Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), often simply called Portland Cement or Type 1, is the most common and widely used type of cement globally. It is a high-quality, cost-effective general-purpose cement suitable for almost all standard construction uses where special chemical properties (like rapid setting or extreme heat resistance) are not required.

White Portland Cement shares the same structural properties as standard grey Portland Cement, but it is manufactured using raw materials that are largely free of iron oxides, which cause the typical greyish colour. It is primarily used for aesthetic architectural works, decorative paving, creating vibrant coloured mortars (by adding pigments), and creating pre-cast sculptures where a bright, clean finish is desired.

Lime refers to a binder used to make traditional mortars, renders, and plasters. It is an inorganic material produced by heating naturally occurring limestone or chalk (calcium carbonate) in a kiln at extreme temperatures.

Adding hydrated lime to a cement-based mortar significantly improves the mixture's "workability". Lime acts as a plasticiser, making the wet mortar smoother, stickier, and much easier to apply and spread with a trowel. It also improves the mortar's ability to retain water, preventing it from drying out too quickly before it has properly bonded to the bricks or blocks.

The best way will always be a cement mixer, which can be petrol or electric. If your mix is very small this can be done by hand, so it depends on the amount of mixes.

Yes we do, Using a plasticiser in a mix improves workability, reduces water demand, and helps lower the risk of shrinkage, cracking and frost damage once cured.