When concrete structures are damaged, it is important to carry out mortar repair as soon as possible. Bluey Technologies produces a range of grouts and mortars suitable for repairing patches in concrete. Mortar is a mixture of water, cement and sand, with a higher proportion of water and cement than concrete. It has a thicker consistency which makes it an excellent adhesive and bonding agent for bricks and tiles.
It can be used for the construction and repair of brick, block and stone for barbecues, pillars, walls, tuck-pointing mortar joints and planters. Paradoxically, concrete surfaces cannot be repaired with concrete, as the addition of coarse gravel in the new concrete would prevent a strong bond between the patch and the surrounding area. Instead, it is better to use mortar or commercial epoxy or latex patching compounds designed to repair concrete. The basic materials you will need for most jobs are patching mortar and liquid bonding agent, which helps the new patch adhere to the old concrete. You will need to mix the mortar with water according to the instructions.
Alternatively, you can use an epoxy or latex patching compound instead of patching mortar for small jobs. These compounds form a stronger bond, do not require a bonding agent and are self-curing. However, they are expensive for large jobs. QUIKRETE Zip & Mix Repair Mortar is a multi-purpose concrete repair material that can be mixed and used directly from its innovative re-sealable bag. It is ideal for repairing broken edges and corners on concrete steps and curbs, slabs, concrete walls and masonry and can even be used for overhead applications without the need for forms. Concrete repair mix is readily available at home improvement centres and on the Internet.
Options include epoxy compounds, latex patching material and mortar mixes. The latter option works best for filling large cracks (or chipped edges), while the other products are suitable for cracks in the concrete ⅛ inch wide or narrower. Type S mortar is designed for structural applications such as building a brick or concrete block wall, while Type N mortar is designed for non-structural work such as stone veneer and planters. Coat the edges of the crack with cement paint and proceed immediately to complete the repair before the paint dries. Sakrete offers a complete line of crack filling products, as well as patching, repair and resurfacing products.
The mortar mix is more designed to bond stone, brick and concrete block, so it may not be a good choice for a finished surface. Both concrete and mortar are used in construction projects but there are some differences in their composition and therefore strength which means that they should not be interchanged or one used as a substitute for the other. For minor repairs of cracks and other imperfections, Sakrete mortar or stucco repair products come in convenient tubes. Before building, repairing or renovating interior horizontal concrete slabs, consider Mapei's line of concrete repair products. I was repairing an old poured concrete foundation wall that had very large aggregates in the original wall. I used Spec mix S for most of the wall but I didn't get to the collapsed part in time.
