Plasticiser or hydrated lime for brick laying newbie

[mr rusty]

Hi. I've done a little brickwork in the past - mostly low garden features. Going to be building a garage with brick front face and clad blocks sides/back.  As this is my first major brickwork job attempted, what is the best mortar mix to use in my mixer? 1:6:1 with hydrated lime, or forget the lime and use plasticiser? what mix? Won't be starting until I can get materials....

[Russell griffiths]

Sand cement plasticiser. 

Ratio dependant on quality of sand and strength/ colour you want

stronger for ground level below dpc, weaker for above dpc. 

 

Lime is just another thing thing you don’t need to worry about unless you actually want it to change the colour of the mix, depends what finish you are after. 

[mr rusty]

Thanks. So 1:4 above dpc with plasticiser

[PeterW]

4:1 and measure your plasticiser into the water bucket as you don’t need a lot. 

[Mr Punter]

I quite like the colour of lime in the mortar.  I understood it has some 'self healing' properties too.  It does make the mortar more expensive and it is nasty to inhale though.

[tonyshouse]

Try lime putty then