AMR Labs
817-366-8376
MortarLab@gmail.com
Mortar Testing & Matching Services
We offer many types of mortar testing.
You can send samples of hardened mortar for testing to us at the following address.
AMR Labs
1525 Corona Dr.
Granbury, TX 76048
Click here to order/get prices and procedure for mortar testing/matching.
We are making brick mortar cracks disappear. - AMR
AMR
Labs is dedicated to matching mortar.
This is why we offer various
forms of matching mortar including mortar analysis,
mortar testing, sand
analysis, mortar composition testing, and custom mortar color matching.
AMR Labs/Mortar Sample Testing, Analysis, and Matching Services
AMR Mortar Matching Services
AMR Labs provides
mortar matching services to help you better match mortar for
fixing
brick mortar cracks and deterioration. When repointing or
tuckpointing is needed to
repair mortar, it is important to get a
repair mortar that is designed for matching the existing mortar to
ensure a better bond, match color, match composition formula and
ratio, and compressive strength or crushing pressure of mortar.
These will all affect the quality of the repair, durability of the
repairs, the appearance of the restoration, and can prevent
re-cracking, spalling, popping, or additional damage to the bricks.
Mortar Matching/Mortar Color Matching
Matching Existing Mortar
Mortar Matching
If you already know the
mortar type
and crushing pressure, and only need to match the color, you can get
mortar matching to custom
match mortar color. Our mortar matching
process uses a base mortar formula for the specified mortar type or
crushing pressure, and is adjusted in the tones of grey or white and
then with pigments as needed to get a custom mortar match for the
old mortar.
This analysis will provide you a recipe for matching the
existing mortar sample that includes the base formula for mortar
type with adjustments for a matching mortar formula that you can
measure and follow, or use for ordering custom mortar mix. This test
is often added to our mortar composition testing or mortar analysis
to match the mortar color after determining the composition or compressive
strength and mortar type.
Mortar Analysis/Matching Mortar Composition
Mortar Composition Analysis Testing & Matching
Mortar Analysis
When you are needing to identify
the properties of mortar or the composition formula or ratio of
existing mortar, you will need a more detailed
mortar analysis. This
is more than a simple color match of the existing mortar.
Mortar
analysis breaks down the mortar composition through a series of
tests that include examining the physical properties of the cement
mortar sample, magnified examination, chemical testing or acid
digestion testing. Through analyzing the results of these testing
methods, we are able to match
mortar composition formula and
performance or determine the quality of cement mortars.
Analyzing
and testing samples of mortars can be useful in quality control,
determining mortar mix composition ratio, comparing samples of
mortar, and for matching mortar. With a detailed analysis of mortar
composition, we get a precise formula for
mortar matching the
existing mortar sample tested and can adjust the color pigments as
needed for a complete mortar match.
Mortar Testing/Matching
Mortar Testing
During analysis,
mortar samples are
tested for their compressive strength, visual analysis under
magnification, acid digestion, weight loss, and a visual or sieve
analysis of the sand gradation and particles. This is all part of
the
mortar composition testing.
AMR Labs is an independent
mortar testing lab and provides a proprietary
mortar testing method
that includes several astm testing methods including C-109 crushing
analysis, acid digestion, and E-11 sand sieve analysis. However, in
our proprietary mortar testing method, we collect additional data
that is generally over looked in these tests and combine these
results with some scientific mortar testing methods to provide
better results than other testing methods can provide.
Mortar Composition Testing/Analysis/Matching
If you are
familiar with testing mortar and the need for
mortar composition
testing, then you are aware of the astm C-1324 testing and the
preservation brief that provide the common guidelines for repointing
masonry and
matching mortar composition through testing. But have
you completely read this brief? In it you will gain an understanding
of the inaccuracy of this testing procedure (C-1324) and why it is
limited. It however does not provide an option for a better testing
method because none of the commonly used
mortar testing analyses can
provide reliable results on their own.
This is why we developed our
own method for testing mortar samples and due to the reasonable
accuracy of our results, AMR N-6324 mortar testing is quickly being
accepted by historic preservation organizations, other testing labs,
and other governing bodies to be the most reliable
mortar analysis
for testing mortar composition available.
To better explain
"reasonable accuracy", all
mortar composition testing is open to
interpretation of the testing results. This is one of the biggest
regions for errors in testing methods. Our
mortar testing process
collects more data and calculates the results based on performance
of mortar properties, weight loss during digestion, sand shape and
gradation, and use of specific gravity of the binder materials
found. Therefore, our interpreted results are calculated and we
eliminate the probabilities for misinterpretations and provide more
reliable testing results for the mortar composition, mortar mix
ratio, and formula for making matching mortar.
Sand Sieve Analysis
The sand analysis provides
detailed information about the original sand used. This includes a
gradation analysis of the sand particle sizes, color description of
particles, and identifies the shapes of sand particles used. Through
this analysis, we are able to provide recommendations of quarried
sand or river sand particle distributions.
Add this test to the
composition analysis testing to get a more detailed composition
formula with more information about the original sand used in the
mortar mix and the ratios of graded particle sizes.
Testing, Analysis, and Matching Historic Mortar
Historic Mortar Testing
Analysis and Matching
When restoring
or preserving historic masonry, it is important to match the
original composition of mortar mix. This includes the
historic lime
used in making the mortar if historic lime was used. The difference
between type S/SA lime and historic lime particles is the particle
size. Historic lime mortars tend to have larger particles of lime
due to being slacked on location and not having the finer screens
available to separate the larger lime pieces from the mix. When
repointing
historic mortar, these large particles of lime must be
matched in order to match the appearance of the mortar joints.
Additionally, in historic mortars, there tended to be little or no
Portland cement used. Portland is added to increase compressive
strength, speed setting time or curing of the mortar, and to reduce
water penetration. In historic masonry, the amount of Portland used
was much lower than the new mortars of today. This was done to
protect the bricks and tiles used because they had a much lower
crushing pressure than brick today. Bricks were handmade and sun
dried in many buildings, and the mortar had to be softer than the
bricks to prevent damage if settling occurred.
For this reason,
historic mortar testing is needed for
matching historic mortar
composition and performance. Through
historic mortar matching, we
can determine the compressive strength of the old mortar and
composition formula and ratios to create a similar mortar for repair
that will bond to the existing mortar and not cause damage to the
masonry units or bricks.
Brick Repointing
Custom Brick Repair Mortar
Through testing and
matching brick mortar, we determine the
mortar composition formula
and color matching and are able to make custom
brick repair mortar
to the formula provided, or you can follow the formula and produce
the matching mortar on location.
Brick Mortar Analysis
Analysis of the brick mortar allows us to determine the exact mortar formula. This includes the composition of the mortar recipe, and the ratio of proportions of mortar mix to sand. The composition, ratio, and performance of the mortar are all relevant to identifying the mortar type for matching mortar.
Mortar Sample Analysis
Analysis of samples of mortar is the only way to determine the mortar type and formula for matching. The best place to collect a mortar sample for analysis is from the area needing repairs. As the mortar mix may vary around the building, it is important to match the area of repairs, but often one area is close enough for matching the whole building.
You will need to collect a few small pieces or about a cup of mortar sample for analysis. We can work with smaller amounts, but it is best if we have a bit more than needed in the event we need to repeat any tests.
Mortar sample analysis takes about 1-2 weeks to get your results back. This can be a little faster if you include an e-mail and contact information with your samples for testing.
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