Brick laying concrete mix

[darrena]

I’m just about to replace the top row of bricks on our porch wall (approx. 40 bricks)
I’m concerned about the concrete mix being the same colour as the current wall and house.
I generally seem to mix concrete too strong making it a dark grey even when dry, can some please suggest the appropriate mix and type of sand I should use?

Many thanks
Darren

 

[^woody^]

Try and avoid laying bricks with concrete mix instead of mortar.

4:1 if these are exposed on the top or 5:1 or 6:1 if just exposed on the front vertical face. The colour of the mortar is more to do with the sand and how hard you press when pointing up. You need building sand.

 

[theprinceofdarkness]

The less cement, the more the colour of the sand takes over, at 6:1 or less its just the sand colour. If you are lucky enough to have a "Lime Centre" near you they will have sands of different colours and for a sum would match a sample of mortar. basically they dissolve the cement out of the mortar sample with acid, leaving the sand. Then you can view the sample under a magnifying glass to see its colour.
Frank