How to mix grout for grouting?

Preparation of the base mortar for grouting

To create a base mortar mix, fill the bucket halfway with a ratio of 3 parts sand to 1 part cement (use a trowel with a top as a measure). Filling the bucket more than halfway will prevent the mortar from mixing properly.

Prevention of mortar cracking

Add some plasticizer according to container directions. This will prevent the mortar from cracking as it dries.

Making a Light Mortar

Use yellow sand to create a lighter solution.

Creating a dark solution

Use red sand to create a darker solution.

Checking the correct consistency of the solution

Add water until the mortar is smooth and slowly slides off the raised spatula tilted to its side. If it is too dry, it will not bond properly, and if it is too wet, it will fall out of the joint.

Additional tools may be required to apply the grout to the seams.

You can purchase tools to push grout into the seams. The most commonly used method is to use a lime board, sometimes referred to as a hawk. This is a portable flat surface used to hold the mortar close to the wall. In combination with various trowels, such as the finger trowel (pictured), can be used to push grout into the joint.

What is a fingerprint test?

The “thumbprint test” is a test to determine if a solution is at a stage where it is suitable for sutures. The mortar passes the test when a lightly pressed thumbprint (or hoof print) leaves a small indentation without the mortar sticking to the thumb.It is important to do this test to know that the mortar will easily compact and cling to the bricks.

How long must I wait?

Before proceeding with any grouting, you must be patient….. The time it takes to wait depends on how quickly the mortar hardens to “fingerprint hardness”. The check should start in about 10 minutes.