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Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:18 am
by 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
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:51 am
by 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
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 10:05 am
by glenne_n
Thanks,
Have a good weekend
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 10:30 am
by local patios and driveway
Do not take any advice from the man telling you to use sharp sand! Jeezus
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 10:51 am
by 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.
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 10:58 am
by glenne_n
Sorry !!! I'm a new DIYer, what is SBR??
Was also told by to add PVA or the like to the mix
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 1:42 pm
by 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
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 3:07 pm
by 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 ??
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 10:04 pm
by seanandruby
sbr = styrene butadiene rubber
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 1:11 pm
by 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)
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 4:09 pm
by lutonlagerlout
5 litres water :1 litre SBR should be more than ample
LLL
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 5:20 pm
by glenne_n
Thanks LLL,
Super job...
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:07 pm
by 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
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:14 pm
by glenne_n
OK !!!!! so you apply the SBR mixture to the coping (or wall ???) not to the mortar mix ???
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 6:48 am
by 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 :;):