Mixing cement.

[flobadob]

How easy is it to mix up a bit of cement, say enough to link 4 or 5 bricks. Does the mixture have to be accurate. What items do you need and how much of each?

[beejay1124]

no need to be 100% accurate
mix 5 : 1 sand : cement and water with a small drop of washing up liquid(acts as a plasticiser)

[flobadob]

Does that mean 5 scoops of cement for every scoop of sand? Do you just add the water gradually?

[beejay1124]

5 of sand to one of cement
add water gradual-only one small spot of washing up liquid in it
for all you will need -if there were any builders nearby working they would give you half a bucketful

[flobadob]

Cheers.

[Clanad]

For that smal amount, why not buy a bag of Redi-Mix at your DIY store? Here in the U.S. a bag would cost about $4.00 U.S. As its name implies, all you do is add water to the desired consistency.

You can buy the bags for different applications, i.e., different sand/cement ratios and even mortar mix with additional lime...

[chas2008]

wickes do bags of ready mixed mortar only a few quid, much easier on such a small amount.

[buildersmate]

It isn't the mixing that is the hard bit, it's laying the bricks straight.

[No,Knowledge]

all 5 of them!

sorry but i'm lolling here at this thread.

[VINNY100_2]

Ive always used 3 sand to1 cement.And the walls are still strong.Perhaps its getting the colour of the mortar right ?

[flobadob]

Its not actually for bricks, I'm fitting a raised cement thing(I think its called a cowal) around a drain to stop gravel from falling in. I'll check B&Q for that ready mix stuff thanks.