[jwholden]

OK, I usually buy a couple of bags of premixed mortar mix when I need to install a few belgian block. However, I've got a bit more to do on my next project. I was reading the 94 lb bag of PORTLAND CEMENT and they really didn't have any recommendations. The guy in the store said 1/2 bag to 15 shovels of mason sand.

Does this sound right?

What is a good ratio of so many shovels of portland to so many shovels of mason sand?

Thanks for the help,

John

[diginahole]

4 sand : 1 cement

[jwholden]

Thanks for the info. That's where I was thinking it would be.

John

[Stonehenge]

Isn't that roughly what the 15 shovels would give you, in terms of ratio? Are has it been too long since I've mixed a batch?

[BJR]

You should always measure your quantities with a bucket.

On many occasions I have had to go back and fix jobs where an employee has used a shovel to measure the quantities and has made a weak mix. A shovel of cement from a bag is always smaller than a heaped shovel of sand.

We use a 10L bucket.

[Stonehenge]

2.64 gallons for those non-metric folks.

My mason has me mixing 2 X 5 gallon pails (37.9L) with a bag of Type M mortar (50# bag, I believe) for the limited mortar work we've done so far.

BTW - BJR - I saw a picture in a magazine of some limestone (white stone) with dark grey mortar joints. Didn't look all that nice. Made each stone look like it was an island in the wall.

[BJR]

Exactly right.

You want the stone to be the feature, not the joints.

[jwholden]

The bags of portland around here are 94 lbs. We ended up going with 1/2 bag of portland to 20 shovels of sand and I told my helper to mix it til it formed balls. If he got it too wet I had him add 1 shovel of portland and 4 sand to dry it up. It seems to me that to me that about 5 bags of portland is good to mix with one yard of sand. It amazes me how far a bag of portland will go. I'm sure I could probably have lightened the mix a bit more but what the heck let's give them the lifetime guarantee.

[jwholden]

Couldn't resist the photo op.

Do all landscapers look the same?

[BJR]

Only the young ones.

As you get older you tend to block out more of the background.

With muscle of course.

And I must say that is a huge tool (mixer) you have.

[Stonehenge]

Looks like they've got a bit of a drainage problem, judging by the grade outside of the stones you're installing, and what looks like rotted wood on the house. If that's the case, you may want to consider some 3" perf/corr pipe in front of that wall to take the water away, if in fact they have a water problem.

You look like you have an honest face - gotta watch out for those guys!!

[jwholden]

I installed the belgian block to keep the dirt back from the house. It was literally covering the siding!

The block is there to keep any future mulch/topsoil off of the house and will have some peagravel behind it. I'm not concerned about water running toward the house, just soil/mulch touching it.

Funny, but I can throw my khacki dickies on and look like that stonehenge guy and many of my local contemporaries. It seems to be the look!

[Tim]

If you do install drain tile near a buildings foundation, I suggest using the cloth sleeved type. It doesn't clog up near as quickly as the regular corrugated tile. One other product that may really work well for your wall bases is called Perma-Drain. If you are not familiar with it; it is basically a hollow, plastic 2" by 4"(comes in different sizes) that has small slots in it. It's normally used to form building footings. It's real fast and easy to install it level, and it's a superior drainage system. It can also be set to allow flowage between in and outside runs of tile. Neat stuff and a huge time saver, but not cheap! Tim

[jwholden]

Tim,

I notice your a former concrete man. Seeing as your in the post about mixing portland cement any tips or tricks to mixing that stuff. Times when maybe you would make the ratio of cement to sand lighter or heavier, tricks for curing, best base prep., recommended pitches, etc. Always looking for knowledge...

Thanks,

John

[Tim]

Yes John I am. I tryed to post a lengthy reply here twice las night to answer, but each time I finnished it, the system said I wasn't logged on, so I am going to break it up on postings one after another. Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Mixing: My father taught me to 1. gt my bucket or tub wet 2. pour in my sand 3. mix the sand till evenly wet w/ 1/2 of the water I planned to use 4. add in portland and water and mix together till it looked like my mom's meat loaf!