Masonry (C-29) · Lesson 6 of 8

Mortar Types and Batching by Volume

"Mortar Types and Batching by Volume" is lesson 6 of 8 in the Masonry (C-29) Learning Hub. It opens with "Which Mortar Goes Where" and works through 5 short steps, then a worked example you can check yourself against.

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Steps in this lesson

  1. Which Mortar Goes Where
  2. Read the Cement-Lime Rows of Table R606.2.8
  3. Why the Type Matters
  4. Batch by Volume Using the Code Weights
  5. Joints and Placement Once the Mortar Is Mixed

The worked example in the course applies this lesson to a realistic job in 6 steps, from "Confirm the type is allowed" through "Catch the common error".

What you'll be able to do

  • Explain the main idea of "Mortar Types and Batching by Volume" in plain language you can use on the exam.
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Why the Type Matters".
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Batch by Volume Using the Code Weights".
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Joints and Placement Once the Mortar Is Mixed".
  • Test yourself on the worked example and the quick-check quiz inside the classroom.
Mortar Types and a Type S BatchCEMENT-LIME MORTAR, TABLE R606.2.8TYPECEMENTHYDRATED LIMEM11/4S1over 1/4 to 1/2N1over 1/2 to 1 1/4O1over 1 1/4 to 2 1/2Sand (damp, loose): 2 1/4 to 3 timesthe volumes of cement + lime togetherWeights (note a): cement 94 lb, lime 40 lb,sand 80 lb dry per cu ftTYPE S BATCH, 2 CU FT CEMENTLime (Type S): over 0.5 to 1.0 cu ftUse 1.0; cement + lime = 2 + 1 = 3 cu ftSand min 2.25 x 3 = 6.75 cu ftSand max 3 x 3 = 9.0 cu ftSand weight (dry basis):6.75 x 80 = 540 lb to 9 x 80 = 720 lbcement 2.0lime 1.0sand 6.75-9.0(bars drawn 16 px per cu ft)2 cu ft cement + 1 cu ft lime takes 6.75 to 9.0 cu ft of sandSand weight 540 to 720 lb on a dry basis (80 lb per cu ft)Foundation walls: Type M or S. Seismic D0-D2 lateral walls: Type M or S cement-lime or mortar cementSource: 2025 CRC Table R606.2.8 and note a, R606.2.8.1-R606.2.8.3, R606.12.3.4CC
The diagram for this lesson, exactly as it appears in the Learning Hub.

The first steps of this lesson

Step 1: Which Mortar Goes Where

2025 CRC R606.2.8 says mortar meets either the proportion specifications of Table R606.2.8 or the property specifications of ASTM C270, and the type depends on the job. Mortar for masonry foundation walls built to Tables R404.1.2.1(1) through R404.1.2.1(4) is Type M or S (R606.2.8.1). Mortar for masonry that serves as the lateral force-resisting system is Type M, S or N in Seismic Design Categories A, B and C (R606.2.8.2), but Type M or S portland cement-lime or mortar cement in D0, D1 and D2 (R606.2.8.3). R606.12.3.4 adds that Type N mortar or masonry cement shall not be part of the lateral force-resisting system in the higher categories. Mortar for adhered masonry veneer is ASTM C270 Type S or N, or latex-modified mortar per ANSI A118.4 (R606.2.11).

Step 2: Read the Cement-Lime Rows of Table R606.2.8

For cement-lime mortar, every type uses 1 part portland or blended cement by volume. The hydrated lime or lime putty changes with the type: Type M is 1/4 part, Type S is over 1/4 to 1/2 part, Type N is over 1/2 to 1 1/4 parts, and Type O is over 1 1/4 to 2 1/2 parts. The aggregate is damp, loose sand, not less than 2 1/4 and not more than 3 times the sum of the separate volumes of the lime and the cement. The same table also lists mortar cement and masonry cement mixes, where the cement type (M, S, N or O) is the type of the mortar.

The remaining 3 steps, the worked example and the quiz are in the course. This is a preview. The full lesson, with the step-by-step explanations, a worked example and a quick-check quiz, is inside the classroom.

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