As we have mentioned, as the sand used in a mix makes up the bulk of the actual mix itself, it has the greatest effect on the overall colour, so to get a good match, it’s really essential to identify it. This is easy enough to do but does involve a little time and patience as you will need to create a range of different mixes using different ratios of cement to sand.

Under no circumstances should you ever change the cement to sand ratio of a mortar mix for a new mix so that it’s different from any existing mortar just to ensure a colour match! This may affect structural integrity However, if the mortar is very light in colour then this suggests that either a white cement (aka Snowcrete) or lime has been used. As with finding an existing mix ratio, quite a bit of experimentation is needed to get a good match. When it comes to lime, traditionally, this would have been used in place of cement as it does exactly the same job e.g. binds materials together, but it also has the added benefit of making a mortar mix breathable and more flexible.Place the sand on an old sheet/cloth and leave it somewhere out of the way to fully dry off. Once dry, pop it into a clear sealed jar or container. Step 7 – Match the Sample After you have created each mix, take a sample and place it on a scrap piece of wood. Do this for each mix until you have a long line of samples. Label each mix e.g. 3:1, 4:1 etc. so you know which is which and then leave them to fully dry. On having a close look at the sand, pay attention to the size of the particles. If they are fairly small and of a uniform size, then it most cases this will be a standard building sand. However if small visible stone chips of varying sizes are evident this may indicate the possible use of sharp sand. Step 8 – Dispose of Acid Solution

Another factor that can alter the colour of mortar is whether lime was used in the original mix. As lime is naturally light in colour and is often used in place of cement in some mixes, mortar created using lime can look very light in colour and in some cases be nearly white. If it helps, I am looking for the sandy colour that this chap was able to get in his "this is how it turned out" picture (but funnily enough he wanted more grey!): With your sample to hand place them on an old scrap piece of wood. Using a similar scrap piece of wood, place this on top and use it to grind the mortar down.Essentially, there is no science involved in matching a sand and cement mix to that of your existing wall or property, it’s really just a question of trial and error and also possibly a little research. Your property may have been built from a local sand or it may have been imported by a developer who got a great deal from a quarry further afield. Once dried, simply hold your sample board up to the existing mortar and look along the line until you spot a close or identical colour match and this will indicate the mix ratio to go for. Now that you know exactly how to create some test mixes and compare to your existing mortar to find a colour match, it’s now just a question of getting it done, but before you make a start there are a few further points to be aware of: The last job now is to dispose of your acid solution. As this is classed as hazardous waste DO NOT simply pour it down the drain! It needs to be disposed of safely and correctly.

Firstly, start with a 3:1 mix (3 sand to 1 cement) and then a 3½:1 (3½ sand to 1 cement), then a 4:1 mix (4 sand to 1 cement), then a 4½:1 mix (4½ sand to 1 cement) and so on, all the way up to a 6:1 mix. Accelerators help to speed up the setting and hardening process of cement and mortar, whilst retarders slow it down. If you’re looking for a concrete waterproofer additive, many of our accelerators, retarders and plasticisers include waterproofing and frost-proofing qualities as an added benefit.One thing to be aware of is that it is important to mix the dye into the cement before you add the water.

As we have established, the colour and tone of the sand that is used in your mortar mix has pretty much the greatest bearing on the overall colour of new mortar.Or if you’re looking for versatile, multi-purpose additives that can do it all, we’ve got some great products including the Sealorend Waterproofer, Retarder and Plasticiser that is especially handy when working with larger areas, as well as the SBR Admixture which serves as a bonding agent, sealer, primer and waterproofer in one. Ask if you can have a small sample of each so that you can run some colour matching experiments (more on this later). Its boring and time consuming, but if you do not want your repairs to stand out a mile off, it has to be done! Our cement plasticiser range includes Bond It’s Water-Resistant Plasticiser which improves the workability of concrete and mortar in its wet state whilst also doubling as a cement waterproofer. The Sealoproof Cement Waterproofer creates a durable waterproof finish while also acting as a cement and render retarder to slow down the setting process, whilst Sealomix’s Mortar Plasticiser supplies added strength to concrete and adds frost-resistance against freezing and thawing.