Mortar

   Mortar is like a structural glue used to hold brick, stone and block together. Buy the dry ingredients in bulk or get ready-mixed 75- or 80-pound bags. If you are laying anything less than 500 bricks, it makes sense to buy ready-mix.
   To make mortar, you will need, by volume, 3 parts of portland cement, 1 part hydrated lime, and 9 parts of sand. Using this formula, one bag of portland cement yields 3 to 4 cubic feet of mortar. Always thoroughly mix the dry ingredients before you add water.
   How much mortar you'll need for brick work depends on the size of your bricks and the joints between them. For example, 1,000 common bricks laid with ╝-inch joints require approximately 9.5 cubic feet of mortar, while 3/8-inch joints require 12.5 cubic feet, and ╜-inch joints require 15 cubic feet.