There are different kinds of mortar available. Different tiles require varying kinds of mortar. Every mortar bag would have instructions on it. You should ensure to follow the same diligently.
These instructions include the amount of water one should use, the slaking time, pot life, and the open time as well. Each of these terms has a specific meaning and significance. The pot life of the mortar is the time gap between the mixing of the mortar to the time it is no longer usable. The open time is the time lag between spreading the adhesive compounds on the tile and installing the same.
Mortar contains cement, lime, and other chemical additives. These additives enable the mortar mix to retain the water for a longer time. This would enable the cement component to bond with the tiles.
Cement needs hydration to start the curing process. The dry cement molecules are inert in nature. Once they meet water, they start forming small crystals. The more water you supply, the thicker the crystals become. These crystals grow around the other crystals and interlock with them forming bonds. This is how the mortar works.
Before learning how to mix mortar, get the right tools on hand. The main tool to use would be a mortar mixer. As far as possible, you should use a mortar mixer with a low rpm. This would avoid the formation of the air pockets inside the mortar thereby strengthening the bond. Using the mixing paddle with a spiral end is advisable over the eggbeater kind of paddle.
While mixing mortar, ensure to add the mortar to the water and not the other way around. There is a specific reason for this. Adding water to the mortar would cause a cloud of mortar to spread all over the place. This would stick to the sides of the bucket and make it difficult to mix properly. At the same time, adding mortar to water eliminates the formation of the cloud thereby allowing for easy mixing.
The principles of mixing the mortar envisage the maintenance of the mix for a minimum period of about ten minutes. This is the ‘long time’. You can add the water up to the expiry of this period. Ensure that the mix should be perfect. It should stick to the trowel without dripping. In case it drips, it entails that the water content is more. You have to add more of the mortar powder.
The slaking of the mortar mix is very important. This would allow the chemicals in the mortar to start working. Otherwise, the mortar could become unusable. The slaking ensures that the curing of the mortar is complete.
It is imperative that you should not add water to the mix after the slaking period. This would dilute the mortar mix and make it unworkable. The crystals would not interlock and render the mortar mix as useless.
The right mortar mix is very important to ensure the perfect installation of the tiles. Otherwise, there are chances of loose fitting of the tiles. This can have a detrimental effect on the other tiles as well. Therefore, remember the following points while learning how to mix mortar.
Water is essential but within the permissible limits. Excess of water can bring more harm than good. The mixing of the mortar should be gradual and consistent.
Ensure that the mortar attains the perfect thickness. You can compare the thickness to that of peanut butter or a cheese spread. It should be of a consistent nature.
The slaking of the mortar is the most important step of mixing the mortar. This would enable you to know the working time of the mortar.
The perfect mortar mix enables the installation of tiles in an easy manner. Of course, you need the right kind of tools as well. Some of the best tools on offer are the Rubi tile cutter, tile saw, mortar mixer, rubber bucket, etc.
Contact:
Rubi Tools USA
10813 NW 30th St, Suite #110
33172
United States
Phone 3057159892
Fax 3057159892
etirado@rubi.com
