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View Full Version : Different mortar mixes for different stone?


Stoneman705
08-09-2009, 05:39 AM
Hello all,

I haven't been around much, been busy building beauty and staying the heck alive in my first full year through these challenging economic times.

I have a question concerning mortar mixes for the joints in wet laid flagstone.

Of course there is a lot of confusion concerning this, some people use hydrated lime, some never heard of it. Some mix 3 parts sand, 1 part portland. Some use 2:1. Some add in another 10% (of cement content) hydrated lime, some add a half portion of hydrated lime.

I can see using different mixes for different stone. What do people here recommend for granite, limestone, bluestone walkways in a severely cold climate?

Other questions:
Do you guys use sharp sand for texture?
When would you use a finer sand like mason's sand? is this the standard sand to use?
What tinting products do you recommend?
What is the best way to shape granite?