Mortar is a workable paste that hardens to bind building blocks such as stones, bricks, and concrete masonry units, to fill and seal the irregular gaps between them, spread the weight of them evenly, and sometimes to add decorative colors or patterns to masonry walls). It is a mixture of sand, cement, and water, and sometimes lime, that is used as a binding material when building with brick, block, and stone. Mortar is not as strong as concrete and typically is not used as a sole building material. Rather, it is the "glue" that holds together bricks, concrete blocks, stone, and other masonry materials. Bricklayers typically make mortars using a mixture of sand, a binder, and water). There are two ways to make mortar: the older method is to take Portland cement, add hydrated lime, and mix with fine sand, while the newer method is to use masonry cement and fine sand. Mortar is commonly sold in bags, in a dry pre-mixed form that you combine with water. It can also be mixed on-site, using a cement mixer or simply mixing with a shovel or hoe in a wheelbarrow or mixing tub.