Matching pointing - cement colour

[CraigP]

I'm replacing 3 split constituted yorkstone style bricks and plan to take them out today and replace them with 3 new stone bricks. However i would like to make this repair to blend in well with existing stone work, for which the cement is a very light brown almost the same colour as the stone itself.

How do i make the cement goto an almost light brown colour, as the only colours ive ever managed to make is either light grey or red brown depending on the building sand i've used. So how do i match it up, which i presume depends on the sand type i use and the mix ratio ? I know you can get dyes but i would assume that this was a standard mix at the time of the house build, anyway, all advice appreciated

Edited - heres a picture below of stone and pointing colour

 

[noseall]

we have a yellow colour building sand locally that would match up well to your mortar.

we find that wetting the existing set mortar, by splashing a bit of water onto the surface, helps when comparing a new mixed batch to the existing.

 

[CraigP]

Thanks noseall, Good tip on wetting down the existing mortar to compare colours. I was thinking of getting some white cement and some browny yellow building sand. However having gone round 3 building merchants todays none of which have white cement. Do'nt really want to use grey cement as no matter how much sand i add still comes out grey !

So I'm a bit stuck at the mo I'm sure someone on here must know how to get the colour, especially as there are 1000's of houses in Huddersfield with the same mortar colour .

 

[tawelfryn]

Try finding a building site using a similar yellow colour mortar. I'm sure the brickies would let you have a bucket or 2 no problem

 

[Thermo]

you can get brown, and yellow dye as well as black and red. if the worst comes to teh worst try mixing carfully controlled small batches and see which one dries out the best (but dont forget the ratios you use!)

 

[noseall]

it looks to me as though CraigP has a typically "natural" looking mortar there. adding colouring to mortar does tend to make it look a little phony.

if you get my drift.

also, i'm never entirely happy in the way coloured mortar weathers. it's a bit too hit and miss for my liking.

if you can strive to find a natural match, you will be better off in the long run.

 

[joe-90]

I was talking to a brickie that specialised in repairing subsidence damage and matching up mortars. He says that in 99% of cases he just mixed yellow and red sand and adds cement. He says he usually makes a few test samples and leaves them overnight to get the nearest.

 

[Thermo]

i hate brick dye but there you go!

 

[CraigP]

so in answer to my original question, could i get this colour mortar by using normal cement eg which is grey and mixing it with red and yellow sand for instance to get this "natural" colour or will i get orange mortar

 

[noseall]

so in answer to my original question, could i get this colour mortar by using normal cement eg which is grey and mixing it with red and yellow sand for instance to get this "natural" colour or will i get orange mortar

yes, but a little trial and error may be necessary.

 

[aconnor2]

in all honesty i would be surprised if you would get it that light with out adding a proportion of white cement lime can bring the colour down a bit but not much.!
going 50 50 with the grey then adding your sand but like others have said it trial and error to get a spot on match
why don't you mix a few small batches up let them go off over night and then see which is the nearst like jo 90 says.