Hi all.
Can a dry mortar mix (B&Q ready mix sand & cement)
be stored for a period of time if its kept dry?

Thanks.

Arthur

51 wrote:
Hi all.
Can a dry mortar mix (B&Q ready mix sand & cement)
be stored for a period of time if its kept dry?

Thanks.

Arthur



I believe they now have a limited shelf life, around 4 to 6 months IIRC.

Packed on/Use by date stamps on bags of portland cement I have, work
out at a "use within 2 months" from the date of packing.

In article ,
Googlebot writes:
51 wrote:
Hi all.
Can a dry mortar mix (B&Q ready mix sand & cement)
be stored for a period of time if its kept dry?

I believe they now have a limited shelf life, around 4 to 6 months IIRC.

The cement slowly sets by itself as it absorbs moisture
from the air, making it rather more lumpy than powdery.
You can still use it, but the cement remaining usable
becomes less and less, so the mixture effectively gets
weaker the longer you store it. I have used some which
was up to 5 years old (was well sealed up) and it worked
OK, but I expect the resulting mortar was significantly
weaker, although that didn't matter in this case.

Actually, I haven't seen dry mortar mix for many years.
I used to buy the odd bag from Wickes, but more recently
it has been supplied as a bag of wet sand with a sealed
sachet of cement in it, which is completely pointless
AFAICS.

--
Andrew Gabriel

The message
from (Andrew Gabriel) contains these words:

Actually, I haven't seen dry mortar mix for many years.
I used to buy the odd bag from Wickes, but more recently
it has been supplied as a bag of wet sand with a sealed
sachet of cement in it, which is completely pointless
AFAICS.

You are looking at it from the wrong perspective. Water is a very cheap
additive and certainly adds to the profit. :-)

--
Roger Chapman

The message .com
from " contains these words:

Packed on/Use by date stamps on bags of portland cement I have, work
out at a "use within 2 months" from the date of packing.

Apparently the shelf life has shortened of late because of the removal
of chromium salts which caused skin problems.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

wrote in message ...
On 7 Oct,
(Andrew Gabriel) wrote:

Actually, I haven't seen dry mortar mix for many years.
I used to buy the odd bag from Wickes, but more recently
it has been supplied as a bag of wet sand with a sealed
sachet of cement in it, which is completely pointless
AFAICS.

I got a (larger than intended) bag from B&Q a fortnight ago, ready mixed
(except for the water!) I carried it out of the shop and dumped it in a
trolly. It was partly empty when I got to the car, I'd split the bag
putting
it in the trolley. I still had more than enough. I wonder if the trail
across
the car park is permanent?

--
B Thumbs
Change lycos to yahoo to reply


So it was you!
It was 2 days before I thought to undo my shoelace and pull my foot out.

Arthur