Type of mortar?

[ccx789]

Hi all,

I'm looking at doing some re-pointing to my house but I want to make sure I'm using the correct type of mortar (lime or cement). How can I tell?
I have asked a builder and he assures me it is cement.
The house is a traditional semi built in 1955-1960.
Ok to just use a 4:1 mix of cement and sand?

Thanks' all

 

[Notch7]

looks like sand cement only to me.

However there are different sands, depends on whether all your local merchants buy from the same quarry in your area.

 

[ccx789]

Thanks, I'll have a look around

 

[Gerrydelasel]

Looks pretty gritty so suggest you use sharp sand rather than builders sand.

 

[^woody^]

Looks pretty gritty so suggest you use sharp sand rather than builders sand.

Yeah, especially if the OP wants more on the floor than in the joints.

 

[Gerrydelasel]

Yeah, especially if the OP wants more on the floor than in the joints.

IME it's really no different to work with

 

[stuart45]

The original looks like building sand, which would normally be used on work like this. Building sand does contain a few larger particles which show through when the laitance from the original jointing weathers back. As a rough guide the largest particles should be no more than 1/3 of the joint size.
The workability of sharp sand can be improved by mixing for a good 30 minutes, or about 20 with lime mortar, but in this case I myself would be using a building sand.