One of the main components of mixtures for plastering surfaces, or for concrete mortars, is cement. Cement is currently considered a very popular material, because it has sufficient strength and ductility.
I must say that in the process of construction or production of repair and construction works almost never use cement in its pure form. It is expensive, and solidified pure cement is very fragile, so the brickwork on it does not differ in strength. Therefore, it is customary to use cement-sand mortar at construction sites . Moreover, the ratio of the components depends on the purpose for which such a mixture will be used.
In other words, if it is necessary to lay a brick, then it is necessary to use a sand-cement mortar of the same type. For plastering surfaces - another type, etc. It must be said that complex and simple solutions are used in construction. Although they differ primarily in the number of components used. Those. if a simple solution can be easily prepared from water, a certain part of cement and sand, then complex solutions are made up of more ingredients.
Masonry, as a rule, is placed on a lime or complex sand-cement mortar. Lime mortar is a cheap and convenient type of solution, which is why it is used most often. However, it should be noted here that its strength in some cases leaves much to be desired, therefore this type is not recommended for durable laying. For this, cement-sand mortar M100 or M150 is more suitable.
M100 is the most popular among all other mixtures of this kind and is often used in the construction of houses and in repair and construction works. It can be used for masonry, masonry of concrete blocks, slag and foam blocks, as well as for the installation of screeds on concrete substrates.
M150 cement-sand mortar is even more popular . It includes a small filler, and as for crushed stone or large filler fractions, they are not there at all. The main components of this solution are sand and cement, moreover, cement is taken slightly more than in the manufacture of concrete grade m150. It is usually called mortar, cement mortar, stucco. And in the latter case, a certain part of lime is necessarily added to its composition. In some cases, clay may also be added to the cement-sand mortar to give it elasticity.
Special building codes have been developed that determine the correct ratio of sand to cement in the preparation of such mixtures. I must say that the strength of the solution, due to the addition of sand to it, increases, but at the same time its ductility decreases. Most often, 3 parts of sand and one part of cement are added to the solution. Such a solution is considered classic and is used most often.
In order for the mixture to turn out to be of high quality, you must first mix the components dry, but as for water, you should add it in small portions to the dry mixture. It is necessary to add water until a creamy consistency is obtained. After receiving such a mass, the solution should be left to thicken for 15 minutes, then mix well again. In principle, cement poured with water is able to set in an hour or two, so large volumes of mortar should not be prepared to avoid overuse of materials.
In conditions of high humidity or frost, special additives are usually added to the sand-cement mortar. However, it is useful to pay attention to the expiration date of the cement so that the strength of the masonry does not suffer.