How have I forgotten?!! (NHL mix ratio)

[Zebra]

Hello all,

Not consulted the Period Property elite in a couple of years now, as I haven't been doing anything to the house, just quietly munching my hay and oats and polishing my hooves. However, I built a bit of garden wall 3 years ago out of some old soft red bricks, and now I want to move that wall to create a bit more flowerbed. I'm using NHL3.5, but (I can't believe this, I knew this stuff by heart a few years ago) I can't remember the mix ratio! Can anyone remind me the type of sand and the mix ratio for a bricklaying mortar using NHL3.5?

 

[88v8]

I dearly wish that I had written things down, kept a log in the way that I do for the [classic] car(s) because now after 8 years if I need to revisit things, often I can't remember quite what I did or with what materials.
I should start, now. Says he unconvincingly.

Sharp sand.
1 lime 4 sand, or if the wall will carry any load, 3 sand.

Ivor

 

[Flyfisher]

Nice to hear you clip-clopping around these here parts again, Zebra :wink:

I’d go with 3:1, definitely sharp sand, though I’d choose NHL2 for soft bricks, maybe even just lime putty.

In the ‘good old days’ they’d probably have used whatever was easily to hand.

 

[Zebra]

Thanks chaps

 

[Feltwell]

How's the stripes, Zebra? Haven't seen you on here in a long time. Trust your beautifully compact & cosy abode is living up to your expectations, you put so much work into that place, living in conditions most people would have called uninhabitable!

 

[agbagb]

Hey Stripy, bout bin as long,
3:1 sharp. (first set in 4-12 hours, keep it moist for days to set harder, h-hydraulic it needs the wet)

Andy

 

[Zebra]

Can't seem to upload a picture today. The Forum says the file is too large even when I compress it down to 43KB. What is the maximum size?
I have laid the first course of bricks today for the new bit of wall. What I'm doing is turning a bit of path that I never use into more flowerbed. For one thing it enables me to grow some tall plants which will help to enclose more privately the part of the garden where I like to sit (I only have a front garden and it's a bit open to the road, with the risk of being seen by lions, of course). Additionally I can reclaim some pavers to replace some that have spalled.
I poured a tiny concrete foundation which has set, and today I have laid the first course which is in modern hard bricks but won't be seen. The rest will be in the soft reds. You make a good point Flyfisher about questioning the choice of mortar. I used 3.5 before and the bricks haven't spalled, in fact in places the mortar has fallen out. But it is proving more difficult to remove from the bricks I'm re-using than might be desirable.
Thanks for the reminder agbagb about covering it. I remember now, when I did it before I covered it with towels and watered them daily. Will do again!
Thank you Feltwell, my beautifully compact abode is gorgeous and I love it, I often look at bits of it and think "I did that," and it is very satisfying! I don't know about uninhabitable though, one can always lower one's standards further and find it quite alright.

 

[LadyArowana]

A quick hello from another long ago member. I’ve lurked around a bit as a guest, but ages since I logged in and could comment. Good to see the stripy 4 legged one again!

 

[DJH]

Lady A...how good to see you are still around as well. I wonder how many others from the past are still lurking. It would be great to hear if they've finished their Period Properties yet! Joyce and Chris, Penners are two that come to mind ...

Sorry Zebra, I forgot to say hello How's life on the plains? Is giraffe behaving?

 

[stuart45]

It's a good idea with old, soft porous bricks to make sure that they are well damped down before using. Bricks like that should have the centres damp but the surface dry. That way the mortar won't stain the face when laying them, but they won't suck too much moisture from the mortar.

 

[Zebra]

Hello Lady A! How lovely to see you. Have you still your long lovely mane? I trust that Horatio Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton (if I remember correctly) are well? Is the bathtub still as luxurious as when you first used it? How's the campaign room looking?

Hello DJH! How are the donkeys? Is Penners not here any more? I can't think where he can have got to. I thought he was always here! I'm afraid Giraffe has moved out and I'm a herd of one again, but as long as I have my gorgeous little house all is well.

Ooh, thanks Stuart45 for the reminder. I remember now from before, I soaked each brick before laying. They were so porous they would bubble for ages!

Will post pictures as I go, if I can just figure out.......hmm...

 

[LadyArowana]

I’ve had a summer shearing, so the mane is barely to shoulders! Just as well since London is hotter than Singapore today. Lady Emms and Horatio are Joce’s [ of Joce and Chris .... Georgian cottage with fantastic decor ] we keep up in “the other place” and her house is an absolute gem.

Sorry to hear the cross species savanna share didn’t work out, perhaps a lovely Przewalski's horse in a stripy blanket would be a nice companion. Others in the stables can be such a nuisance and disruption though.

I’m still dividing time between UK and the far east, although planning on more time here this year and full time return next. London apartment building currently swarming with builders on scaffold as they are painting the outside, and doing a lot of other [ expensive ] work, which doesn’t seem that great quality, but I am trying to keep my mouth shut about it!

Once Lord A returns to Singapore at the end of the month I hope to get more time to drop in here and follow all the doings, I’ve missed it.