Sand is the most abundant ingredient in the mix. The powdered cement and lime are the glue that holds the sand together and allows the mortar to bond to each brick (or concrete block, stone or other ...

Masonry expert Andriy Boyko tells us that staining brick can be a fantastic way to boost curb appeal and revitalize your home's exterior, but he also points out that it's crucial to do it right.

When you mix the three ingredients above to make fresh mortar, the cement and lime coat each grain of sand much like adding beans to a meat chili. The color of each sand particle is hidden by the gray ...