What type mortar - What mortar to use for laying coping

[glenne_n]

Hi all,

I'm laying 600x300 coping on a 9 inch block wall.

I'm getting conflicting advice whether to use mortar using sharp or building sand.
Does it matter which you use.
Also do I adopt the normal spacing as in bricklaying or butt the coping an have expansion joints at various point.

The longest run is only 3M

Thanks in advance

[mickg]

Use building sand with a 4:1 mix and leave a 10mm - 12mm space between each coping and strike each joint with a brick jointer or pointing trowel

[glenne_n]

Thanks,

Have a good weekend

[local patios and driveway]

Do not take any advice from the man telling you to use sharp sand! Jeezus

[Carberry]

What Mick and Lpad said. Sharp sand won't bond properly and it looks crap. I put some SBR in the mix when laying coping too.

[glenne_n]

Sorry !!! I'm a new DIYer, what is SBR??
Was also told by to add PVA or the like to the mix

[lutonlagerlout]

sbr is what the pros use
pva is ok internally but not for outdoors
i use 3:1 sand cement and SBR on copings,but if they are white concrete i point them with some 1:1
LLL

[glenne_n]

Not white but terracotta,

Thanks all, 3:1 sand cement with SBR it is then (just have to find out what SBR is now)

Oh !!!, the mortar depth, any minimum/maximum recommendations ??

[seanandruby]

sbr = styrene butadiene rubber

[glenne_n]

Right, got the SBR (expensive stuff), instructions are vague referring to screeding and slurry, how do I use it? do I add it to the water (if so, what ratio)

[lutonlagerlout]

5 litres water :1 litre SBR should be more than ample
LLL

[glenne_n]

Thanks LLL,

Super job...

[mickg]

it needs to be diluted less than 5:1 to apply it to the rear side of the copings otherwise it will be like milk and end up everywhere if your not careful

10mm - 12mm bed for the copings, tap into place gently using a rubber mallet or a lump hammer and a piece of 3 x 2 timber and check for being level

[glenne_n]

OK !!!!! so you apply the SBR mixture to the coping (or wall ???) not to the mortar mix ???

[lutonlagerlout]

sorry i was thinking of the mortar
you can paint the sbr neat on the back of the slabs and step
as mickg points out
"BE CAREFUL WITH IT"
LLL :;):