---
title: "Selecting an appropriate type of mortar"
subject: "Civil Engineering Materials"
chapter: 6
key: "semester_3/civil_engineering_materials:select-appropriate-mortar"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/select-appropriate-mortar
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Selecting an appropriate type of mortar

Civil Engineering Materials · Chapter 6: Mortar

- Asked in: 2072 Chaitra, 2 marks; 2071 Chaitra, 2 marks; 2069 Chaitra, 3 marks (asked 3 times)
- Video: [Properties of Good Mortar & Selection of Mortar | Concrete Technology | Civil Engineering](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkHAw1QKvm8) — Polytechnic Class (READBY) 
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/select-appropriate-mortar
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/chapter-6

## Question

How is an appropriate type of mortar selected for civil engineering works?

## Short answer

Selection depends on structural importance, load, exposure, and cost. Load-bearing foundations and wet conditions need strong cement mortar (1:3-1:4), ordinary walls use 1:6 or gauged, interiors can use lime, and temporary rural works use mud mortar.

## Answer

The type of mortar is chosen according to the requirements of the work, the load, exposure, cost and availability.

#### Factors for selection
1. **Type and importance of work:** load-bearing walls, foundations and structures below ground level need strong cement mortar (1:3 to 1:4); ordinary walls use 1:6; plastering uses 1:4 to 1:6; non-load-bearing partitions and temporary works can use lime or mud mortar.
2. **Strength required:** cement or gauged mortar for heavy loads; lime mortar for light loads.
3. **Exposure:** use cement mortar in wet, damp or exposed places (basements, parapets, water retaining structures); use lime mortar for dry interior places.
4. **Setting time needed:** cement mortar for quick setting; lime mortar for slow.
5. **Durability and weather:** in frost/rainy areas, cement or gauged mortar.
6. **Cost and availability:** mud mortar is the cheapest and used in rural areas; surkhi/lime mortar where lime is available.
7. **Special purposes:** fire-resistant (fire-clay mortar), sound-proof, X-ray shielding (barium), packing mortar for grouting.

| Work | Suitable mortar |
|---|---|
| Foundation, load-bearing wall | Cement 1:4 |
| General brickwork | Cement 1:6 or gauged |
| Plaster | Cement 1:4 to 1:6, lime |
| Temporary rural walls | Mud mortar |

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Foundations and load-bearing walls need:
   A. Mud mortar
   B. Strong cement mortar (1:3 to 1:4)
   C. Lime 1:10
   D. None
   Answer: B. Strength required. (Key point: Load bearing)

2. Wet or exposed places need:
   A. Lime mortar for dry interiors
   B. Mud mortar
   C. Cement mortar
   D. Gypsum
   Answer: C. Lime mortar is for dry interior places. (Key point: Wet places)

3. Cheapest mortar used in rural areas:
   A. Cement mortar
   B. Gauged mortar
   C. Gypsum mortar
   D. Mud mortar
   Answer: D. Chosen by cost and availability. (Key point: Cost)

## Related in Civil Engineering Materials

- [Important properties of civil engineering materials](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Aimportant-properties-civil-materials) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 1, asked 8×
- [Importance and scope of civil engineering materials](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Aimportance-scope-subject) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 1, asked 8×
- [Classification of civil engineering materials](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Aclassification-civil-materials) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 1, asked 2×
- [Stepwise preparation of cement mortar](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Astepwise-preparing-cement-mortar) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 6, asked 4×
- [Factors for selecting construction materials](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Afactors-selection-construction-material) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 1, asked 9×
- [Functions of mortar](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Afunctions-of-mortar) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 6, asked 8×

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- [Contract types in civil engineering; govt works](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Acontract-types-government) — Construction Management, chapter 5
- [Scope and importance of geology in civil engineering](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Ascope-and-importance-of-geology) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 1, asked 24×
- [Scope of engineering geology in civil engineering](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Ascope-engineering-geology) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 1
- [Storing and stacking of civil engineering materials](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Astoring-stacking-materials) — Construction Management, chapter 3