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Advise needed from old school masons

Posted on 7/25/20 at 2:42 pm
Posted by dbbuilder79
Overton NV
Member since Dec 2010
4147 posts
Posted on 7/25/20 at 2:42 pm
Tldr;

I'm wondering what kind of mix y'all would use for mortar/grout on a stone or block/veneer wall.

The long version:

I made a sidewalk to my kid's playhouse. I poured two stemwalls (5"W x7"H) and inlayed some 8"x16'"X2" (staggered)red pavers that I've had for forever.

In-between the stemwalls, I laid down a vapor barrier, +/-3" of type 2, 1" of sand, then 1" of basically a grout/stucco mix of 1 part Portland cement, 1 part type S lime, and 4 parts stucco sand/type 2/ lime chat mix and floated the pavers on top flush with the stem walls.

I want to grout my joints, and have all the raw materials to make a mortar/grout. It would be easier to get a mortar mix, I know... But I love to make my life more difficult.

I have:
300# of Portland cement
160# of type S
Lime chat
Blow sand (it's brown, tho)
White screened sand from a sand mine
Stucco sand mixed with type 2 (I have screens, tho)

Did you old schoolers use a certain grit of sand that you know of? I did a small batch of mortar that was roughly 1 cement, 1 type S, and 2-3 parts blow sand. But it looked like the blow sand wasn't binding very well to the cement/lime.

I have about 42'x42" of walkway to grout. My first batch did 6'+/-.

I have more questions, but I'll wait for answers to this one first.


Posted by rotrain
Member since Feb 2013
390 posts
Posted on 7/25/20 at 3:42 pm to
Im confused. Are you adking about a stone wall, block veneered wall, or a paver walkway?
Posted by dbbuilder79
Overton NV
Member since Dec 2010
4147 posts
Posted on 7/25/20 at 4:08 pm to
It's a paver walkway. But the mortar would be the same as a brick or stone veneer. The pavers are really big, not the little 6" guys that everyone uses nowadays.

I'm mostly concerned about the grout holding up in the joints over time.
Posted by dbbuilder79
Overton NV
Member since Dec 2010
4147 posts
Posted on 7/25/20 at 4:29 pm to
Posted by dbbuilder79
Overton NV
Member since Dec 2010
4147 posts
Posted on 7/25/20 at 4:31 pm to
Posted by rotrain
Member since Feb 2013
390 posts
Posted on 7/25/20 at 6:25 pm to
I dont know the answer to your question about sand. Sorry but i cant help you there. You may have gone down this road already But i will ask if youve thought about dry laid. Looks like your climate and soil could be suitable.
Posted by dbbuilder79
Overton NV
Member since Dec 2010
4147 posts
Posted on 7/25/20 at 7:06 pm to
I kinda want the grout lines look. It has that old feel to it imo.
Posted by sosaysmorvant
River Parishes, LA
Member since Feb 2008
1307 posts
Posted on 7/26/20 at 8:57 am to
We're not in Kansas anymore Toto
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 7/26/20 at 9:12 am to
Me, I would just wash sand in for the grout. That will lock everything in place.
Posted by dbbuilder79
Overton NV
Member since Dec 2010
4147 posts
Posted on 7/26/20 at 9:48 am to
If I had access to yellow brick, I probably would have used them
Posted by dbbuilder79
Overton NV
Member since Dec 2010
4147 posts
Posted on 7/26/20 at 9:53 am to
I laid the pavers in an inch of mortar. They're locked in.

I just know old masons used to mix mortar with raw ingredients, not bagged premix. I'll figure out the best mix, but I was hoping someone would point me in the right direction.
Posted by Pretzel Logic
Louisiana
Member since Apr 2013
198 posts
Posted on 7/26/20 at 1:01 pm to
Polymeric sand is your answer for that.follow the instructions on the bag
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