I'm building a retaining wall in my garden using some old yellow stock
bricks. I'd like to have the pointing a yellowish colour but I'm not
sure how to get this.

I have put some air vents in at the back of my house and the pointing
has turned a very nice golden yellow colour. However I've also put in
some air bricks and the pointing has stayed grey.

On both occasions I think I've used Wickes building sand(which looks
quite yellow) and their Portland cement. I'm not sure why the colour
has turned out different.
I may have used plasticiser when fitting the air vent, could this have
made the difference?

Any suggestions gratefully received.

In article .com,
writes:
I'm building a retaining wall in my garden using some old yellow stock
bricks. I'd like to have the pointing a yellowish colour but I'm not
sure how to get this.

I have put some air vents in at the back of my house and the pointing
has turned a very nice golden yellow colour. However I've also put in
some air bricks and the pointing has stayed grey.

On both occasions I think I've used Wickes building sand(which looks
quite yellow) and their Portland cement. I'm not sure why the colour
has turned out different.

Building sand and white cement comes out a nice yellow, although
it depends how strong a pigment the sand forms, and this varies
(seems to be a feature which depends on the amount of find sand
dust in the sand).

You can get mortar dies from builder's merchants. I've only used
black, and I suspect colours like yellow would only work with
white cement.

--
Andrew Gabriel

"Andrew Gabriel" wrote in message
.. .
In article .com,
writes:
I'm building a retaining wall in my garden using some old yellow stock
bricks. I'd like to have the pointing a yellowish colour but I'm not
sure how to get this.

I have put some air vents in at the back of my house and the pointing
has turned a very nice golden yellow colour. However I've also put in
some air bricks and the pointing has stayed grey.

On both occasions I think I've used Wickes building sand(which looks
quite yellow) and their Portland cement. I'm not sure why the colour
has turned out different.

Building sand and white cement comes out a nice yellow, although
it depends how strong a pigment the sand forms, and this varies
(seems to be a feature which depends on the amount of find sand
dust in the sand).

You can get mortar dies from builder's merchants. I've only used
black, and I suspect colours like yellow would only work with
white cement.


Some Wickes do black and beige cement dye. But in my limited experience you
have to try with your own cement brand and it dries to a different colour
altogether as the cement cures so initial appearance is not a good guide.
Then outdoors it weathers to a paler colour over the course of a year or so.

On both occasions I think I've used Wickes building sand(which looks
quite yellow) and their Portland cement. I'm not sure why the colour
has turned out different.


In some sensitive parts of the country the councill planning dept will
specify what type of sand to use.


rusty

wrote:

I'm building a retaining wall in my garden using some old yellow stock
bricks. I'd like to have the pointing a yellowish colour but I'm not
sure how to get this.

I have put some air vents in at the back of my house and the pointing
has turned a very nice golden yellow colour. However I've also put in
some air bricks and the pointing has stayed grey.

On both occasions I think I've used Wickes building sand(which looks
quite yellow) and their Portland cement. I'm not sure why the colour
has turned out different.
I may have used plasticiser when fitting the air vent, could this have
made the difference?

Any suggestions gratefully received.

White cement is a good start, and the yellowest sand you can find.

Thanks for your suggestions. Any idea if any of the big diy sheds
(wickes,b&q, homebase, travis perkins etc) sell white cement or where I
might find it?

Thanks for your suggestions. Any idea if any of the big diy sheds
(wickes,b&q, homebase, travis perkins etc) sell white cement or where I
might find it?

wrote:

Thanks for your suggestions. Any idea if any of the big diy sheds
(wickes,b&q, homebase, travis perkins etc) sell white cement or where I
might find it?


Most BM's stock it.

Thanks for your suggestions. Any idea if any of the big diy sheds
(wickes,b&q, homebase, travis perkins etc) sell white cement or where I
might find it?

My local B&Q warehouse certainly stocks it.

Christian.

wrote:
I'm building a retaining wall in my garden using some old yellow
stock
bricks. I'd like to have the pointing a yellowish colour but I'm not
sure how to get this.

I have put some air vents in at the back of my house and the pointing
has turned a very nice golden yellow colour. However I've also put in
some air bricks and the pointing has stayed grey.

Yellow or ceam mortar is usually lime and sand. Get a bag of lime and
mix it to a gloopy paste, store it in airtight container for 3 weeks,
and mix 3:1 with sand to use.

Lime lasts longer, has a cream-white-pink-yellow color, depending on
the sand used with it, and is self healing. When cracked it regrows
hard crystals across the gap to self heal.

The downside with lime is it takes ages to set. Put sheeting over it to
keep hard rain off until set.


NT

wrote:

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Any use -
http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/Matchmortar.htm

wrote:
I'm building a retaining wall in my garden using some old yellow stock
bricks. I'd like to have the pointing a yellowish colour but I'm not
sure how to get this.

how old ar the bricks? If theyre old soft bricks, your wall will last
much better if you use lime mortar.

Whatever you do, I'd avoid cement dyes, as the colour often washes out
after a while, usually very unevenely.

NT

wrote in message
oups.com...
wrote:
I'm building a retaining wall in my garden using some old yellow stock
bricks. I'd like to have the pointing a yellowish colour but I'm not
sure how to get this.

how old ar the bricks? If theyre old soft bricks, your wall will last
much better if you use lime mortar.

Whatever you do, I'd avoid cement dyes, as the colour often washes out
after a while, usually very unevenely.

Cement colours are not true dyes. They are pigments, which behave no
differently from sand, or any other solid material, once the mortar has
set.
I think oxides also act as a pozzolan in lime, with the darker colours
having a more pronounced effect.
Gold ochre would probably be a better bet. Less chemical reaction if
you're
using lime, and a more appropriate colour for old brickwork. Search for
Kremer Pigments.


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Stuart Noble wrote:
wrote in message

Whatever you do, I'd avoid cement dyes, as the colour often washes out
after a while, usually very unevenely.

Cement colours are not true dyes. They are pigments, which behave no
differently from sand, or any other solid material, once the mortar has
set.

Maybe there are different types then, as colour loss is a real world
problem, common with coloured cement products.


NT

On 23 May 2005 14:54:50 -0700, wrote:

I'm building a retaining wall in my garden using some old yellow stock
bricks. I'd like to have the pointing a yellowish colour but I'm not
sure how to get this.

I have put some air vents in at the back of my house and the pointing
has turned a very nice golden yellow colour. However I've also put in
some air bricks and the pointing has stayed grey.

On both occasions I think I've used Wickes building sand(which looks
quite yellow) and their Portland cement. I'm not sure why the colour
has turned out different.
I may have used plasticiser when fitting the air vent, could this have
made the difference?

Any suggestions gratefully received.

In my experience "Castle" cement is lighter, and the sand coluor tends
to remain more.

Rick

On 24 May 2005 03:25:16 -0700, wrote:

Thanks for your suggestions. Any idea if any of the big diy sheds
(wickes,b&q, homebase, travis perkins etc) sell white cement or where I
might find it?

B&Q, its about twice the price of normal stuff.

I got a bag in Travis Perkins for =A311.70 which is a bit steep but one
bag should do. I've tried a little with the wickes sand and it looks
good.Thanks for all your help.