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Cement, Lime, water thickener or sand for mortar - Electronic Blueprint

Electronic Blueprint and ENVIROSPEC provide building specifications, details and training on safe and sustainable buildings to architects, engineers and builders. Cement and lime used in the masonry mortar should comply with the relevant standards, as per AS 3700 Masonry structures.

  • Cement shall be Type GP portland cement or GB blended cement complying with AS 3972.
  • Masonry cement shall comply with AS 1316.
  • Lime shall be hydrated building lime complying with AS 1672.1.

In some applications, as a substitute for lime, it is recommended that methyl-cellulose water thickener be used. This is a gel that holds the moisture in the mortar until it has time to hydrate and harden. Methyl cellulose water thickener is quite different from air-entraining agent, which is commonly used to increase mortar workability. The over-dosing of air-entraining agent is often detrimental to the quality of the mortar.

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