Replace singe breeze-block - mortar substitute?

[David Pearson]

Evenin' All.

I have to replace a single block at the top of a wall.

I could buy a bag of cement and get a tiny bit out and mix it with a bit of sand and so on, but that would be a pain in the neck for such a small job, and it is hard to mix accurately such small quantities. And I would have to chop off the old mortar to make space for the new.

Is there something in a plastic pot or tube that would cost very little, that would do the job? Let's call it "No More Mortar" and copyright the name, so the next one has to be called "Sod Mortar" and so on...

BTW, the only load it will have to bear is a batton/noggin thingy for the edge of a plasterboard ceiling.

Yours Without A Clue, D. Pearson

[Nigel Molesworth]

PVA

[Christian McArdle]

You can buy bags of ready mixed bricklaying mortar (i.e. just add water). Still 25kg bags, but at least you don't have to measure it out, and they're pretty cheap. If you're lucky you might find a 10kg (or even 5kg) bag, but I'd be surprised.

Christian.

[Andrew Gabriel]

My little local hardware store sells small bags. However, it's damp sand and a separate sealed sachet of cement inside, so you still have to mix it yourself.

[David Pearson]

This sounds like good news - thanks Nigel.

Now... do I...

(a) coat both porous surfaces and join them together, or (b) seal surfaces first with diluted PVA, allow to dry, then do (a),

... or something else?

Thanks, DP.

BTW, is PVA the stuff that kids use at school?

[David Pearson]

Blimey, I deleted what Nigel had said! He suggested PVA. So...

[Owain]

It's what I used at school.

Kids today are probably more likely to use crack cocaine.

Owain

[Nigel Molesworth]

(b) is better, but (a) will do.

You can buy PVA in 1 or 5 litre containers at most builders merchants.

[bruce_phipps]

B&Q and Wickes both sell smallish bags of pre-mixed mortar, suitable for small patching or repointing DIY jobs. Just add water.

Bruce

[Huge]

Define "smallish". I'm tired of buying 25kilo bags of mortar mix for small jobs. And if you keep it hanging around the cement goes off and the damn stuff won't set any more.

[bruce_phipps]

I've just bought a 12.5kg pack from Wickes -- Repointing and Patching mortar.

B&Q do a Rugby ready-mixed pack which is about 5kg as far as I remember.

Bruce

[Steve Firth]

We have to use lime mortar for the main building. Which is actually much better than sand and cement. We used to buy it in large (25kg) tubs from the lime center and it doesn't go off at all in the tub. Use some, reaseal it, leave it in the garden for months, open and use again as necessary.

Now however the lime center people have gone weirda dn will only sell dry sacks of the stuff, and that's as bad as sand and cement.

Anyone know where to get fine stuff/coarse stuff and lime putty in tubs?

[Martin Bonner]

This is the point where we really need Anna Kettle.

I've always got lime putty from Anglia Lime (they're only a few miles from me). It HAS been a while since I bought any.

[David Pearson]

Thanks very much Nigel, and everyone else who replied.

Looks like PVA is the way to go for this job, as the mortar is not smashed/crumbled, just split. I.e. there are no gaps, just surfaces to join together.

Cheers, David P.