't dry out between uses.

• Always add cement to the mixer as the last step.

• Walls and other foundation projects may need a stronger strength of mortar, which contains a higher ratio of cement to sand.

Resources

• Mortar Mixing Tips from Masonry Magazine