Mortar masonry is, pardon the simplicity, is what keeps brick and stone structures together. It’s supremely essential and has been for as long as humans have been using stone (and later) bricks to build houses and such.

While the mixture is also simple, it takes a precise amount of materials to make the mixture strong enough to adhere to form sturdy buildings and the like.

And mortar masonry is the essence of an industry of professionals because it goes beyond just the right mix, but knowing how to repair and work with mortar isn’t something to be taken lightly. It’s not an easy do-it-yourself project, though many folks nowadays try to do so at their peril.

Mortar masonry is best left to these professionals because an amateur effort can result in devastating results that could end up costing you more than if you would have hired masonry pros, to begin with.

What Is Mortar Mix and What Are Tips for Working With Mortar?

So what is mortar mix? It’s a mixture of materials sand, water, and cement in various yet precise amounts that when combined allow building professionals to build houses, chimneys, sidewalks, etc.

Masonry professionals need to be proficient at working with mortar, making mortar, and removing and repairing old and worn out mortar. It’s a difficult, dirty job, but a necessary one since brick houses are popular as are other brick and stone structures.

Some tips for working with mortar include things such as the use of dyes to change the color, using chemical plasticizers (or mortar cement) to improve the workability of the mortar.

Before using the sand in the mixture, it’s wise to keep it as dry as possible, so if you use sand that’s been uncovered for a time, it can absorb water, which can change the water level in the mortar mix.

When mixing mortar, mix it for more than three minutes but not more than five minutes. Also, when using fresh cement, use unopened bags because opened bags can absorb humidity that can affect the water levels you are using.

The life expectancy of mortar (once mixed) is generally an hour and a half, any longer than that, it’s good to toss it and make more.

The most recommended cement to use is Portland cement.

What Are the Types of Mortar Available?

This is the technical part of this article as we list the specific types of mortar used today. Types of mortar include:

Type M mortar: the highest strength available as its compressed strength is 2,500 pounds per square inch (psi). Normally used with stone.

Type S mortar: this is a medium-strength mortar (1,800 psi). Generally used with exterior projects such as patios.

Type N mortar: the most commonly used mortar (750 psi). It’s the best type of all-around mortar in use.

How to Mix Mortar

Need to know how to mix mortar? The basic mix for mortar is three parts sand for every one part of the type of cement you want to use. For an essential blend, start with three gallons of water.

Keep in mind, the drier the mix, the stronger the mortar, yet a wetter mix is the easiest to work with. If you don’t have experience with this type of masonry, it’s difficult to explain the perfect consistency.