Handy hints

To ensure your projects are successful, we have developed the following as a series of recommended handy hints:

1. When mixing concrete mortar by hand make a heap in the form of a crater, pour in a little water and push in the walls with a shovel without letting water escape.

2. Make your own non-slip paving paint by adding small amounts of dried sand to ordinary paving paint.

3. Improve the finish on the new concrete slab by dusting dry cement on the still wet surface and trowelling off.

4. “Pointing” mortar joints is best done after the mortar has become firm to touch.

5. For light coloured concrete or mortar, finish off with a mix of white cement and Cement Australia Oxide.

6. If during storage, cement goes partly lumpy, it may still be used but only where strength is not all that important.

7. When laying a slab, ensure that area is completely free of roots and plant matter to a depth of 150mm. This will prevent cracking later.

8. For a non-slip surface on concrete, add loose abrasive grain or very fine gravel to the final layer.

9. Where mortar becomes attached to the face of bricks whilst laying, it should be cleaned off immediately with a wet scrubbing brush without wetting the joints.

10. Always protect new concrete against rain until it has hardened.

11. When loading a wheelbarrow, always place the bulk of the load over the wheel to make total task easier for the user.

12. A builder’s shovel is suitable for mixing mortar and concrete, while a heavier spade is better for digging.

13. Clean up oil spills on concrete by soaking up with paper towels and covering with dry cement or hydrated lime for a day or two.

14. Cured plywood from work may be easily bent by pouring boiling water over plywood, whilst bending.

15. Clean any Mortar Mix off brickwork as you are “laying” – it’s more difficult after it has hardened.

16. Except for final finish layers, never use cement on its own. The mix must contain gravel and/or sand to provide strength and durability.

17. Concreting on extremely hot days should be avoided due to the evaporation of water when mixing and curing. Lightly spray completed slab during the first day and/or cover with wet hessian bags while curing.

18. To prevent wood-rot and deter borers in posts, pour Hydrated Lime into post-holes before using Rapid Set.

19. To prevent slipping on concrete stairs, always make the final finish with a wooden float.

20. To create a good join when laying new concrete to existing concrete, thoroughly clean join and prime with PVA adhesive before laying.

21. When attempting large concreting or brick laying projects, consider hiring a powered concrete mixer for speed and economy.

22. Only use water fit for drinking to mix any cement-based product.

23. Never use water containing salts or organic material to mix concrete.

24. When laying bricks in warm weather, dip each brick in water, or spray the stack of bricks, to help the Mortar Mix to stick.