If you’re planning a home refurbishment or renovation project, it’s essential that you understand the building materials you will be working with to ensure its strength and success. The two most common materials that often get confused are concrete and mortar. Both serve very different purposes, so using the wrong one for your project could be detrimental.
In this article, we take a look at the two materials and their key differences to help you decide which one you need for your application. Let’s start by exploring what each of them are.
What is concrete?
Concrete is a strong and versatile building material made from a mix of cement, water, grit sand, and coarse aggregates such as gravel. Through a chemical reaction called hydration, these components harden over time, creating a stone-like material with incredible strength and durability.
Concrete is commonly used for load-bearing and structural purposes, such as:
Mortar is typically used for:
Building foundations
Driveways
Pavements
Retaining walls
Shed or garage bases
What is mortar?
Mortar is a bonding material made from cement, water and building sand. It does not contain any fine grit or coarse aggregate to give it a smooth finish that is easy to spread. It is used as an adhesive to bind blocks, bricks and stones. It is not intended for use in foundations or bases that need structural strength.
Mortar is typically used for:
Laying bricks, blocks or stones
Filling and sealing joints in masonry
Repairs such as filling in gaps in brickwork
Repointing existing structures
Bricklaying and blockwork
Concrete vs mortar: Which is best for your project?
The right choice of material depends on what you need it to do and the requirements of your project. It may be that you need to use both, but to help you decide, here are the typical uses for each.
You should use concrete if:
Your project requires structural support such as a foundation or driveway.
You need your structure to be weather-resistant and durable.
Your build needs the strength to handle heavy loads.
You have a garden project that requires support, such as a shed base.
Creating outdoor animal homes that require additional support, such as stables.
Use mortar if:
For masonry projects such as building walls or laying blocks.
For adhering blocks, bricks and stones together
You are sealing joints, making repairs or repointing existing brickwork.
Building retaining walls
Laying new brickwork
Ready to start your DIY project?
Whether building a solid foundation or creating beautiful masonry work, selecting the right material is essential. Need advice or help sourcing quality concrete? Here at Erris Concrete, we supply ready mixed concrete for both domestic and commercial projects. We can mix the exact amount you need on-site to help speed up your build and save you money.
Not sure how much concrete you need for your project? Don’t worry – our handy online calculator can help you determine the amount you need for your DIY project. Contact our team today to ensure your project starts on the right footing. Call us on 01327 206 650 or complete our contact form.