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Frequently Asked Questions
What is masonry cement?
Cement pre-blended for making mortar.
It contains an air-entraining plasticiser.
And fillers for workability and water retention.
Only cement and sand are then needed.
No lime or site plasticiser is gauged in.
Why blend it at the works?
Consistency, above all.
Site-added plasticiser is often measured by eye.
Strength and air content then vary by batch.
Here the additive is in every bag.
Afternoon mortar matches the morning's.
What kind of mortar does it make?
Workable and moderate in strength.
It holds water against absorbent brick.
It spreads cleanly off the trowel.
And stays plastic long enough to lay.
Those are mortar's real requirements.
Can it be used for concrete?
It must not be.
It is formulated for bedding masonry.
Strength is deliberately moderate.
Entrained air reduces concrete strength further.
The result is much weaker than expected.
Why is that substitution so easy?
It looks like ordinary cement.
It handles and mixes the same way.
The bag is the only difference.
And the result cannot be seen afterwards.
Keep the two separated on site.
Is it used for anything else?
Render, commonly.
The same workability helps there.
So does the water retention.
Backing coats especially.
Check the manufacturer's guidance.
Should mortar be as strong as possible?
No, and stronger is often worse.
Mortar should be weaker than the unit.
Movement then concentrates in the joints.
A stronger mortar cracks the bricks instead.
Joints can be repointed; bricks cannot.