Mortar is a cement mixture used to bond bricks, concrete blocks and stones together. Unlike concrete, which weakens if overworked by excessive mixing or smoothing, mortar can be spread and troweled ...

Q. I am installing flagstone and some paving brick on top of a concrete patio. A book I read suggests mixing sand, cement and hydrated lime in different proportions to make the mortar mix. What is ...

Q: It appears I wasted some money five years ago. I had my brick building repointed with new mortar, and it has deteriorated quickly. Do you have any idea what caused that? The building is close to ...

In Alexandria, they take mortar very seriously. When old buildings are repaired, mortar -- the stuff that binds rows of brick or stone into walls -- becomes critical. "You can ruin a house by using ...