Proportions of cement and sand in bricklaying solution

Brick houses are considered the most reliable and durable. In many ways, they are superior to structures made of other modern materials. And not the last role in the service life of brick buildings is played by building materials, in particular mortar for bricklaying.

The composition will be calculated based on such indicators as the number of storeys of the building, the type of structure under construction, and the soil. To create a high-quality masonry mortar, it is necessary to adhere to the correct proportions of the cement-sand mixture and the ratio of components.

What should you pay attention to when preparing the mixture with your own hands?

How do I make it myself? What is the technology of preparation of cement-lime mortar and what should be the content of the composition?

First, it is necessary to calculate the proportions of cement and sand for brickwork. The volume of raw materials and the ratio of elements may vary depending on the type of construction structure and brands of building materials.

The second condition is that only good quality components are available. Cheap cement, sand containing a large amount of impurities, dirty water-with such ingredients it will be difficult to prepare a good solution.

Third, it is especially important to observe the kneading technology. Only the right ratio of sand and cement for brickwork will allow you to get the solution of the desired consistency, plasticity and strength.

In construction, 3 types of mortar are used, which differ in the presence or absence of certain components used:

1. Cement mortar for masonry consists of cement, sand and water. The amount of the second component affects the brand of cement. The ratio of cement to sand is usually 1: 3 (or 1:6). The dry mixture is thoroughly mixed and diluted with water until a homogeneous astringent mass is obtained. However, the solution turns out to be hard, its mobility is quite low, so it can be difficult to work with it. Most often, cement-sand, and popularly “universal” solution is used for plastering walls and pouring floors. For its production, M400 or M500 grade cement and pure sand are used. A popular option for the proportion of cement and sand for bricklaying is 1 part cement/3 parts sand.
2. Lime mortar is rarely used: it has low strength indicators, but its plasticity is higher, so it can be used for interior work. Also, the construction of fences and interior blocks is not complete without it. The mixture consists of lime and sand, and the proportions of sand may vary from 2 to 5 parts;
3. Lime-cement mortar consists of cement, sand and slaked lime, diluted with water. First, dry cement is mixed with sand, then lime mortar is added, pre-filtered. This sequence of preparation is important because it allows you to increase the plasticity of the solution and thereby reduce its consumption. The composition turns out to be quite warm and has a wide scope of use (suitable for any masonry).

Various fillers and additives contribute to the acquisition of properties. So, sometimes clay is added to the solution, so the finish is neater and stronger. You can add various plasticizers, hardeners and colorants to the cement-lime mortar.

Calculation of proportions for the preparation of masonry mortar

To correctly calculate the proportion of the solution, you need to know the brands of components. The ratio of elements of the cement composition affects the determination of its final grade. So, as part of the sand is added, the mortar grade decreases, and if you increase the cement, the grade will be higher. Based on the information about the strength grade that cement-sand mortar has, we can draw a conclusion about the scope of application of the material.

M50 grade mortar will be needed during repair and restoration works: for sealing joints and cracks in the premises and correcting any aesthetic flaws.

The scope of application of the M75 brand is the construction of interior walls and partitions. It is suitable for bricks and stone of various types and brands, and ensures the stability and quality of structures. At low temperatures, the solution loses its qualities.

M100 mortar is ideally suited for exterior finishing: for sealing joints on panels and in brickwork, when working on floor screed, it is used to fill the foundation and build the external walls of the building.

The M150 brand is characterized by high strength indicators and is used in the repair and reconstruction of reinforced concrete and screed. During the operation of the building, the load on the mortar will be quite high, so the use of components such as lime, gypsum or clay, which provide greater elasticity and plasticity, is not allowed.

Mortar with a strength of M200-M300 should be used exclusively for the production of screeds for monolithic structures. It cannot be used for masonry work.

Calculation of the required volume of mortar for brickwork can be made using various technologies. The first option is based on the size of the diameter of the walls being built:

• if the wall thickness is equal to 1 brick, then the average consumption of the mixture is 65 liters per 1 m2 of surface;
• with a thickness of 1.5 bricks, the mortar consumption increases to 100 l / ^m2 .
• the volume of mortar for a 2-brick wall is 135 liters per square meter.

Using this method, it is quite easy to calculate the required ratio of “sand / cement”. You need to take the following steps::

1. calculate the volume of masonry by multiplying the perimeter of the building by the height and width of the walls;
2. subtract the total volume of openings (doors and windows)from the calculation performed;
3. to determine the number of cubes of masonry mortar, multiply the resulting wall volume by 0.2 or 0.3.

In general, today, this method allows you to make fairly accurate calculations for determining the required amount of the required construction mix. This information will allow you to avoid producing excess material, which has a very short shelf life — the finished mixture should be used immediately after its preparation, because after an hour it hardens and becomes unusable.