Paving Sand/Mortar

Words: Dan Kamys

www.specmix.com

SPEC MIX® Setting Bed Mortar

SPEC MIX® Setting Bed Mortar is specifically engineered as a thick, solid mortar bed for constructing horizontal surfaces with natural and manufactured paving units. This dry, pre-blended mortar contains cementitious materials and dried aggregates that are mixed with a low water addition rate for a zero-slump dry pack base material. SPEC MIX Setting Bed Mortar can be used as a paving unit base for residential and commercial paving unit applications. It can be used for interior and exterior installations, allowing light and medium traffic. Each SPEC MIX manufacturer certifies that SPEC MIX masonry products are designed to meet applicable ASTM and ACI standards.

Bonding with Masonry 2026: Q1
February 2026

This issue’s questions come from a Mason Contractor and an Engineer. What questions do you have? Send them to info@masonrymagazine.com, attention Technical Talk. Q. A Mason Contractor states they were asked to construct a brick veneer on a multi-story pr

No Shortcuts: The Journey of Real Stone
February 2026

Have you ever stopped and really thought about how that stone on the wall got there? I don’t mean the install...not the mortar, the scratch coat, or the clean-up. I mean the whole journey. From the first cut in the earth to the

Stop Gambling on the Wall: Why the Modern Jobsite Demands a Sure Thing
February 2026

If you have spent any time walking the carpeted aisles of the World of Concrete, you know the vibe. It is a sensory overload of heavy machinery, slick demos, and the collective optimism of thousands of contractors. We are in Las Vegas, the gambling capita

Helical Beaming: Strengthening Masonry from the Inside Out
February 2026

In the world of masonry restoration and retrofit, the goal is always the same: preserve the character and craftsmanship of historic structures while ensuring their long-term stability. But anyone who has worked on century-old brick or stone buildings know