How to match mortar for old house flower beds?

rebelliouskiwi

Our House was built in the 1950s, I'm not sure how old these flower beds are, but we'd like to add more, but also fix some areas where the bricks have fallen out. Is there a mortar recommended for the old age look? Or is this just standard mortar? And the capping on the top, would I use the same mortar, or does the consistency change?

My Local store would be around the Blue Mountains

I also have this old external toilet wall that is showing signs of age and wondering what I need to repoint. It's very sandy. Previous owners have possibly rendered over sections to try and stabilise parts.

Would Love some advice for these 2 projects. Many thanks

MitchellMc

Hi @rebelliouskiwi,

There isn’t a mortar specifically designed to replicate an aged appearance, unfortunately. The mortar in your first image looks like it was likely hand-mixed using a relatively coarse aggregate, which was quite common in older construction, whereas most modern mortars like https://www.bunnings.co.nz/cemix-20kg-masonry-mortar-mix_p0214045 use much finer sand and therefore appear smoother and more uniform. You can certainly use a standard modern mortar to repair the joints and capping, but it will likely look quite different and stand out initially against the existing work. Over time, it will weather and blend in better, but given the age of the original mortar, some contrast is unavoidable.

If you’re aiming to get closer to the existing look, you could try mixing your own mortar with a slightly coarser sand and add oxide pigments to better match the colour. This won’t be a perfect match, but it can help reduce how noticeable the repairs are. For the areas where the mortar has become sandy and degraded, it’s important to rake out all the loose material back to a firm base, clean out any dust or debris, and lightly mist the area with water before applying the new mortar to help with adhesion and curing.

A https://www.bunnings.co.nz/craftright-150mm-pointing-trowel_p5960144 will come in handy for getting the mortar into the tight joints.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell