I just bought three pallets of gray mortar and the homeowner now wants the morar color to be brown! Is there some way to change the gray mortar to brown.
ANDYSZ2
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Replies
Pigment.
You'll need to mix up a few samples. The pigment is figured as a percentage of the weight of the portland cement used in the mix.
Though you shouldn't even approach it, you really don't want to exceed 10% by weight. Mix up a few samples...2%, 4%, 6%...and get an opinion on how brown is brown. Fine tune if required.
Use an accurate scale for weighing. For example, if you went with a 5% batch, for each 94 lb sack of portland, you'd mix in 4.7 lbs of pigment. Mix the pigment and portland well, then add your sand and water.
For even color from batch to batch, you need to keep the percentage constant, as well as keeping the slump of the mix constant. Additional water can change the coloration a bit.
Your local masonry yard should carry pigment...though for the amount you need you'll want bulk.
http://www.fisterquarries.com/pigments.htm
Have you tried to trade the gray for some brown?
First thing supplier told me is they don't take back mortar. Fortunately were putting in alot of painted brick so I will use most of it for that. To get the color she wants pigment may be my only choice.
ANDYSZ2
Since you bought it bagged, I would go with the pigments. It is a little easier than Mongo briefed you on though. Pigments are sold in 1 and 2# bags. The "stock" colors(the one they have the samples for, like grout samples) are mixed 1# per bag of mortar. Mix in the same amount of sand each time, and the color will be consistent.