In a building I have recently aquired there is a half a skid of portland cement. Good condition too. The only masonary work we do is mixing up a dry mix of pre mixed mortar to put under a shower base or bath tub.
I would like to use this cement so I looked up mortar mixes on google and the all included hydrated lime. What does the lime do? Do I need it for what I am doing or can I just mix portland and sand? If I need the lime I will do so but frankly I am just trying to keep this simple and have the least amount possible of open bags of dusty material laying around. Thanks. DanT
Replies
lime makes it sticky
bobl Volo, non valeo
Baloney detecter
the lime is to make mortar mix you add it to make the mortar workable-stickey
and to add board life,for what you are doing, half a bag of portland to
12 shovelfuls of sand makes a great grouting material for big voids.
have ever wondered why concrete will not adhear well to concrete,but
plaster-mortar-drywall compound will? its because of the lime in it.
when you take another look at that portlandand if you notice the bags
appearing hard but dry, try rolling it around on the pallet and fluffing it
up as the longer bags of cement sit around it developes packhouse pack
all the air leaves the bags . at 7 dollars plus change for a bag it will pay
you to use it. IF everbody knew the amount of human sweat it takes
to make a ton of that stuff people wouldnt throw it away quite so easily.DW
Thanks for the information. It will be a big help now and in the future! DanT