What is Ordinary Mortar?

Ordinary mortar applied for masonry and plaster works, it can be divided into masonry mortar and plaster mortar. Masonry mortar used for installation of bricks, stones, blocks and other prefabricated structure. The plaster mortar is used for plastering on surface of walls, floors, roof, and beams structure, in order to achieve the protective and decorative requirements.

Classification of Ordinary Mortar:
According to the composition of the material, ordinary mortar also divided into: ① lime mortar. Lime, sand and water made by a certain ratio, generally used for less demanding strength, free from damp masonry and plaster layer; ② cement mortar. It made of cement, sand and water by a certain ratio, generally used for wet environments or water masonry, walls or floors, etc.; ③ mixing mortar. Adding appropriate admixtures such as fly ash in cement or lime mortar to conserve the amount of cement or lime, and improve the workability of the mortar. Conventional mixing mortar are cement lime mortar, cement clay mortar, and lime clay mortar, etc.

Characteristics of Ordinary Mortar:

Ordinary fresh mortar should have good workability, mortar after hardening should have the required strength and adhesion. Workability of the mortar depending on its fluidity and water retention, which generally determined by working experience or test. Comprehensive strength of mortar with mortar designations commonly used label of 4,10,25,50,100 in ordinary mortar. High requirement on masonry strength or important masonry need to use more than 100 mark of mortar. The mortar adhesion improved according to its mortar mark increasing, also the masonry adhesion effected by masonry surface condition, clean or not, moisture level and construction curing conditions. Therefore, the bricks are generally pouring wet before laying, to enhance the adhesion between the bricks and mortar, to ensure masonry quality.