Building mortars are mixtures, used for the joining of bricks and stones.

Definition:- A paste obtained by adding water to a mixture of fine aggregates such as sand and binding material.

The pyramids of the have been built with clay-gypsum, gypsum-lime and lime mortar.

The safety, strength and durability of resulting wall or any structure depends upon quality of mortar used as a binding medium.

Functions of mortar:-

• It provides force or cohesion between the structural unit.
• It acts as a medium for distributing the forces throughout the structure uniformly.
• Additional strength and resistance against the rain penetration and other such weathering agencies.
• In stone or brick masonry, it fills up empty joints, a thin liquid mortar used for such purposes is termed as Grout.

Qualities or properties of mortar:-

• The mortar mix should be workable- easily transported to the place of application.
• It should develop adequate strength in tension, compression and bond for the work for it is used.
• It should capable of retaining sufficient water during it’s application.
• It should be sufficiently plastic easily placed on the bed is construction in the form of thin, smooth and uniform layer.

• It should be durable and strong in itself on drying and hardening at the same time. It should not react in anyway with construction units.
• It should set and garden quickly construction could be done with speed.
• It should not develop any cracks on drying and should be able to maintain their appearance for quite long period.
• It should capable of developing the designed stresses.
• It should be economical to make without compromising on any of the qualities.