A Tale of Three Sands or What Type of Sand makes for Strong Mortars?

The right qualities of sand are crucial in lime mortar making and differ some from brickwork versus plaster and stucco. The increasing inclusion of crushed rock in sand mixes presents particular problems.

A Portable Lab for Mortar Match Finger-printing of Your Local Geology

Google Maps for mortar matching?! Go local when seeking to match historic mortars as the sand you seek may well be under your feet. If you need to go off site, look nearby. When the mortar analysis checkbox is clicked by sending away for a report that does not give you an exactly matching source (without relying on tweaks from pigments that may not be stable and will change the lime-sand ratio of a mortar and its working properties), your money is being wasted and your building is not getting the best treatment.

Understanding mortar sieve results and intro on improving imperfect sand

A skilled mechanic can make almost any aggregate work for most uses on historic buildings. But learning how to locate (or assemble from several sources) a better aggregate will make for better working characteristics and a more durable product.

What you need to learn from a mortar analysis about aggregates and ratios

Sand is not sand is not sand. Often when people are having stucco or plaster application problems (although the same can happen with bricklaying mortar), it turns out the aggregate is to blame. In short, it is not as simple as accepting whatever is at the local masonry supply house. Nor for that matter if…

The strength of mortar: an introduction to lime mortar

Covering the differences between hydraulic limes or cement and lime putty, this is a summary of the importance of pre-mixed mortar, proper hydration before and after installation, and compaction of lime putty-and-sand mortars.