If I had a 1:4 cement/sand mortar (grey cement, orange/brown sand), how much would it lighten in colour if I made it 1:1:4 cement/hydrated lime/sand which seems to be the equivalent mix ?
Also, how would the strength compare with the 2 mixes ? I know the lime acts as a plasticiser and will affect the colour, but does it add any strength to the mix ?
Thanks,
Simon.

On Saturday, 2 May 2015 19:11:10 UTC+1, sm_jamieson wrote:
If I had a 1:4 cement/sand mortar (grey cement, orange/brown sand), how much would it lighten in colour if I made it 1:1:4 cement/hydrated lime/sand which seems to be the equivalent mix ?
Also, how would the strength compare with the 2 mixes ? I know the lime acts as a plasticiser and will affect the colour, but does it add any strength to the mix ?
Thanks,
Simon.

Well it appears that lime is not available in Wickes or B&Q and there are no builders merchants open until tuesday (well not sure about Buildbase), and since I am supposed to be building my wall over the weekend, I guess it will have to be standard mortar, possibly half snowcrete to lighten it a bit..
Perhaps mortar is generally sand cement and addmix these days.
Simon.

On 02/05/2015 19:27, sm_jamieson wrote:
On Saturday, 2 May 2015 19:11:10 UTC+1, sm_jamieson wrote:
If I had a 1:4 cement/sand mortar (grey cement, orange/brown sand), how much would it lighten in colour if I made it 1:1:4 cement/hydrated lime/sand which seems to be the equivalent mix ?
Also, how would the strength compare with the 2 mixes ? I know the lime acts as a plasticiser and will affect the colour, but does it add any strength to the mix ?
Thanks,
Simon.

Well it appears that lime is not available in Wickes or B&Q and there are no builders merchants open until tuesday (well not sure about Buildbase), and since I am supposed to be building my wall over the weekend, I guess it will have to be standard mortar, possibly half snowcrete to lighten it a bit.
Perhaps mortar is generally sand cement and addmix these days.
Simon.


You could always leave the pointing till after the holiday

"sm_jamieson" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 2 May 2015 19:11:10 UTC+1, sm_jamieson wrote:
If I had a 1:4 cement/sand mortar (grey cement, orange/brown sand), how
much would it lighten in colour if I made it 1:1:4 cement/hydrated
lime/sand which seems to be the equivalent mix ?
Also, how would the strength compare with the 2 mixes ? I know the lime
acts as a plasticiser and will affect the colour, but does it add any
strength to the mix ?
Thanks,
Simon.

Well it appears that lime is not available in Wickes or B&Q and there are no
builders merchants open until tuesday (well not sure about Buildbase), and
since I am supposed to be building my wall over the weekend, I guess it will
have to be standard mortar, possibly half snowcrete to lighten it a bit.
Perhaps mortar is generally sand cement and addmix these days.
----------------------
snowcrete wouldn't lighten the colour if it has to contend with orange and
green sand and cement, if you want it pale, use snowcrete and very pale sand

On Saturday, 2 May 2015 20:48:19 UTC+1, Phil L wrote:
"sm_jamieson" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 2 May 2015 19:11:10 UTC+1, sm_jamieson wrote:
If I had a 1:4 cement/sand mortar (grey cement, orange/brown sand), how
much would it lighten in colour if I made it 1:1:4 cement/hydrated
lime/sand which seems to be the equivalent mix ?
Also, how would the strength compare with the 2 mixes ? I know the lime
acts as a plasticiser and will affect the colour, but does it add any
strength to the mix ?
Thanks,
Simon.

Well it appears that lime is not available in Wickes or B&Q and there are no
builders merchants open until tuesday (well not sure about Buildbase), and
since I am supposed to be building my wall over the weekend, I guess it will
have to be standard mortar, possibly half snowcrete to lighten it a bit.
Perhaps mortar is generally sand cement and addmix these days.
----------------------
snowcrete wouldn't lighten the colour if it has to contend with orange and
green sand and cement, if you want it pale, use snowcrete and very pale sand

I tried just snowcrete and the normal orange sand, and the colour is horrible, a slightly peachy colour ! SWMBO likes the version with half snowcrete / half grey cement. but we'll see how it dries. I don't think we will go as far as getting a different sand - I have loads of the conventional stuff to use up.

Simon.

On 02/05/2015 22:34, sm_jamieson wrote:
On Saturday, 2 May 2015 20:48:19 UTC+1, Phil L wrote:
"sm_jamieson" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 2 May 2015 19:11:10 UTC+1, sm_jamieson wrote:
If I had a 1:4 cement/sand mortar (grey cement, orange/brown sand), how
much would it lighten in colour if I made it 1:1:4 cement/hydrated
lime/sand which seems to be the equivalent mix ?
Also, how would the strength compare with the 2 mixes ? I know the lime
acts as a plasticiser and will affect the colour, but does it add any
strength to the mix ?
Thanks,
Simon.

Well it appears that lime is not available in Wickes or B&Q and there are no
builders merchants open until tuesday (well not sure about Buildbase), and
since I am supposed to be building my wall over the weekend, I guess it will
have to be standard mortar, possibly half snowcrete to lighten it a bit.
Perhaps mortar is generally sand cement and addmix these days.
----------------------
snowcrete wouldn't lighten the colour if it has to contend with orange and
green sand and cement, if you want it pale, use snowcrete and very pale sand

I tried just snowcrete and the normal orange sand, and the colour is horrible, a slightly peachy colour ! SWMBO likes the version with half snowcrete / half grey cement. but we'll see how it dries. I don't think we will go as far as getting a different sand - I have loads of the conventional stuff to use up.

Simon.


Try garden lime? At least garden centres are open over the hol and you
won't need to buy 25kgs.

In message , stuart noble
writes
On 02/05/2015 22:34, sm_jamieson wrote:
On Saturday, 2 May 2015 20:48:19 UTC+1, Phil L wrote:
"sm_jamieson" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 2 May 2015 19:11:10 UTC+1, sm_jamieson wrote:
If I had a 1:4 cement/sand mortar (grey cement, orange/brown sand), how
much would it lighten in colour if I made it 1:1:4 cement/hydrated
lime/sand which seems to be the equivalent mix ?
Also, how would the strength compare with the 2 mixes ? I know the lime
acts as a plasticiser and will affect the colour, but does it add any
strength to the mix ?
Thanks,
Simon.

Well it appears that lime is not available in Wickes or B&Q and there are no
builders merchants open until tuesday (well not sure about Buildbase), and
since I am supposed to be building my wall over the weekend, I guess it will
have to be standard mortar, possibly half snowcrete to lighten it a bit.
Perhaps mortar is generally sand cement and addmix these days.
----------------------
snowcrete wouldn't lighten the colour if it has to contend with orange and
green sand and cement, if you want it pale, use snowcrete and very pale sand

I tried just snowcrete and the normal orange sand, and the colour is
horrible, a slightly peachy colour ! SWMBO likes the version with half
snowcrete / half grey cement. but we'll see how it dries. I don't
think we will go as far as getting a different sand - I have loads of
the conventional stuff to use up.

Simon.


Try garden lime? At least garden centres are open over the hol and you
won't need to buy 25kgs.

It's not the same thing.

Garden lime is calcium carbonate (ground up limestone/chalk), builders
lime is calcium hydroxide.
--
Chris French

On 04/05/2015 00:43, Chris French wrote:
In message , stuart noble
writes
On 02/05/2015 22:34, sm_jamieson wrote:
On Saturday, 2 May 2015 20:48:19 UTC+1, Phil L wrote:
"sm_jamieson" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 2 May 2015 19:11:10 UTC+1, sm_jamieson wrote:
If I had a 1:4 cement/sand mortar (grey cement, orange/brown sand),
how
much would it lighten in colour if I made it 1:1:4 cement/hydrated
lime/sand which seems to be the equivalent mix ?
Also, how would the strength compare with the 2 mixes ? I know the
lime
acts as a plasticiser and will affect the colour, but does it add any
strength to the mix ?
Thanks,
Simon.

Well it appears that lime is not available in Wickes or B&Q and
there are no
builders merchants open until tuesday (well not sure about
Buildbase), and
since I am supposed to be building my wall over the weekend, I guess
it will
have to be standard mortar, possibly half snowcrete to lighten it a
bit.
Perhaps mortar is generally sand cement and addmix these days.
----------------------
snowcrete wouldn't lighten the colour if it has to contend with
orange and
green sand and cement, if you want it pale, use snowcrete and very
pale sand

I tried just snowcrete and the normal orange sand, and the colour is
horrible, a slightly peachy colour ! SWMBO likes the version with
half snowcrete / half grey cement. but we'll see how it dries. I
don't think we will go as far as getting a different sand - I have
loads of the conventional stuff to use up.

Simon.


Try garden lime? At least garden centres are open over the hol and you
won't need to buy 25kgs.

It's not the same thing.

Garden lime is calcium carbonate (ground up limestone/chalk), builders
lime is calcium hydroxide.

Both white though. I think that's all the OP is concerned about

Well in the end SWMBO likes the colour of "normal" mortar, so its just sand cement and admix. I'm doing half soft and half sharp sand for a rougher look, and slicing it off, not bucket handle finish ! I laid the bottom course before the rain came, just got to finish it now ...
Simon.