Tried skipping the mortar mix step for a quick patch job. What a mistake.

Last Tuesday I had a small gap in a retaining wall, figured I'd just use some ready-mix concrete to fill it in quick. Looked fine for about 2 hours then cracked right down the middle. Had to chip it all out and do it proper with Type N mortar. That cost me an extra hour and a half on the job. Anyone here ever try cutting corners with concrete instead of mortar and regret it?

2 comments

2 Comments

karen_sanchez109d agoMost Upvoted

Tried that once on a flagstone path, figured concrete was concrete right? Nope. Whole thing crumbled like a stale cookie by the next rainstorm. Had to rent a chisel hammer to bust it out. Saved 20 minutes, cost me three hours and a bruised ego.

ellis.diana9d ago

Wrong mix for flagstone, @karen_sanchez10, you need something flexible not rigid quickrete.