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Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
What ingredients are in our products? Are there issues with sand piles on the jobsite? We have the answers you’re looking for. Just search through our FAQs to find what you need.
No. Amerimix mortars will experience excessive shrinkage and reduced strength if used as a core fill. Amerimix AMX 600 grouts should be used for core fill applications.
Yes. Amerimix AMX 480 is suitable as both a mortar and grout material.
Yes. You can use Sakrete Bonder & Fortifier with a 50/50 dilution of water to product for almost every mortar. However, it cannot be used for the AMX 475, AMX 480 or AMX 485 as they are already modified.
Amerimix mortar follows ASTM C270 with 28-day curing guidelines for strength. The curing process varies due to temperatures, availability of moisture in the mix, exposure to direct sunlight versus shade, etc. Learn more about our different mortar types and curing guidelines.
There are no additives that will prevent mortar from freezing before the final set occurs. The use of hot water, not exceeding 105°F, will help with the hydration process, but winter measures such as covering the wall, tenting and heating the area, etc. need to be followed.
A Type M or Type S mortar is recommended for below grade applications.
The Amerimix 400 Series (portland cement, lime and sand) and Amerimix 500 Series (masonry cement and sand) are both available in Types M & S. Learn more about our mortar types.
There are many different types of mortar joints, but the main ones you would encounter on a typical residential home are flush, raked, and concave (aka jointed).
A flush finish is when the masonry joint is brought flush with the brick or masonry unit and is generally used if the masonry is to be painted to give walls a more uniform look.
A concave finish is the most common mortar joint as it produces the best weather protection.
Raked joints are another finish where the mortar joint is recessed about 3/8th of an inch having each brick stand out more compared to the uniformity of a flush or concave finish.
Typical mortar joints are 3/8” thick for common joints including round, raked and flush.
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Amerimix AMX 600 comes in both a 3,000psi and 5,000psi formulation. The specific psi rating is requested when the material is ordered and can be found on the invoice that accompanies the shipment. AMX 600 products also come in a coarse or fine formulation.
Yes, you can use Amerimix AMX 480 as a grout material.
Typically, EIFS is a layer of foam laminated or mechanically fastened to a substrate with mesh and a polymer base coat over the top of the foam – and then an acrylic finish over the top of everything.
1. portland cement
2. lime
3. fibers
4. additives
5. and aggregates – usually around 70% of the mix
Conventional – or three-coat – stucco will have a weather barrier of either from asphalt impregnated or synthetic building wraps or sprayed or rolled air and moisture barriers. Over that will be expanded or woven wire lath then a scratch and brown coat application of mortar.
AMX 740 FBC (Fiber Base coat) is the Amerimix product used in three-coat stucco systems. The finish over the top can be paint, colored stucco, or synthetic and elastomeric coatings.
In the early 1970’s one-coat systems contained fibers and colored pigments in a single coat – it was a true one-coat application. The color tended to be washed out and inaccurate because the use of field mixed sands and the fibers would show in some areas as well.
By the 1980’s a topcoat of colored stucco finish was being used over one-coat stucco and the appearance of the finished product was greatly enhanced. Many people started calling that system “two-coat” but today just as many people still use the term “one-coat” to describe the two-coat system.