Expansive Mortar
Controlled Concrete and Rock Breaking Without Blasting
When you need a non explosive way to break concrete or rock – especially in horizontal or awkward drill holes – an expansive mortar gives you control without impact tools or explosives.
BETONAMIT® can be used as an expansive mortar in the UK by adjusting the mix consistency to suit the job. It’s used by builders, demolition contractors, groundworkers, civil engineering contractors, landscapers and competent DIY users who need a safer, more controlled alternative to breakers and blasting.
No explosives. No shock waves. No blasting licence required.
Just a simple, controlled process:
1. Drill
Start by drilling holes into the material you wish to break. Use a drill with a diameter of 30-40mm, ensuring the spacing & depth of the holes match the project’s requirements.
2. Mix
Combine BETONAMIT® with water and use an electric mixer to ensure a smooth, lump-free mixture, typically taking 2-3 minutes.
3. Fill
Pour the mixed BETONAMIT® into clean, dry drill holes immediately after preparation. Ensure the holes are filled completely for optimal performance.
4. Wait
Leave BETONAMIT® for 24 hours or more and watch the product do its magic as it generates expansive pressure, safely and effectively breaking the material.
What Is an Expansive Mortar?
An expansive mortar is a non explosive demolition material that expands after being placed into drilled holes. As it expands, it generates steady internal pressure that fractures concrete or rock from within.
Unlike blasting, there’s no detonation. Unlike jackhammers, there’s no repeated impact vibration. The break happens because of controlled expansion pressure.
When Is Expansive Mortar Used?
Expansive mortar is particularly useful where boreholes are not vertical or angled downward.
On some jobs, you’re drilling:
- Horizontal holes
- Vertical faces
- Confined or awkward positions
In these situations, a standard flowing mix can be too fluid and may run back out of the hole before reacting.
That’s where a thicker, mortar-like consistency is required.
How BETONAMIT® Becomes an Expansive Mortar
In its standard form, BETONAMIT® is mixed with water to create a pourable consistency. This is ideal for vertical holes drilled down into slabs, foundations or rock.
However, by adding the approved powder additive, BETONAMIT® can be turned into a thicker, putty-like expansive mortar.
This provides:
- A stiffer consistency
- Less slump
- Better hold in horizontal or angled holes
- More control on vertical faces
It’s still the same product. Still the same controlled expansion process. You’re simply adjusting the consistency to suit the direction of the boreholes.
Why This Matters on Site
Without a thicker mix, filling horizontal or angled holes can be messy and difficult to control. Material can run back out before it begins expanding.
By stiffening the mix:
- You reduce waste
- You keep boreholes properly filled
- You maintain consistent expansion pressure
- You avoid temporary plugging methods
Suitable Applications
Expansive mortar in the UK is commonly used for:
- Concrete wall sections
- Vertical concrete faces
- Rock faces
- Horizontal splitting lines
- Controlled sectional removal
- Internal demolition work
How It Works on Site
Concrete and rock are strong under compression but weaker when internal pressure forces them apart. BETONAMIT® uses this natural property to create controlled cracking.
- Drill boreholes to the correct diameter and spacing.
- Mix BETONAMIT® with clean water.
- Add the approved powder additive when a thicker consistency is required.
- Fill the holes.
- Allow the expansion to do the work.
No standing over the job with a breaker.
No organising blast permits.
The expansion pressure does the work for you.
What Problems Does Expansive Mortar Solve?
Using expansive mortar helps avoid:
- Vibration damage to nearby structures
- Excessive noise from mechanical breaking
- Material running out of horizontal holes
- Complicated blasting procedures
- The need for heavy breaking attachments
Why Choose BETONAMIT® as Your Expansive Mortar in the UK?
Controlled Breaking
You decide the drilling pattern, which determines the fracture line.
No Explosives
BETONAMIT® is not classified as an explosive. No blasting licence required.
Adaptable Consistency
Standard pourable mix for vertical holes. Thicker mortar mix for horizontal and angled holes.
Suitable for Restricted Sites
Only drilling equipment and basic mixing tools are required.
Simple to Use
The process remains straightforward:
Drill → Mix → Fill → Wait
No specialist demolition certification required. Just correct drilling and proper mixing.
