Concrete, Mortar & Plaster mixes for builders

1. Large Batches

1.1 Concrete: Use only common cement complying with SANS 50197
Low-strength concrete suitable for: house foundations

To make 1 cubic metre of concrete you will need:
5,8 bags cement + 0,65 cubic metres sand + 0,65 cubic metres stone.

Medium-strength concrete suitable for: house floors, footpaths and driveways

To make 1 cubic metre of concrete you will need:
7,7 bags cement + 0,62 cubic metres sand + 0,62 cubic metres stone.

High-strength concrete suitable for: precast concrete, heavy-duty floors

To make 1 cubic metre of concrete you will need:
9,2 bags cement + 0,60 cubic metres sand + 0,60 cubic metres stone.

1.2 Mortar and Plaster: Using common cement complying with SANS 50197
Suitable for laying bricks and blocks in normal applications (SABS Class II)

Mortar: To lay 1 000 bricks you will need: 3 bags cement + 0,6 cubic metres sand.
Plaster: To plaster 100 square metres (15 millimeters thick) you will need: 12 bags cement + 2,3 cubic metres sand.

1.3 Mortar and Plaster: Using masonry cement complying with SANS 50413
class MC 22,5X or MC 12,5. Do not use grade MC 12,5X.
Suitable for exterior and interior work

Mortar: To lay 1000 bricks you will need: 3,5 bags cement + 0,55 cubic metres sand.
Plaster: To plaster 100 square metres (15 millimetres thick) you will need: 14 bags cement + 2,25 cubic metres sand.

2. Small Batches

Use containers such as buckets, drums or tins.
Use the same size of container for measuring all the materials in a batch.

2.1 Concrete: Using common cement complying with SANS 50197

2.2 Mortar and Plaster: Using common cement complying with SANS 50197

2.3 Mortar and Plaster: Using masonry cement complying with SANS 50413

Notes
  1. The amount of water added to a mix must be enough to make the mix workable and plastic.
  2. Use cement that has the SABS mark showing that it complies with SANS 50197 for all applications or masonry cement that complies with SANS 50413 for mortar and plaster.
  3. Stone for concrete should be 19 mm or 26 mm size.
  4. If you use a wheelbarrow for measuring, it should be a builder’s wheelbarrow which has a capacity of 65 litres.
Cement & Concrete Institute

PO Box 168, Halfway House, 1685
Tel 011 315-0300 • Fax 011 315-0584
e-mail info@cnci.org.za • website http://www.cnci.org.za
Published by the Cement & Concrete Institute, Midrand, 1996 reprinted 1998, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007
© Cement & Concrete Institute