Correct application of coloured grout mortars for facing mortar and joints

Bricks or sand-lime bricks for facework masonry

• Remove bricks or sand-lime bricks from several packs at the same time - cross-mix!
• Slightly pre-wet absorbent clinkers and sand-lime bricks, especially when dry weather.
• Cover the top of the masonry at the end of the work to avoid soaking and the resulting washing out.
• Follow the instructions of the stone manufacturer.

Facing mortar

Facing mortars are special mortars dedicated for the construction of facing brickwork. These mortars provide the basis for a successful clinker facade. They are available in numerous colours and defy wind and weather for decades. With facing mortars, the laying of the brickwork and the design of the joint are carried out "in one operation". Subsequently a separate grouting is therefore not necessary.

The exact matching of the facing mortar to the selected bricks is essential. Particular attention must be paid to the porosity (water absorption) of the bricks.

• weber.mix 626 KS is convenient as facing mortar for normal and highly absorbent masonries with a water absorption of > 5%.
• weber.mix 626 VS is convenient as facing mortarsfor poorly or non-absorbent masonries with a water absorption of 2% - 5%.

Basically, the mortar bed must be sufficiently and uniformly thick. This is also valid for all the butt joints and horizontal joints. Missing parts (without facing mortar) are to be avoided.

Dimension for normal joint: butt joint 10 mm; horizontal joint 12 mm.

Grout

Grouts (pointing mortars) are used for the subsequent pointing of exposed masonry. The following points must be observed:

• Scrape out masonry joints to a depth of approx. 1.5 - 2 cm.
• Pre-clean facing surfaces dry, especially clean joints of old mortar residues.
• Clean with water. Avoid acids!
• Cleaning before grouting or final cleaning.
• Remove heavy dirt with a spatula or a wooden board.
• Pre-wet up to saturation and clean with a scrubbing brush from bottom to top.
• Only for heavy soiling use special cleaning agents. Always follow the instructions of the stone manufacturer.
• High-pressure hot-steam cleaning devices have also proven effective without any use of special cleaning agents.
• Mix the grout in the optimal consistency.
• Consistency variations must be avoided, otherwise the colour shade will vary.
• Do not add any foreign substances, such as anti-freeze, retarders or similar.
• Keine Fremdstoffe wie z.B. Frostschutzmittel, Verzögerer o.ä. beimengen
• Observe the potlife of the mortar (approx. 45 minutes).
• Do not apply the mortar in dry weather, strong sunlight or wind.
• Different colours of the masonry stones can lead to different colour shades of the grout.

Notes on the Weber colour sample collection of the grout weber.mix 627:

• A colour sample box is available for weber.mix 627.
• Our grout weber.mix 627 for exposed and facing masonries and our facing mortars weber.mix 626 KS / weber.mix 626 VS are produced at several locations. Therefore, differences in colour due to raw materials cannot be excluded.
• Shades shown in the sample box are always approximations.
• In addition to slight differences due to raw materials (different production sites), factors that we cannot control (air humidity, temperature, sun, precipitation, wind, stone porosity of masonry stone, application thickness, water amount, type of mixing, used tools, timing of work, etc.) influence the final colour shade!
• We generally advise the application of original samples with our facing mortars weber.mix 626 KS / weber.mix 626 VS and the pointing mortar weber.mix 627 by the workman. For the trial tests also use the selected stone.

Once again the most important points

• Store bricks properly, take them from several packs at the same time and cross-mix them.
• Do not lay and grout bricks at temperatures ≤ +5 °C.
• Completely fill all joints of the masonry Brick full joints!
• Bricklay cleanly - keep scaffolding clean.
• Protect masonry from frost and moisture by using accurate covering foils – and also door and window openings as well as masonry crowns, even during work interruptions.
• Protect the masonry against rain before starting the grouting work.
• Drain most rainwater downpipes away from the masonry.
• Clean the masonry properly before grouting.
• Apply the grout at earth-moist (or better, plastic) consistency.
• Once the right consistency has been set, it must not be changed, as this may lead to considerable differences in colour.
• Protect fresh masonry.
• Safety note: subsequent trades, e.g. carpenters, plumbers and roofers, painters and carpenters must be informed that the masonry protection device must be re-positioned after they have finished their work.