Cement Australia Brickies’ Own unique concentrated formula brings out the best qualities in any sand/cement and sand/lime/cement mixes.
Cement Australia has created Brickies’ Own (an engineered, multi surfactant system) to improve the flexibility and durability of in mortar and render mixes, which in the Australian summer heat is a huge bonus – a time and money saver. Brickies’ Own adds significant longevity and strength to mixes while reducing the weakening effects of thermal expansion and contraction. With 1L of Brickies’ Own making up 20L of ready to use product, which lasts up to 12 months.
Or you can simply add water to the concentrate as we have today in our testing. Being PH neutral makes it safe to handle as opposed to some other products on the market. In a nutshell this Australian made product helps mortar mixes last longer before needing to have a little water added, which can weaken a mix. It can also prevent a mix being thrown out for starting to go off while sitting for too long in the heat.
While other plasticiser products come in a powder-based form, Cement Australia’s Brickies’ Own comes in a liquid, making it easier to measure and dilute. Once mixed the product lasts up to 12 months and reduces the risk of dust and powder inhalation of other products. We teamed up with carpenter Pat Jacobs, who is working with Mitch Smith on a great job at North Curl Curl, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, where a pile of stone and timber work finish a project.
EASE OF USE
The product has been designed with ease-of-use in mind and is as simple as diluting one litre of Brickies’ Own with 19 litres of clean water in a clean container of at least 20-litre capacity and mixing well. Then all that’s required is to mix 12ml-25ml of the diluted Brickies’ Own mix to 20kg of cement in a typical M3 mortar mix and allowing it to mix as normal.
The Brickies’ Own will make the mix easier to use as its air-entraining properties will increase the smoothness of the mix while adding strength, adhesion, and workability to the mortar. Pat shared, “The Brickies’ Own is a great product. It’s easy to mix and use and brings out the best in mortar and render mixes. It produces fluffy mixes which last longer with reduced shrinkage”.
WORKABILITY AND STRENGTH
“Anyone who has worked with mortar in the heat of summer and frosts of winter knows the challenges that environmental conditions can have on the quality and longevity of a mix.,” said Pat. “So it was very apt we tested our Brickies’ Own with our Cement Australia General Purpose Cement in the heat of a January sun.” The resulting mix looked great, right from the initial mix, and its improved workability and strength was evident straight away. It created a very good, fluffy mix which really impressed with the way it lasted in the heat, which will suit both tradies working alone, – because they won’t have to worry as much about how long the mix is going to last – as well as being smooth and great to work with for teams looking to lay as many bricks as possible in a single day. In our testing we were laying sandstone flagging around a home and BBQ area. We needed the strength of the mix as it will be a high-traffic area, and the Brickies’ Own delivered.
THE WRAP UP
The quality of this product, as well as the added safety features of being a liquid as opposed to a breathable dust or powder, is a big box to tick, and any tradie will more than appreciate the improved qualities of their mix when using this product, particularly in the summer heat and winter frosts.