Rosie on the House TOP FAQ- What is the correct Mortar Mix ratio for Masonry?

Clem Hellmann of Quality Block and I agree that with pre-mix bags available, unless you are on a major jobsite with at least a dozen masons it's just not worth mixing yourself. However, if you are inclined to do so our friends at Superlite Block have provided the industry standard directions below.

There are a variety of mortar mixes that the mason contractor can mix up, depending on the type of material that is being installed:

* Type M (2500 psi)
* Type S (1800 psi)
* Type N (750 psi)

The different types are achieved by varying the ratio of Portland Cement, Lime and Sand. Type S mortar is the most common for the Arizona market so we will use this as the basis for our comparisons.

There are three primary ways to make mortar:

1. Portland Cement, Hydrated Lime and Masonry Sand
2. Masonry Cement and Masonry Sand
3. Pre-mixed Mortar

The Portland Cement, Hydrated Lime, Masonry Cement and Pre-mixed Mortar are available in bags, the Masonry Sand is generally available in “bulk quantities” that are delivered by a truck or can sometimes be purchased in big “super sacks” from the big box retailers.

Portland Cement
94# bags
Lime
50# bags
Masonry Cement
70# or 78# bags
Pre-mixed Mortar
60#, 80# or 94# bags
Masonry Sand Usually a pile of sand is delivered to the jobsite by a dump truck. The sand is measured into the mixer by means of a standard square point shovel that is “mounded full”. This is referred to as a “shovel of sand”

Portland Cement, Lime and Sand

This is the “old school” method, the standard for the industry that all other methods are compared to. In order to make a Type S masonry mortar one would proportion the materials into the mixer in this manner;

1 bag
94# of Portland Cement
½ bag 50# Hydrated Type S Lime
28 “Shovels” Masonry Sand
7 to 8 Gallons Clean Water

Mixing Procedure:

* Put 2/3 to 3/4 of the water into the mixer
* Add the Portland Cement and Hydrated Lime to the batch
* Add the sand into the mixer, adding water as necessary to achieve the desired consistency
* Mix for 5 minutes in a mechanical paddle type mixer

Amount of water required to make good mortar will vary depending on the desired consistency of the mortar. For stiff mortar use less water, for wet mortar use more water. If you do not add enough water the mortar is so stiff that it is unworkable and very difficult to use, if you add too much water the mortar turns to “soup” and you will be unable to use it.

Masonry Cement

Masonry Cement is simply a product that has Portland Cement and Hydrated Lime already blended together in the proper proportions. In order to make a Type S mortar with Masonry Cement one would proportion the materials into the mixer in this manner:

1 bag 70# or 78# Masonry Cement
18 to 20 “Shovels” Masonry Sand
5 Gallons Clean Water

Mixing Procedure:

* Put 2/3 to 3/4 of the water into the mixer
* Add the Masonry Cement to the batch
* Add the sand into the mixer, adding water as necessary to achieve the desired consistency
* Mix for 5 minutes in a mechanical paddle type mixer

Add water to achieve desired consistency of mortar, less water for stiff mortar, more water for wet mortar.

Pre-mixed Mortar

This is the easiest mortar of all to make. Pre-mixed mortar is a combination of Portland Cement, Hydrated Lime, and Masonry Sand already blended together in the proper proportions to make a Type S mortar. All that is needed is to add sufficient water to achieve the desired consistency, usually about 5 to 6 quarts for an 80# bag. Pre-mixed mortars are a little unique in that they require a slightly modified mixing procedure.

Mixing Procedure

* Put 2/3 to 3/4 of the water into the mixer
* Add the Pre-mixed mortar into the mixer, adding water as necessary to achieve the desired consistency
* Mix for 3 to5 minutes, turn off the mixer and allow mortar to “slake” for 2 to 3 minutes, re-start the mixer and mix for an additional 2 to 3 minutes adding water as necessary to achieve desired consistency.

Pre-mixed mortars use a kiln dried sand that has a higher water demand. It takes a few minutes for all of the water to be absorbed into the dry sand, hence the need for a prolonged mixing time. If you do not allow the mortar to set and “slake”, it will feel gritty on the trowel and will be difficult to work with.

All of these mortar may be mixed by hand in a wheelbarrow or “mud tub” for those of us who do not own a mixer. A mortar hoe is a great tool when mixing by hand, as well as the obligatory square point shovel. I have found from past experience that a standard construction grade wheelbarrow is too small to mix a full bag of Portland Cement, ½ bag of Hydrated Lime and 28 shovels of sand. It will just barely fit 1 bag of Masonry Cement and 18 to 20 shovels of sand. A standard wheelbarrow very comfortable fits 3 of the 60# bags of Pre-mixed Mortar, or 2 of the 80# or 94# bags of Pre-mix Mortar. Follow the same mixing procedures as when using a mechanical paddle mixer.

Rosie on the House: Hail Damage Repair on Good Morning Arizona

Did you miss Rosie on Good Morning Arizona talking about Hail Damage Repair? Check it out!

For all Rosie's Good Morning Arizona morning segments, visit Rosie's YouTube Channel!

Palo Verde Troubleshooting

Certified Arborist John Eisenhower of Integrity Tree Service helps troubleshoot a Palo Verde tree that appears to be dying for Rosie on the House radio show caller.

Learn more about John Eisenhower in this September's Partner of the Month article at RosieOnTheHouse.com.

Coming to Phoenix; The Concrete Decor Show!

Anyone who knows me knows my passion for cement products, and in particular, decorative concrete. Stamped, stained, coated, polished, colored, flattooed, sculptured and even furniture, I love it all!

When I started the construction planning for my house, I didn't waste a minute considering flooring options. From Day One, I knew it was ALL going to be decorative concrete. The only question was: To what extent?

There are so many available options for decorative concrete, so the challenge was settling down and making decisions. In the end, I selected a wood-patterned, stamped, colored concrete for the patios; acid-stained concrete for the interior floors, with cattle brands randomly flattooed into the finish; and an epoxy-coated garage floor with rodeo imaging embedded.

My problem now is not that I have to maintain and upkeep my decorative concrete floors (because almost no maintenance is required); it's that I'm out of concrete floors to decorate! What to do now?

Enter the Concrete Decor Show, coming right here to Arizona. Industry leaders from all over the world are gathering March 17-19 for educational seminars, hands-on training, and to browse the exhibit hall at the Phoenix Convention Center. And don't you know, yours truly will be right in the middle of it all!

You don't have to have a passion for decorative concrete like I do to attend because this show has something for everyone. If you're an architect looking for new ideas, don't miss Tuesday's keynote speakers, including world-famous Will Bruder and Fu-Tung Cheng. If you're a builder looking for a competitive advantage in your homes, check out Thursday's Next Generation of Concrete Countertops. Are you an artisan already in the trade but struggling with business direction? Don't miss the 1 p.m. session on Controlling Business, Finances and Goal Setting. Homeowners looking to update or create something different and distinctive for the home can check out the hands-on sessions next to Heritage Park. Is green your keyword? Be downtown Friday morning for the Sustainable Concrete seminar.

Think this is for boys only? Hey, I wasn't lying when I said they have something for everyone. Handywomen, the topic of Friday's luncheon, is hosted by a panel of four women, including our local expert Tamryn Doolan, inventor of the Flattoo, on Opportunities for Women in Decorative Concrete.

The most exciting part for any site-built homeowner in the desert Southwest is you already have the most expensive part of decorative concrete out of the way: the initial install of the concrete. So don't leave it dull and gray; do something decorative with it!

Whether you sign up online or pay at the door, make sure you mention Rosie on the House for discounted pricing. Plus, I'll have special give-aways for the first two dozen people who catch me on site. I'll be wearing my red or blue Wrangler long-sleeve shirt with the Rosie on the House logo over the left pocket and on the sleeve.

Here is what I personally have my eye on:

• Tuesday: Pre-Conference Keynote
• Wednesday: Polished Concrete 101, Concrete Countertops - Getting it right, Graphics for Decorative Concrete.
• Thursday: Recycling Content for Decorative Projects, Adventures in Theming, Taking the Mystery out of Sealers.
• Friday: Expanding Beyond the Iron Oxide Color Space.

Somewhere in between all that I'll make my way through the exhibit hall of vendors, find someone who can help me in the planning of my multi-level concrete flower garden wall for my back yard that will also serve as a protective wall around my vegetable garden, and then I'll swing by the Phoenix Children's Museum to check out the koi pond imaging applied to the concrete floor there.

For a complete list of details and links for the Concrete Decor Show, check out the event page on RosieOnTheHouse.com.

I got a fever, and the only solution is more decorative concrete!




Tune your radio in every Saturday morning 8:00am - 11:00am.
Call in Number (888) Rosie-4-U
Find your local Arizona station.

~Arizona's Favorite Most Trusted Home Improvement Resource!

~Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!

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Don't make hard times harder.

For most of us, our homes are the largest investment we'll make in our lives, but all too often it's the investment we know the least about.

Closing the fourth quarter of 2008, the median home price for single-family residence in Pinal County was $119,000, and in Maricopa County, it was $130,000, according to Arizona State University's realty studies. Name one other investment of that scale that happens so easily that you just see a "for sale by owner" sign staked out front, call the number, agree to a price, sign some papers, and by the end of the month have your name on the title. I sure can't think of one, and if there is such an investment, I can tell you we'd all do a lot more research into it than we do for our homes.

Plus, we'd probably tend to it a little more carefully than we do our homes, which seem to get our attention only when something breaks.

Most of us don't seem to care how the thermostat, air-conditioning unit, water heater, light fixtures or insulation work. All we care about is that they do work. But left on their own--with no regular maintenance or tune-ups, they won't work forever. And when they break down, it can be way more expensive to fix them than it would have cost to simply maintain them.

There's never really a good time for something to break down, and right now definitely isn't a good time.

Unfortunately, our homes don't know what hard times are, so they can't save up their problems for better days. Broken water lines, busted garage door springs, locked-up AC compressors, fried heating elements, zapped electrical circuits, overflowing toilets ... when something needs to be fixed, it needs to be fixed!

All of those problems rob us of a little of our quality of life--and can cause permanent damage to our homes (our big investment) if we don't fix them right away. And repairs can be expensive.

Any horse owner will tell you, "If you think buying a horse is expensive, just wait until you have take care of it!" The same is true of our homes.

I know saving money is important. We're all trying to cut costs a little here and there and save a little more than we did before. Yet a poor decision at home can cost a lot more in the long run.

So if you're thinking about hiring a guy on the cheap to fix what ails the biggest investment you'll ever make in your life, please reconsider.

The Arizona Registrar of Contractors reports almost a 50 percent increase in complaints against unlicensed contractors over the last year. You see reports in the news about the latest victim, who was taken for $60K by an unlicensed contractor. You breathe a sigh of relief that it wasn't you. But you might be struggling to pay for repairs yourself, and so it might seem tempting to hire an unlicensed guy who's just trying to make a few bucks on the side and promises he'll fix everything correctly.

If you act on that, you're making yourself part of a huge problem. The honest truth is that the problem is not the economy or the unlicensed contractors; it's the demand for them. Every complaint about the shoddy work and dishonest business practices of unlicensed contractors would stop tomorrow if we simply stopped hiring them on a wing and prayer, hoping to save a few bucks.

Would you hire a doctor to do surgery who wasn't a licensed, bonded, insured, certified M.D. with a long list of references? Would you hire a podiatrist to remove a brain tumor? Of course not. So why would you trust your largest investment to a contractor who isn't legitimate or qualified to do quality work?

So far, this is a song with no ending. I don't even want to count the number of phone calls and e-mails we've taken at Rosie on the House over the years from homeowners who spent their hard-earned money on a too-good-to-be-true deal from a guy who "seemed nice enough"--and are left in a deep hole with only a spade to dig themselves out.

For a lot of folks, times are hard enough as it is. Don't make it harder on yourself by cutting corners when it comes to your most cherished, most expensive possession. Take your time and do it right. Hire licensed, bonded, insured contractors who have the experience and qualifications to get the job done right the first time.

Of course, most contractors are legit, and they'll do good work for a fair price. Here's what Joyce, a Rosie on the House listener, had to say about her experiences with six different contractors. Audio

This won't solve all of your homeowner problems. But when you hire a qualifed, licensed contractor, at least you're not setting yourself up for failure.




Rosie on the House
www.RosieOnTheHouse.com

Tune your Radio in every Saturday morning!
8:00am - 11:00am
Call in Number (888) Rosie-4-U

Phoenix FM 92.3 KTAR
Prescott AM 1130 AM
Sedona AM 780 KAZM
Tucson AM 790 KNST

~Arizona's Favorite Most Trusted Home Improvement Resource!

~Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!

Water Treatment from a one-time skeptic

Before I get up on my soap box to talk about water treatment, there's something about me you should know: Water treatment and I have a past.

The first home I can remember living when I was around four was a modular in New River, where were we had no city services; we were on a septic and had to haul water from Desert Hills.

I should note that nobody in my family ever died from the water, and as far as I know, none of my friends did, either. We spent most of our days working and living outside, so the house really was just a place to sleep and get away from the lightning when the monsoon hit. My drinking faucet was the garden hose. Water filters? Never heard of them.

Needless to say, water treatment was never a priority for our family. So as an adult, when people I knew started talking about treatments to soften the water and make it taste better, I was big skeptic. I figured these things were gimmicks and a huge waste of money.

So it figures that my first assignment when I started working for Rosie on the House in 2001 was to research the different water treatments.

I've never been one to turn down a challenge, so I took the project on thinking it would take one day to confirm what I already knew: that water treatment is a worthless service. Oh, so little did I know!

I read everything and listened to everyone, from Consumer Reports to clients my dad had worked with when he owned the remodeling company Legacy Custom Building & Remodeling. I spent days on this, and the more I learned, the less sure I was that my old attitude about water treatment was right.

Then came a light at then end of the tunnel--in the form of Robin Pettyjohn of Water Treatment Technologies, who in the middle of the night on instinct sent an e-mail to RosieOnTheHouse.com that changed my life forever.

OK, it didn't change my life. But it definitely changed my mind about water treatment.

Robin so sincerely made the case for water softeners, which negate the effects of Arizona's "hard" water, and reverse-osmosis systems, which make the water taste better, that I had to give them both a try.

So I paid Robin to install both in my home, with the agreement that he would remove them and refund my money if I wasn't pleased.

Well, two houses later I wouldn't even think of owning a home without a water treatment system for a list of reasons that could go on for days!

So I'm sold. But there's a catch. Not all water treatment systems or companies are created equal. There's a lot of smoke and mirrors in the market when it comes to water treatment. I've heard more scare tactics from sales reps and false claims from manufacturers than I care to remember!

The bottom line is simple, though: If science can't prove that a thing works, it doesn't hold water (pun intended!). And on this point, I know I'll never change my mind.

When you shop for your water treatment system--and if you see a scaly mess on the edges of your faucets and around your drains, you need a water softener--you'll run into claims, testimonials and even accusations about good products and bad ones. Don't let them confuse you. For something as simple as water, we have the technology to test for results. If a product claims is will soften your water, find out how. (You can't soften water without salt.) If a product says it will remove the scales that hard water forms in your plumbing fixtures and pipes, that doesn't mean it will soften your water or prevent future scaling. It probably means the product is a descaler, not a softer. You need a softener, which prevents the problems.

If you wish to research this for yourself, start by reading Rosie's answers to his listeners' frequently asked questions, listen to our web audio feature with another one of our great water treatment specialists, EcoWater Systems, listen to this segment from our Saturday morning radio show and most importantly our interview with David Perry of the Arizona Water Quality Association.
Part 1.
Part 2.

But take it from a skeptic. You will come to the same resolve I have.

Rosie on the House
www.RosieOnTheHouse.com

Tune in your Radio every Saturday morning!
Call in Number (888) Rosie-4-U

In Northern Arizona on 780 KAZM AM from 8:00am – 11:00am
In Phoenix on News 92.3 KTAR FM from 8:00am – 11:00am
In Tucson on NewTalk 790 KNST AM from 10:00am - Noon

~Arizona's Favorite Most Trusted Home Improvement Resource!

~Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!

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Infectious Habitat-itis

Hey y’all!

I believe everyone has a gift, a gift given to us by our Sovereign Ruler to use to serve His higher calling. Those we remember from history, good and bad, are the ones who used their gifts as men and women of honor and who always stood up for what they believed in.

My role is service, in one form or another. Since I was young, it seemed I was always able to help others in some way. When I couldn’t or wouldn’t, it weighed on me, and it made me more willing to help someone the next time I had the opportunity, even if I had second thoughts. Thankfully, my upbringing has kept those instances to a minimum.

I grew up in a family that dedicated itself to service, and that service started at home. My father, Rosie, never allowed any of his six children to expect or demand our Mom to wait on us. If he had to ask us to help her clean the kitchen, take out the trash, pick up our rooms or anything of the sort, well--let's just say it was too late at that point for an excuse!

Mother was no different. I remember the first time I mowed the grass. Mom fired up our old, gas-powered, pull-start lawn mower and handed it over to me because Dad had a long day and it would be a great surprise if he came home with no chores to do. I couldn't even see over the handle bars, and the lawn, once I finished with it, looked 10 times worse than it did before I started.

Yup, I started as a person of service at a young age. I remember the mailman threatening--only half jokingly--to turn my parents into Child Protective Services when he saw me operating a chop saw when I was 8. I don’t know what the big deal was. I was just cutting the cedar siding for the interior lining of the hall coat closet with dad's chop saw.

So as an adult, when I learned about Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit that lets me use my hands and my tools while serving others, I knew it was a perfect match for me.

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that helps deserving families build and buy homes of their own. Volunteers donate money, time and materials so the cost of building the home is as low as possible, and the family that moves into the home pitches in at least 200 hours per adult of “sweat equity.” They stand alongside the builders helping with construction, painting, yard work or anything else that needs doing. If they’re not able to do that, they work in the Habitat store—ReStore—or office.

Once they get the keys to their castle, they pay an affordable mortgage, and that money goes back into a pool that helps build the next home for the next deserving family.

I caught Habitat-itis the first time I worked on a project, and my fever for it has only gotten worse as I've spent more time around the people who believe so passionately in its mission. After I had been involved with Habitat for a number of years, it became clear I was hooked for life.

The Rosie on the House team was building our first home for what used to be known as Habitat for Humanity Valley of the Sun (now it’s Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona), and I was helping nail on the roof sheathing. I had not yet met the future homeowner, Kahn, who turned up working alongside of me, hauling sheets of OSB up to the roof rafters to nail down. The care he took to not waste a single nail by bending it--he drove them all perfectly straight--was almost like watching a father care for a precious newborn baby. On the day the home was complete, when I saw how proud Kahn was to own a home that he, his wife and his three kids could call their own, I was thoroughly infected with Habitat-itis.

One of Habitat’s mottos is: “It's a hand up, not a handout," and that’s what means the most to me. That’s what I saw in Kahn that day. He is a grateful man who worked as hard as he could to earn the help he accepted from Habitat because he knew it would enable him to provide for his family through the sweat of his brow. Who could ever ask for more?

Kahn inspired me, and I think of him whenever I’m with Habitat again, working on another home for another grateful, deserving family. When I think of Kahn, I can’t help thinking of the music of country music inspirational singer Chris LeDoux, singing one of his signature songs with Bon Jovi, Bang a Drum. The song is infectious, just like volunteering for and supporting Habitat for Humanity. And like Kahn, it’s just something I can’t get out of my mind.

Chances are, you’ll hear me humming Bang a Drum if you ever find yourself banging nails next to me on the roof of a Habitat house. And in no time at all, you’ll be as infected with Habitat-itis as I am.

If you dare to see what a difference one pair of helping hands can make, join me on a Habitat jobsite and catch Habitat-itis for yourself.

Rosie on the House
www.RosieOnTheHouse.com

Tune in your Radio every Saturday morning!
Call in Number (888) Rosie-4-U

In Northern Arizona on 780 KAZM AM from 8:00am – 11:00am
In Phoenix on News 92.3 KTAR FM from 8:00am – 11:00am
In Tucson on NewTalk 790 KNST AM from 10:00am - Noon

~Arizona's Favorite Most Trusted Home Improvement Resource!

~Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!

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