Mortar colour

DC1977 · 19 Nov 2020

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Hi

Having a rear extension built with these bricks, does the mortar look the standard colour to you in the photo? I know the photo might be showing it a different light...
Will the normal mortar that is used here in London look like this (see attached photo)

Cheers
DC

23vc · 19 Nov 2020

Looks normal to me
Colour dictated by brick porosity, sand type, strength etc - if it’s an issue do samples first on the same brick

DC1977 · 19 Nov 2020

Thanks for the info

^woody^ · 19 Nov 2020

Looks light to me. Like from a yellow sand and maybe with a buff dye or lime added.

stuart45 · 19 Nov 2020

London mortar normally ends up black after a couple of months.

DC1977 · 19 Nov 2020

stuart45 said:
London mortar normally ends up black after a couple of months.

So you think this is a lighter mortar than normal?

stuart45 · 19 Nov 2020

The famous yellow London stock bricks end up black as well. There are some dyes that speed up the process.
http://www.historicbrick.org/techniques.html

DC1977 · 19 Nov 2020

stuart45 said:
The famous yellow London stock bricks end up black as well. There are some dyes that speed up the process.
http://www.historicbrick.org/techniques.html

It will take a while though? Years?
I like the look of the mortar in that photo, just wondering if its "natural" or theres something different about it

stuart45 · 19 Nov 2020

The type of sand plays a big part in the colour. Dyes are sometimes added. Colour can also be adjusted by mixing white cement in.

DC1977 · 19 Nov 2020

stuart45 said:
The type of sand plays a big part in the colour. Dyes are sometimes added. Colour can also be adjusted by mixing white cement in.

Do you think in your opinion anything has been added to the mortar in that photo?

stuart45 · 19 Nov 2020

DC1977 said:
Do you think in your opinion anything has been added to the mortar in that photo?

Difficult to say from the photo. Could be just a yellow sand mix.

^woody^ · 19 Nov 2020

You can't tell anything by looking at it.

Even if its just yellow sand, is it the yellow sand from B&Q or the yellow sand from Wickes?

If you want a specific shade, and a consistent specific shade, you either need to buy in readymix, or build some test panels to determine the colour and then instigate a rigid quality control buying and mixing process. Or it's good old trial and error.

But you could make that shade a contract requirement and specify it to the builders, but you will end up paying more for the messing about and risk.

DC1977 · 25 Nov 2020

So I’ve taken this photo this eve, obviously it’s dark and maybe not much to look at, just got home, but will this mortar lighten up at all. Just done a few hours ago. Also mortar bed thicker than I thought?

23vc · 25 Nov 2020

It’ll dry a different colour, you can’t tell when it’s wet. Joints should be about 10mm, are they much thicker?

^woody^ · 25 Nov 2020

Never mind the colour, better get it covered if frosts and low temperatures are forecast tonight.

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Mortar colour

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