16
Finally figured out why my mortar was crumbling on hot days
Took me three jobs in Phoenix last summer to realize I was adding too much water to keep it workable. A guy named Mike from a crew down the street told me to mist the bricks instead, and now my joints stay solid even at 105 degrees. Has anyone else dealt with that drying-out issue on big commercial walls?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
beth_baker6911d ago
Oh man, your "adding too much water to keep it workable" line hit way too close to home. I did the exact same thing on a block wall last June and thought I was being smart by keeping the mix wet. Surprise surprise, it turned into powder two weeks later and I had to rip out a whole section. That misting trick you mentioned is a game changer though. I started doing that too after a similar "Mike" situation and now I keep a spray bottle strapped to my tool belt like a total dork. Works way better than drowning the mortar in a panic!
4
angelaellis10d ago
Learned that lesson the hard way myself a few years back. Was patching a foundation crack and kept adding water because the mix felt stiff. Thought I was being careful. Ended up with a dusty mess that fell apart the first time it rained. Spray bottle is smart though. I just use a wet rag now and cover the mortar with it when I take a break. Works good enough but the rag always falls off.
1