How to mix cement by hand
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Here we mix mortar to a ratio of 4 sand to 1 cement by volume (never by weight) using a plastic mixing tray and a shovel. A plasticiser is also added to the gauging water as this gives the mortar a creamier mix and makes it much easier to work with. Brought to you by www.ultimatehan...
10 years after you made this you’re still helping people, this video has been a great help for me and the plasticiser is a great tip, makes a massive difference. Thank you
I’m glad you found the video useful
Thanks for the comment 👍
Watching him mixing, I thought wow, I'll bet he's also handy in the kitchen! Especially baking! Thank you for this very helpful video, you did a great job!
+Betty Laporta Ha Ha, thanks for the comment ;-)
I like how he mixes the cement and sand..... Very neatly done😀
Thanks for the comment 👍
Great video, thanks! The birds singing in the background made it all the more pleasurable.
That's a simple video but I reckon there are loads of people out there that don't know how to do this simple task.
A very thorough, simple to follow video. ALL MAJOR POINTS COVERED I THINK.
Cheers N.
I sense that this was intended to help people who are curious to know how to mix cement and that is why you uploaded this.
+Captain Obvious
Yes, some people do not know how to mix it ;-)
Thanks for the comment
+Ultimate Handyman thanks for the post/video..I had never done it but now I know how,,good job...
+Miguel Gomez
You are welcome
Thanks for the comment ;-)
love the humour captain obvious. I guess you made that comment because you wanted to make an obvious statement about why ultimate handiman posted his cement video which would make people chuckle. It made me chuckle.
Never mixed cement in my life and don't like these ready mixed things as they usually don't do what they're supposed to do (maybe just me).
This guide is very informative, easy to understand (cracking accent too!) so now I'm confident of having a go.
Cheers!
onedin charter
I'm glad you like the video ;-)
Thanks for the comment
Ultimate Handyman fazer 4. Para o ano
Top video - I'm off to B&Q to get the same cement and sand this afternoon. You have inspired me to get some patio steps finished!
Thanks for the comment ;-)
it's me again lol. But I'd like to say thank you for taking the time out to share your knowledge with others. you've taught me a lot. thank you, sir.
My dad taught me to lay bricks, we made our own bricks and breeze blocks (those square decorative bricks) and paving stones. We would buy sand by the tonnage and multiple bags of cement and hand mixed it, no cement mixer machinery for us and we landscaped our back garden. You see my dad worked in the brick shop department at college , he would mix the mortar to a consistency so it would bind together but can be reused a few times so trainee brick layers can do their thing (then dad would take it apart clean the bricks ready for the next trainee. Then dad had a heart attack and had to leave that department as the work was to heavy for him, so he went to the fabrication and weld department, taught me to weld then sadly had another heart attack that he passed from many years ago.
That sounds really interesting, I love doing jobs like that, although it would be difficult making a lot of bricks that way. My dad also died of an heart attack, I've also lost a few friends to heart attacks! I was lucky when I had mine last year.
Thanks for the comment, Chris
I HOPE i get the cement the way you've done it. FANTASTIC vid because you explain slowly & show bit by bit. I give you 1000/1000
Thanks very much, as long as you mix it to the correct ratio and mix it well dry (before slowly adding the water) it should work out ok ;-)
Thanks for the comment
Brilliant I was trying to recall how to mix and found this video took me back to 1985 when my dad showed me the exact same way
Thanks mate
I'm glad the video helped ;-)
Thanks for the comment
Great video as always! Not something you'd want to do all day but I have to admit, once in a while I do find mixing up one load is quite enjoyable. Therapeutic even!
Thanks U.H.,very good point on using a dust mask,unfortunatly my back plays me up something terrible after a slipped disc some years ago,I could watch you all day getting your back into it.
As usual,a very informative and useful film to watch.
Thank you,keep 'em coming.
You are welcome.
I'm sorry to hear about your slipped disc, you must be in terrible pain!
Thanks for the comment
I used to be a hard landscaper years ago but now i do soft landscaping but got a odd hard landscape job on in the morning good vid and refreshed my minde thanks
Glad the video helped ;-)
Thanks for the comment
You really are a handy man and i love your videos, but the old man with the plastic bag looks good too.
LOL, thanks for the comment
Great video. I like the bird singing in the background. Very relaxed work environment.
Yes, it was a relaxing day!
Thanks for the comment ;-)
Nice, saves me getting a cement mixer that I’ll never use again to do one job 👍🏻
Yeah, this is handy for a small amount
Thanks for the comment 👍
Thank you! I'm starting a small cement rendering project and this has been a great help.
You are welcome
Thanks for the comment
***** what type of sand is the best? we have in the middle east 2 types of sand: smooth and rough, so in the UK what do you use? thanks
*****
In the UK we normally just use Building sand for mortar, unless it is being used for rendering in which case plastering or fine washed sand is used.
Thanks for the comment
Most impressive Mr Ultimate Handyman and especially impressive that you dry mixed it 1st as this is the optimum way for everything to blend.
I actually do all my work in lime putty and if I have to I'll use an NHL (hydraulic lime) but
only if the architect stipulates it.
if you have never used lime I suggest you try as it makes the stickiest of mixes,for the optimum sticky mix with cement do 3 sharp:2 soft (builders):1 cement otherwise with lime mixes most people use a 3:1 and I like 2 sharp:1 stonedust:1 lime.
I'm not trying to convert you but I think you may be surprised by lime,another fact with putty mixes is that if you mix too much you can put it back in the tub,cover with a bit of water and it will still be usable years later,you can't say that about cement.
All the best.Peter.
+Peter Gambier Thanks Peter. I have used hydrated lime in the past, but only when repointing.Thanks for the comment ;-)
Lots if nice birds chirping in the background. Do you put out feeders to attract so many?
That was a great video, very concise and clear, thanks form The US.
Glad it helped, Thanks for the comment ;-)
Easy step by step instructions thanks. Would you recommend using this bolt for an everlast speedbag platform to go on breeze block?
Sorry, I think you have commented on the wrong video?
Yes I have, sorry about that.
thankyou so much mr Ultimate Handyman! This is just the exact style fo practical, simple clear video I need to see to learn, perfect, so now I am going to subscribe and put you in my favourites. Well done!
You are welcome
Thanks for the comment
thank you for sharing us on how to mix the cement with sand by hand.
You are welcome.
Thanks for the comment
Thank you very much sir. Very informative and concisely put together video.
Marcello Capone
You are welcome
Thanks for the comment
Fascinating! I have never heard of a 4:1 ratio before. Everyone I've ever worked under has always used either 2:1, or less commonly 1:1. Have you ever used the ratios I have mentioned, and if so, could you describe the advantage of 4:1? Thanks in advance.
I always used to use a 3:1 ratio, but a friend of mine who is a brick layer said that now 4:1 is used because it allows the mortar to be more flexible which allows it to expand and contract without damaging the mortar. I have never heard of anyone using a 2:1 or 1:1 ratio before, where are you based?
Thanks for the comment ;-)
A quick question my friend. Why was your water frothy? Did you add something to it to make it that way for a reason?
Thanks
agrafes6 Answer in comments under video x
great tutorial , thanks. I repaired some loose/perished rendering on my house (over 100 years old and pebbledashed with what looks like marble chips on top which I have rescued). I followed the 4/1 ratio but did not add plasterciser (is that ok) , I did not make too wet a mix fearing the mortar would just slip/drop , it seems to have held do you add or soak water to it when it dries out - I fear it may well just crumble but it looks ok at the moment - the weather is quite dry , will this be watertight - hope I have used the correct product.
Tom Cat Thanks, you could have used a 5-1 mix for rendering but it should be okay. The plasticiser just makes it easier to work with. It should be fine as long as it does not dry out too quickly, if there is any chance of that you could give it a light mist spray of clean water using a garden sprayer etc.
***** brilliant , that is what I have done, the weather is cool /dry and the wall is dry, I dampened the wall first too. I am assuming it will dry and be waterproof. Thank you for good advice. It is nice to DIY - I was real apprehensive of having a go.
Hi there I'm wanting to put a scratch coat and then top layer as I'm doing a little Breezeblock wall will this mix do the job it looks like the right consistency. Any tips? Much appreciated great vid
Spiffing, the dedicated mixing tray is an improvement over my thick plastic sheeting!
(re-cycled and cheap)
sounds like you live in a stunning environment....water running in the background.....birds chirping :) OK thanks gonna try and mix my cement....
Thanks, yes we live just on the edge of town. The stream is good but if you are working alongside it for any length of time it makes you want to urinate LOL.
Thanks for the comment
Good clear video, nice end product cheers mate
You are welcome
Thanks for the comment
I wonder can you add some more water when the mortar dries out 2 hours later? Or would it be near setting? Sorry for the stupid question!
andrew truzzi
I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not. You should certainly never do it with concrete but to be honest I have done it with mortar in the past and it has been ok.
andrew truzzi Yes,"Tempering up" is permissable after a short time,but do not keep on doing it,try to use your stuff before you break for lunch etc,or do anything else,then mix fresh for the next jag at things.
jcbairmaster73
Thanks for the comment ;-)
Handyman how many bricks could you lay roughly with the amount of mortar you have mixed?
I have no idea, sorry. I was mixing this to replace some stone capping stones. It was so long ago, that I can't remember how many mixes I mixed that day.
Thanks for the comment
Awesome video sir...keep sharing good things whatever you are experimenting...:)
Thanks for the comment
Keep up the good work! Your videos are great.
Thanks for the comment
Thanks for those tips. Three to one is it? I was working like a dervish yesterday laying bricks, I thought the cement starts hardening the minute its mixed. It was exausting. Now I know you have a few hours to play, thanks. Can you keep mixing the cement and adding water if it looks like it's getting a bit stiff, or is it better not to play with it once mixed? Also lets say you want a bit of height on a brick and you add a few stones into the spread, is it oK to wait a few minutes for it to dry?
Do you have to put gravel in this mix for use with bricks?
No, you do not use gravel when laying bricks 😉
Thanks for the comment 👍
Thanks for that. How much did you use in a bucket of that size?
Great tutorial, simple and concise, many thanks. Can I use this same sand to cement ratio to make a render for a brick wall or should I use more cement? I like the idea of using a plastisizer, can this also be used in my render mix?
Sorry, only just seen this comment!
This should help-
www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/correct-render-mix-and-best-way-to-fix-cracks-t58823.html
Thanks, great instructions and much appreciated.
You are welcome
Thanks for the comment
Very nice! I liked the base you used, too. What is called and where to buy it?
It's a mortar mixing board, you can get them at most builders merchants, or here on ebay-
fave.co/2v78HPT
Thanks
Really helpful for a beginner - many thanks!
You are welcome
Thanks for the comment
Nice video, as usual.
Do you just add sand to extend the cement, of could you use straight cement?
Is there some book that explains all the different things and mixed, cement, concrete, mortar, grout, etc? I never really worked with much of this stuff.
Nice and easy instructions thanks
Welcome 😊
Appreciate it greatly! Thank you
You are welcome
Thanks for the comment
As always, great information, thanks
Thanks for the comment
hi im wondering if the sand im using is wrong its builders sand but its grey and definitely more gritty if I mix a 4/1 ratio it really doesnt look like your creamy mix but if I add more water it goes too sloppy ..
It sounds like you might have grit sand, builders sand normally has similar sized sand particles.
Sand can vary in colour depending on where it comes from, normally the builders sand round here is red in colour but I have seen some that is more a creamy colour.
I think Ill look for myself next time in the shop lol I just ask which oine will do usually so thanks for that :)
luanna lovell
You are welcome.
Good luck with your project ;-)
luanna lovell Well actually, the reason your sand isn't creamy is because it doesn't have clay in it. You can add some yourself though. In your backyard, dig down 3 feet and take some of the soil. Sift the rocks out of the clay subsoil and add the powder to your sand. Good masonry sand should be 2 parts sand to 1 part clay.
thanks but ive done enough digging in my garden to make a construction site lol ..Ill find some clay somewhere else :/
Thanks for the videos you've made you have helped me loads. I have a question I mixed mortar as in your video to fill the 3 inch gaps between my flags and 2 days later it has dried really patchy. I'm confused as to why it looks such a mess have you any thoughts?
just to add I used the same sand in the video from B&Q.
Lee Cornall
I have never had that problem, sorry.
You could try asking in the forum (preferably with a picture) www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/index.php
Good Day Sir,
Could you perhaps tell me what your recommended mixture and ratio would be for Paving Moulds? You know the ones you use to create a Cobblestone Walkway - which don't crack.
Thanks
I'm not sure, sorry as it's something I have never made before.
Can this be used for fence posts, instead of postscrete etc? Is it cheaper ?
You might have to add some aggregate, instead of just the sand and cement.
It might be cheaper, but would be more time consuming.
Thanks for the comment 👍
Thanks for your share. May I ask that when wet mixing, does the liquid is water with PVA? if yes, what is the ratio of water and PVA?
No, you do not mix PVA with mortar. I used a special mortar plasticiser like this- fave.co/2CXZa2w
You mix it with the water as per the instructions, then use it for the mix.
Thanks for the comment
thank's champ! would u tell the amount of the plasticiser for the above demo please?
+jon tam
It depends what make you use, you need to follow the instructions on the plasticiser as they are all different ;-)
Thanks for the comment
Great video! Very helpful, I have a question if anyone can assist me? I have been collecting red sandstone for a couple of months, and I now have enough to make a wall for my garden border, my question is, which sand:cement ratio would you recommend for working with red sandstone?
Thank you.
Daniel Thompson I'm not sure if red sandstone requires a special ratio when mixing, I'd just use the 4 sand, 1 cement as in this video and perhaps a 1/4 of hydrated lime to make it more flexible. Someone with more knowledge might recommend a different ratio.
Thanks for the comment
ive got ready made mix in medium bag how much water would I use it for filling gaps in patios flags
No idea. I don't use mortar guns I'm afraid.
I tried one years ago when re-pointing a house, I mixed some mortar and put it in the gun, when I squeezed the trigger all the mortar stopped where it was and water exited the end of the gun.
There are people that use that guns but they often say that they mix loads of plasticiser with the mortar- which will weaken it significantly.
Can you confirm what sand you used and if this mix would be suitable to lay a few lightweight slabs to an existing solid concrete base?
I just used building sand. This mix should be fine to fix the light weight slabs to concrete.
Thanks for the comment
Could this mix be used for all concrete jobs. I want it for a floor?
No, this is just mortar for use between bricks etc. You need concrete for a floor.
You can mix small amounts the same way, but if you need a lot it is easier to use a mixer.
There is more info here on mortar mixes/concrete- www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/how-to/brickwork/mortar-mixes
Thanks for the comment 👍
Going to lay some slabs in the garden ,, thanks for the video
+TheBrightjay
You are welcome
Thanks for the comment
Hi there I'm going to be doing some cement rendering on a little breeze block wall is this mix ok to use it looks like the right consistency. Any tips much appreciated great vid!
4-1 ratio can be used as a scratch coat, then a 5-1 ratio can be used for the top coat.
Don't be tempted to use PVA, you can wet the blocks before applying the scratch coat or prime with SBR
I have seen workers mix about six 50 Kg cement bags by hand ( requiring 1.2 ton of aggregate) BY HAND, egyption workers are awesome no wonder they built the pyramids
btw thanks for the video
does the ratio of 4 to 1 depend on how big of the job is? im making a patio, how much ratio should i use? and what sand and cement is best for the slabs ?
For laying patio slabs I'd use grit sand at a 6:1 ratio
great thanks, but if i were to go with a premade mortar, which brand is the best to use for a patio?
Tarek Taher
I don't think there is a premixed one that is suitable. You would have to check at the builders merchants ;-)
How much plasticiser should you use for that 4 to 1 mixture for example?
I'm afraid you need to read the instructions on the plasticiser as they are all different.
thank you very much. but why the water is white?
I added a plasticiser to make the mortar easier to work with, I mentioned it at about 0:52
Thanks for the comment
Question.
If i need 1.4 tone of concrete.
How many kg of such sharp sand and how many kilos of cement do I need ?
No Idea, sorry.
If you Google "concrete calculator" you should be able to find out.
What's the ratio with lime:sand:cement?
that is a nice mortor. easy 2 lay with
Thank you🙏
You’re welcome 😊
Thanks for the comment 👍
water looked bubbly. was it pure water?
No, it had a plasticiser mixed with the gauging water (I think I mentioned this in the video).
The plasticiser makes the mortar easier to work with once its mixed.
Hey could any tell me,
Could I use this mix for small garden path?
If you are repointing the gaps this mix will be fine, but if you are making a path you should use concrete.
www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/how-to/diy-building/mixing-concrete
Ultimate Handyman
Hey thanks for the reply,
Yey looks like I’ll have to go with the concrete this method just seems a lot easier.
I’m doing a small path in the garden 9foot by 2 foot,
Was quoted 400 - 600 Euros by tradesmen so I’ll have to dig out the shovel 👍
Sorry I didn't understand what did you add to the water?
I added mortar plasticiser, like this- fave.co/2lbQDNK
Thanks for the comment
What exactly does the plasticiser do?
Colin Williams
I believe it makes the mortar easier to work with as it traps small air bubbles in the mix.
People used washing up liquid in the past but this dedicated product is much more suitable.
Thanks for the comment
Please,,
what did you add on the water ?? what's the amount ??
and how much liter of water did you add on the mix ?
I added mortar plasticiser which improves adhesion and work-ability of the mix.
It depends what make you get, it will say on the bottle what amount to add to the water.
When adding the water you cannot measure it because the sand will already be moist, so you have to just keep adding water until you get the mortar to the correct consistency.
Thanks for the comment
ahaa thank you dear :)
hay can u explain me how you measure how much water it needs to be added?
No, sorry.There is no exact measurement for the water as the sand is often wet, the wetter the sand is the less water you need to add to the mix.
It's best to add the water slowly as you can always add more- but you can't take it out!
Ultimate Handyman ok thz btw why is your water forming? added admixture super plasticizer? thz for your video and reply :)
Yes, there was a plasticiser added to the gauging water early on in the video. This makes the mortar easier to work with.
Thanks for the comments ;-)
would this mix be suitable for doing a quick base for a shed ?
No, I'd use concrete for a shed base as it is much stronger.
thanks for the reply and advice
Thanks great tutorial..
You are welcome
Thanks for the comment 👍
thank you so much Sir
Very informative now i am ready to build wall
Mohammed Mustafa You are welcome ;-)Best of luck with the wall
this video is satisfying
Getting one of those! I've always used a big piece of old ply but over the years, it's gone banana shaped!
Can this mix be applied dry?
You can use a dry mix when bedding paving flags etc. but it's not something I ever do.
❤❤❤ very good.
Thank you! Cheers!
Ne kumu acaba o ? Üzerinde inşaat kumu yazıyor ama çamur gibi bir karışım oluyor ?
Kum kum yapıyor. Birleşik Krallık'ta tuğla kullanarak duvarlar inşa ederken harç kullanıyoruz, kum, çimento ve su karışımı olan harç kullanılarak bir arada tutuluyoruz. Islak olduğu zaman çamura benziyor ama sert kaya kuruyor.
Ultimate Handyman o kum ne kumu ismi nedir?
Buraya kumun üzerinde denir, kumsaldakilere benzer ama daha kaba
bit.ly/2rnjp2w
Soap water?
Ello mate! Many thanks for your advice on the Adobe Video Editor. ;) I'm just wondering.. Do you have any suggestions on how to get rid of these horrible ceiling patterns my Uncle did in the 60's? I'm sure scraping indentations & patterns in the artex was cool n' hip back then! But it looks so untidy now! I hear it's a headache plastering over the stuff; especially when there's so much shape & drips to the pattern. What would you do old chap? =D
is this mix of 4:1 suitable for a garden path?
i'd add a bag of gravel to your mix for a path. this mix is for mortar really. say 1 part cement, 2 parts sand, 2 parts gravel
why is the water bubbly?
Plasticiser has been added to the water 0:43
***** I'm studying architecture and this is an awesome video!
KerryDoan
I'm glad you like it ;-)
Thanks for the comment
Why in uk is so used that short handle shovel? Damn it’s a back-breaker! Here we use only longer handle and you can do more work with less effort! Nice video anyway.
I'm not sure, but even the brooms have short handles over here.
Thanks for the comment
A very slow process - I can do it in a quarter of the time. I put the sand or sand and gravel mix into a wheelbarrow, make a well in the middle, add the cement and water, and mix thoroughly with my hands (thick gloves essential as cement is irritant). Result - in two minutes I have a uniform mix that sets perfectly.
thi is so helpful!
👍🏻 thank you
You are welcome!
i done the same as you but my mix doesn't stick to the building blocks,why?
It should do, what kind of blocks are they?
The light building blocks
I think the name is thermo light blocks.
how much pestisicer I have to user for each sand?
All plasticisers are different. You need to check the instructions with each particular make.
How much mortar or concrete has he mixed, not much by the effort he's putting into it, not enough to bring up the fat anyway.
Also bit suspicious was all the equipment was brand new and looked like a bit too much plasticiser in the water mix.
I mixed enough for the job that I was doing!
The plasticiser was measured out, as per the instructions ;-)
@@ultimatehandyman I did not mean how much you were mixing there I meant how much mortar had you mixed in the past.
what is the water ratio??
There is no water ratio as the sand can have varying water content, so you just have to add it a little at a time until you get the desired consistency.Thanks for the comment
So, i just need to maintain the water usage so that the mortar mixture is not too watery??
Yes, that's correct ;-)
Ok... Thanks for the advice
You are welcome ;-)
Thanks
You are welcome
Thanks for the comment
it's really giggly
like jelly
nice tip :)
Thanks guy I new to muxing
You are welcome
Thanks for the comment
A wheel barrow is far easier.
water or beer?
+kok shin yong
Water mixed with some plasticiser.
You can drink some beers whilst mixing it though if you like ;-)
have you ever thoughts how sand is made....well heres the andwer I have thought about for soooooo long......SAND is over baked soil by extreme hot weather
Your answer might be over baked, Sand is made by erosion of water against rocks
Cool. 😎
Thanks for the comment