It may seam like a simple thing to do – just paint it with a color that looks the same and you should be good to go, right? Well, we’ll tell you one more time – masonry is never that simple!
Our series of articles about mortar and restoration should’ve taught you that picking the right mortar is a very complicated process. So, is it even possible to match the color of mortar that was used in construction decades ago – you may ask?
Yes, it is. Our masonry professionals have years of experience and have dealt with so many kinds of mortar that it’s really hard to count them.
Today we are going to find out how the perfect match is achieved and what happens when masonry contractors make a mistake and use the wrong type of mortar for your masonry restoration project.
To solve a problem, you must know what the problem is actually about.
First, you must learn everything you need to know about the mortar you’re about to restore. BR Masonry does mortar analysis to determine what we’re dealing with. We test samples of old mortar, how they react to our equipment and material, and see what works best for them.
Testing lets us know the amounts of Portland cement, sand, and lime that were used in the existing mortar. It also tells us more about the original color of graded sand particles. The final color depends on all these tiny details. If you skip something, the result might be completely wrong. The more information you have on the old mortar, the better.
We also use mortar analysis and testing to determine the strength of the current mortar, its water absorption and to see if our new mortar will bond to the existing one.
After we finish with the testing, we create new mortar that matches the formulation of the old one, considering all the data we received from the testing. As soon as the mortar is tested and ready, we adjust the color to find a perfect match.
If you fail to determine the qualities of the original mortar, you may lose any chance to get an accurate color match. Most importantly, if mortar doesn’t match the current mortar formulation, even more damages may be made to your building. That’s why it’s so important to know what you’re working with.
Our masonry repair specialists have seen a lot of mortar and learned so many mortar qualities that they could write a book. We know how to work with any type of mortar and picking the right color is something we do 100% accurately. If you have a complicated masonry restoration project that can only be trusted to professionals, contact us today and we’ll be more than happy to save the day.
