Had to match a tricky old mortar color on a repair in the historic district.

Mixed a bit of dry clay powder from the garden center into the standard gray mix. Got the color spot on after two small test batches. Anyone else have a go-to trick for matching old mortar without buying the expensive pre-mix stuff?

3 comments

3 Comments

jessec392d ago

My old boss would laugh, but uma_baker99's dirt trick actually works great.

paige_murphy981d ago

That dirt trick from @uma_baker99 is a game changer for color matching. I did a patch on my old brick walkway and it looked way too new and clean. Sifted some of the sandy soil from the garden bed right next to it into the mortar, just a handful. The grey tone went away and it finally looked like it belonged. What kind of material were you fixing, concrete or brick?

uma_baker992d ago

Ever try adding a little bit of dirt from the site? I've had good luck sifting some local soil right into the mix. It really helps blend the repair with the old ground in color.