White coloured mortar

[zacnelson]

I've always loved the look of bright white mortar, especially when it's next to nice red bricks. When I've done bricklaying in the past, I have just used the normal ingredients and get that typical light grey colour.

I would like to start using white mortar; what do I use to achieve this? Is it a different type of cement, or is it a different type of sand? I know oxides would also change the colour, however I'd much prefer to achieve white mortar without using oxides.

Many thanks,

Zac

[Chumley]

It's a different cement.

Cheers,
Adam

[Planned LScape]

white brick sand, white cement, and lime all make a white mortar

Same 6:1:1 sand/cement/lime standard mortar mix

[Terrian]

white brick sand, white cement, and lime all make a white mortar

Same 6:1:1 sand/cement/lime standard mortar mix

that would be using Brighton Lite, which is actually an off white cement, you can get pure white, but it is about 3 times the price of the off white... having said that, off white cement with white brick sand is what is normally used :)

[zacnelson]

Thanks for the advice guys, I should be right now.

[autogenous]

Most bricklaying mortars are 6 sand, 1 cement, 1 lime

White washed sand, White cement, lime will give you a very stark white mortar

White washed sand is very hungry too.

Off white cement will be either a Ice Blue or Ice Green clinker. Mixed with white washed sand you will get either a green or blue tint mortar.

If I was to do my own house, I would use 3 white washed sand, 3 yellow plasterers sand, 1 white cement, 1 lime all guaged with a bucket.

White white is a bit stark in my eyes. The plasterers sand tones it down a little.

Both white washed sand & Plasterers sand are harsh aggregates with little loam. The loam tints the mortar yellow a little especially when it gets wet.
You may have to put a "small" (under dose with some aeration agent) "clear calair" amount to increase the workability with the harsh aggregates.

Some blended cements have higher fly ash content which produces a silver finish. Hydrochloric acid doesn't react with fly ash to well either so harder to clean.

Ideally a white sand of 60 microns is good but that is an expensive exercise.

Do a sample panel to see what "you" like.

[Terrian]

Most bricklaying mortars are 6 sand, 1 cement, 1 lime
White washed sand, White cement, lime will give you a very stark white mortar


White washed sand for kids sand pits... white brick sand for mortar :-) (at least in this neck of the woods... ok, triple washed for kids sand pits if ya going to be picky :)