Guide MIX CEMENT TO BUILD THE MOST STANDARD HOUSE TODAY

Mixing cement requires the right ratio and technique to meet the standards. If you do not know how to mix cement to build a house , do not miss the content shared in the article below.


First of all, you need to know, mortar (mixture of cement + sand + water + other materials if any) is a factor that directly affects the quality of the work. If the cement is not mixed in the right ratio, there will be some situations such as: cracking, water leakage, seepage... Therefore, in order to prolong the service life, increase the environmental's vitality to weather, climate and environment. To bring aesthetics to the project, you need to know the correct cement mixing formula and the correct mixing steps.


1. The most standard cement mixing formula

Currently there are many cement mixing recipes shared by builders, and below are the most standard formulas that are applied by many people.
Traditional recipe (cement and sand only)


Standard mortar ratio = 1 part cement + 3 parts sand + sufficient amount of water

In there:Cement and sand don't have to be every inch right, you can approximate based on your eyes. 1:3 scale is the most standard but 1:4 ratio can also be used.
The water used must be clean. The amount of water for how much depends on the wetness of the sand and the construction experience of the workers. If the mortar is wet, it will be easier to build, but if the mortar is dry, the bonding time is faster and stronger. You base on that to give the right amount of water.
Specially formulated (with lime added)

If you live in an area with frequent strong winds or harsh weather elements, lime should be added to the mortar to increase the adhesion and firmness of the building.

If lime is added to the mortar, the formula changes as follows:


Standard mortar ratio = 1 part cement + 6 parts sand + 2 parts lime + just enough water

Compared to the formula above, in this recipe when using lime you need to increase the amount of sand to balance the ratio, while the cement remains the same.

If lime is added, the mortar mixture will set faster than usual. So you need to work faster or mix a smaller batch of mortar so you can use it up before it hardens.
Manufacturer's recipe (cement + sand + stone)

If the above recipe makes you find it difficult to follow, you can use the manufacturer's recipe. Currently, cement manufacturers are now clearly stated on the packaging that 1 bag of cement should mix how much sand is reasonable, you just need to rely on that to mix to be successful.

The mass of a popular bag of cement today is 50kg. When mixing cement, you should apply the following formula:For concrete mac 200 (kg/cm2): 1 bag of cement + 4 buckets of sand + 6 buckets of ice
For concrete mac 250 (kg/cm2): 1 bag of cement + 3 buckets of sand + 5 buckets of ice
For concrete mac 300 (kg/cm2): 1 bag of cement + 2 buckets of sand + 4 buckets of ice

In there:Mac: is the compressive strength of cement
Barrel: use 18 liter paint bucket as measuring standard.

Note:

The above formula is for reference only, in fact the mixing ratio will depend on many different factors such as climate and humidity. For example:In areas with cold climates and high humidity, the mortar should use less sand and more water. And vice versa.
In areas where the temperature is near freezing, more lime should be added to the recipe.
If the weather is hot and warm, you should add more water to increase the hydration reaction of the cement, helping the cement to set faster.

Most importantly, you must be aware of the consistency of the grout in order to mix it properly. You can use a trowel to test the consistency of the grout. Mortar when placed on a trowel that slopes down 90 degrees but still adheres to the trowel is a standard consistency. In addition, the mortar must be wet enough to be easily manipulated during construction as well as can be poured and poured into a simple bucket.
2. How to properly mix cement mortar?

Currently, there are 2 most popular ways to mix concrete: manual and machine mixing. Depending on the amount of mortar to be used, you choose the most suitable mixing method. If the volume of mortar used is not much, you can mix it by hand to save money. And vice versa, if mixing with a lot of volume, use the machine to save time and free up effort.
Rules to grasp before mixingSelect the best and most suitable building cement ; materials such as sand, stone, lime... must be clean and free of impurities;
Water for mixing must be fresh, clean, not dirty, acidic, alum, saline water...;
If mixing mortar to pour concrete, you should choose large and medium-sized sand to increase durability;
If using gravel or stone, it is recommended to use the type with compressive strength greater than the compressive strength of the concrete intended to be manufactured at least 1.5 times;
When mixing, it is necessary to act quickly to evenly mix the ingredients together;
Add moderate mixing water (should not be too little or too much) so that the mortar has enough flexibility when applying;
Only one batch should be used, avoid doing too much will cause the mortar to harden and cannot be used;
In the process of using mortar, if the mortar is dry, you can flexibly add a little water to make the mortar softer;
The proportion of ingredients is for reference only, it is not necessary to be 100% correct, but it is also necessary to ensure that the wrong number is not more than 10%.
How to mix mortar by hand (manual)

Mixing site preparation: Select areas with flat, clean surfaces and large enough to accommodate all materials. It can be a brick yard, a house floor, a ground floor (with wooden planks or metal plates)... as long as it doesn't absorb water or cement.

Prepare tools: Shovel, rake, water, bucket...



Mixing process:Pour sand and cement in the proportions mentioned above;
Use a shovel or hoe to mix the mixture thoroughly until it has a uniform color (must mix well otherwise the mortar will not achieve the desired consistency);
At the top of the mixture, create a circle in the shape of a bowl to pour the water in;
Use a shovel or hoe to scrape the dry mix at the edges into the water hole;
Add water during mixing if the initial amount of water is not enough (as long as the mortar is smooth and wet);
Mix the mortar for a period of 3-5 minutes, then let it sit for about 1 minute to allow the particles of the material to absorb moisture, increasing the effectiveness of the mortar (but do not leave it for too long or the mixture will harden). .
How to mix mortar with a mixer

Equipment needed: A mixer is enough.



Process of mixing mortar by machine:First, wet the mixer (just wet the first batch);
Start the mixer;
Put the materials in the correct proportions mentioned above into the bin;
Rotate the mixing barrel to allow the mixing to dry first;
Add water slowly into the machine for wet mixing;
Proceed to mix until the ingredients are mixed together and the cement dust is gone (time usually lasts from 6 to 8 minutes);
After mixing, discharge the mixture through the outlet of the mixer and transport it to the area to be applied.
3. Summary
Above are the most technically correct ways to mix cement that you can refer to and apply. If you are inexperienced, you should start mixing with small batches, then when you are mature, you can mix larger batches.