How to Mix Portland Mortar
Mixing your own Portland mortar for that next outdoor project may be the most economical thing you can do for your pocketbook. The mix is a simple procedure and all the ingredients are readily available. The amount of mix to have for the project will have to be based on some trial and error and depends how much you will need for filling in the spaces between the brick and rocks for the project.
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Instructions
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Open the bag of Portland and gently add one full shovel of the dry powder to the wheelbarrow. Next add three shovels of sand and then just a half a shovel of masonry lime to the dry mix. The ratio of the mix is one part Portland, three parts sand and half a part of masonry lime. The shovel can be used for measuring all of the dry ingredients.
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Mix all the dry materials with the hoe before adding the water. The Portland should be covering the sand and white lime. Be sure no clumps are in the fine dry mix.
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Use the hoe and make a hole in the center of the dry mix, about the size of a basketball. Pour water half full into this hole and slowly incorporate the mix with the water. Add just a little amount of water to the Portland mortar at a time and keep mixing.
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Turn the Portland mixture over in the wheelbarrow with the shovel to check the consistency of the mix. The Portland mortar should be able to stand on its own and not flow like a concrete mix or cake batter. The lime will help the mortar have a slight fluffy texture like cake icing. The mix should be easy to manipulate with a hand trowel.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have added too much water, mix in some more lime and Portland to the over wet mix. Keep the same ratio as the basic mixture, never add more sand unless you end up adding a full shovel of Portland to the mix.
