Hi All,

I am laying some block piers and have a few questions I was hoping someone might be able to help me with. I have searched and searched and have found some great info on regular brick laying, but have not been able to get alot of info on block laying.

The number one essential for good brick laying the mortar. I am having dificulties getting the mix right.

I am using 6 sand - 1 GP cement - 1 Hydrated Lime - 20mls Bycol/8 litres of clean water. The sand has only a little clay in it, from doing the test that Al has suggested in other posts here, it is a washed sand that I purchased from Beveridges Building Supplies. I just cannot seem to get the fluff to it. Do I need more Bycol? or more lime?

The mortar is flat and will not seem to stick to my bricks when trying to butter.

When I put down a bed, the blocks are hard to tap down if I need to adjust them.

The blocks are extemely porous so I have been lighty spaying them with water before laying.

I have searched the web and seen a few video's of professionals laying blocks and whilst I understand that years of practice go into making a good tradie, I can see that the mortar they are using is different to that which I am trying to use.

I have 4 square posts to do. They are a 4 block per course, 11 course post. The blocks are 200 series 3/4. I have been putting down the bed first for all 4 blocks, but by the time I get to the 3rd and 4th block the bed has hardened making it difficult to tap down. Whats making it hard for me is that I have to keep the blocks plumb, level vertical, level horizontal and square all at the same time.

In two days I have managed to put down about 80 blocks. I am going to battle on but some advice getting a good mortar mix for blocks will make life a little easier I hope.

Thanks for reading, sorry to ramble on, its been a long day......:P

Regards
Brett


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