required, giving the mix additional

strength and flexibility, preventing it

cracking or crazing during a more
controlled drying out period. It provides a
compact easily worked mix when wet
with a smoother hard wearing, less dusty
surface when dry. The improved
adhesion of the mix helps considerably
when used for mortar rendering
purposes. The liquid can be used with all
types of Portland Cement, but not with
high alumina cements. It is simply mixed
with water 1:30 and added to the
cement/aggregate mix as the gauging
water to the required consistency.
WICKES MORTAR PLASTICISER
5 litres - 240-669
Lime is frequently used as an additive in
bricklaying mortar mixes to provide a
smoother shrink free mix with the added
advantage that the mortar when dry
retains a little flexibility to cope with such
movement as thermal expansion and
contraction.
But lime delays the drying time of the
mix, weakens it slightly, and is relatively
expensive. Wickes Mortar Plasticiser has
all the advantages of lime and none of
the disadvantages. This liquid admixture
plasticises a cement/sand mix using less
gauging water than usual, giving an easily
workable fatty mortar with strong
adhesion. It has a reasonably fast initial
setting period but leaves ample time for
the adjustment of bricks.
When dry the mortar with added
plasticiser is more resistant to the effects
of frost than a standard
cement/sand/lime mix.
The plasticiser is added to the gauging
water at a rate of 1/5 litre of plasticiser to
20 litres of water. It is normal
practice to mix sufficient plasticiser and
water in a large tub to provide a uniform
strength for several mixings of cement
and sand. As a rough guide you will need
to mix in 0.28 litres of plasticiser with
water for every 50Kg of cement.
WICKES CEMENT DYES
Red
500g
153-709
Black 500g
153-711
Buff
500g
153-710
Sold in granular form and containing an
air-entraining plasticiser, Wickes Cement
Dyes enable normal mortar mixes, render
mixes and concrete to be coloured to
more closely match existing cement
based surfaces or to provide a pleasing
appearance to new work. With brickwork
particularly, mortar courses when
coloured can highlight brickwork or can
blend with it.

The granules have has a self-mixing

action simply being added to a dry
mortar or concrete mix, then turned over
in the normal way before the gauging
water is added.
The amount of colourant used will affect
the shade produced so a careful check
must be kept when mixing successive
batches that the same quantity is used
each time. As a guide, 2-10kg per 100kg
of cement is recommended. Shading will
also be affected by the colour of
aggregates used.
Wickes Cement Dyes are made from
synthetic oxides, complying with BS
1014.
WICKES CONCRETE DUST-PROOFER
AND SURFACE HARDENER
5 litres - 240-717
Concrete floors can, however carefully
laid, become dusty and after a time begin
to show signs of wear. This is
particularly so in garages and workshops.
Wickes Concrete Dustproofer and
Surface Hardener is ready to use alkaline
solution of tough silicate material which
combines with softer lime-free particles in
conventional concrete mixes to form a
harder surface which resists wear and
dusting. It can be used on old concrete in
basically good condition or on new
concrete laid at least 14 days before.
Provided the concrete is clean and free
from surface water, the Dustproofer is
simply poured onto the floor and spread
out with a soft broom, then left to dry for
40 minutes. The floor is then washed with
clean water.
On very porous floors a second or third
coat should be applied with 40-60
minutes between coats. Ponding should
be removed after 10 minutes. 40-60
minutes after the final coat the floor
should be washed with clean water.
When coloured pigments have been used
on concrete or granolithic flooring, it is
advisable to test treat a small area first to
check that Wickes Dustproofer has no
adverse effects on the colour.
WICKES RAPID HARDENER AND
FROST PROTECTIVE
5 litres - 240-714
This admixture reduces the initial and
final setting time of normal concrete by
about two thirds as well as providing
additional anti-frost protection for
concrete laid in cold weather. As a rapid
hardener it is invaluable allowing pressure
to be put on newly laid concrete far
sooner than would normally be possible.
When the concrete is laid in summer with
temperatures between 15-20C (60-70F)

it quickly begins curing and should be

virtually fully dry after 24 hours. In very
hot weather where concrete has been
laid in direct sunlight, polythene sheeting
or damp sacking should still be placed
over the surface to prevent the top drying
out at a faster rate than the remainder.
In winter the concrete will still harden
much more quickly than usual and is
protected against sudden temperature
drops but you should still take the
precautions generally associated with
cold weather concreting such as laying
polythene sheeting covered with sacks,
expanded polystyrene or a similar
insulant over the concrete to preserve the
heat generated during the drying process.
Wickes Rapid Hardener and Frost
Protective should only be used with
ordinary and rapid hardening Portland
Cement. It should not be used with high
alumina cements, sulphate resistant
cements, extra rapid hardening Portland
Cement, lime mortars or in mixes
intended for steam curing. The admixture
which contains calcium chloride should
also not be used in steel reinforced
concrete or for pre-stressed concrete
work.
The admixture is added to gauging water
at the rate of 1.7 litres for each 50 Kg of
cement.
In winter the gauging water should be at
temperature of not less than 20C
particularly when the air temperature is
close to zero. When mixed and laid the
concrete should be no colder than 10C.
At no time should the component parts of
the mix be allowed to become frozen.
WICKES WATERPROOFER AND
RETARDER FOR RENDER
5 litres - 240-146
This plasticising admixture delays the
setting time of mortar mixes used for
rendering and dashing allowing much
larger areas to be worked at a time.
Additionally this liquid admixture
improves the workability of the mix and
increases resistance to any water
penetration of the dried render.
Generally used for exterior rendering it
can also be used internally for making
good after the installation of injected
damp proof courses.
The admixture is added to the gauging
water at a ratio of 1 part admixture to 30
parts water.
Calculate at 500-1000ml per 50kg of
cement.

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the product design, descriptions, specifications and techniques of constructing the products are accurate at the date
of printing. Wickes products will inevitably change from time to time and the customer is advised to check that the design, descriptions, specifications and techniques
of constructing any of the products described in this leaflet are still valid at the time of purchase or placing an order.
Wickes Building Supplies Limited 2004
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise or stored in any retrieval system of any nature without the written permission of the copyright holder and the publisher.

ISSUE 2/04

12

WICKES GUIDE TO
CEMENT ADDITIVES
Cement is a man made
mineral based powder which
goes through a chemical
change or reaction when
mixed with water. First it
becomes like an adhesive
paste, and eventually
hardens, but it has virtually
no uses on its own.

The main purpose of cement

is to act as a binding agent
for bulkier materials such as
sand and various types of
stone which go to make the
mortar mixes, cement
rendering and concrete
mixes used for a variety of
jobs in and around the
home.

Wickes cement additives,

including cement dyes, are
all designed to make
working with cement easier
and produce far better
results.

When used in such mixes, cement is not always a perfect product. It can shrink
during drying out causing cracks to develop, and it can be too rigid. If too much water is
used in the mix, the end result will be weak concrete or mortar. In hot weather the mix
can dry too quickly and in cold weather too slowly, perhaps even being further damaged
by frost. No standard mix is waterproof and most mixes will, during the early drying out
period, develop surface pores as air bubbles escape, again causing weakness and
allowing water penetration. Cement additives or Admixtures can help to prevent any of
these problems arising and Wickes stock a selection of admixtures to ensure that any
projects you undertake using Ordinary Portland Cement or Mastercrete will be
successful.

BEFORE YOU START

PRECAUTIONS
All Wickes cement additives are non-flammable and non-hazardous in normal use but
sensible precautions should be taken when using them in much the same way as when
using cement which is an alkaline product.
KEEP INFORMED
Look for other Good Idea
Leaflets that could help you
with your current project.

Avoid skin contact as much as possible. If contact does occur or if liquid is

accidentally splashed in the eyes wash out thoroughly in clean water. You should wash
anyway after using cement and additives, before eating or allowing hand to mouth
contact.

Check that your Good Idea

Leaflets are kept up to date.
Leaflets are regularly changed
to reflect product changes so
keep an eye on issue dates.

Should any liquid be swallowed, seek medical advice immediately.

If you would like to be put on

our mailing list for the Wickes
booklet, call our Freephone
number which is:

0500 300 328

Visit our website at
www.wickes.co.uk

STORAGE
All additives should be stored in a frost free place within the temperature range 5 - 30 C.
WICKES LIQUID WATERPROOFER
5 Litre - 243-001
This product is a chemical admixture in liquid form specially formulated for use in
concrete mixes, cement renders, mortars and grouts, with the ability to improve
resistance to the passage of water or moisture through such mixes as the result of
capillary action.
To achieve the greatest resistance it is essential that concrete is well punned or vibrated
to eliminate trapped air.
The effect of the additive is to plasticise the mix, reducing the amount of gauging water