Blue engineer mortar mix

[23vc]

Sanity check - I’m in the process of doing my front walls in blue class B’s. I’m using a bucket gauged mix 5:1. Looks good when wet, looks ok when dry but pretty pale and bright. Usual “red” local building sand.

Job I’ve seen down the road with same bricks up to dpc on a new build, mortar looks a lot browner/less light. Even when dry-ish. Anything I can do to tweak mine to look more like that? I’m guessing I shouldn’t be going much weaker than a 5:1 here? I’m happy to crack on as before, but thought I’d ask…

 

[stuart45]

The NHBC mortar mix below DPC is stronger than the mix you're using.
Either 4.5/1/0.5 sand/cement/lime or 3.5/1 sand/cement with plasticizer or 3/1 sand/masonry cement.

 

[23vc]

Thanks, I’ll stick with 5:1 for the garden wall assuming that’s still ok?
Not sure why the other work looks so different and less white. Just different sand I guess

 

[stuart45]

Sand makes a big difference to the colour. Also the amount of water used, and how wet the mortar was when jointed up. Wet jointed tends to bring mortar cement laitance to the surface, too dry and you burn the joints.
One issue you often seem to get on garden walls built with engineering bricks is lime run off. Having a strong mix probably adds to the cause of this.

 

[kingandy2nd]

Different sand or they’re using toner.

 

[noseall]

Sanity check - I’m in the process of doing my front walls in blue class B’s. I’m using a bucket gauged mix 5:1. Looks good when wet, looks ok when dry but pretty pale and bright. Usual “red” local building sand.

Job I’ve seen down the road with same bricks up to dpc on a new build, mortar looks a lot browner/less light. Even when dry-ish. Anything I can do to tweak mine to look more like that? I’m guessing I shouldn’t be going much weaker than a 5:1 here? I’m happy to crack on as before, but thought I’d ask…

A lot of the finished tone can vary depending on how - or rather when it is struck or pointed. A panel of brickwork that is hit with the gagger (bar jointer), whilst the muck is still soft/wet, will dry a lot lighter than the same brickwork that is hit when the muck has firmed up. It will end up darker and denser.