Vent: Old timer told me my mortar mix was too wet and he was right

Honestly, I used to mix my mortar pretty loose because I thought it made laying bricks faster. Three months ago an old guy named Charlie walked up to my job site in Cincinnati and just watched me for a minute. He said 'son your mud is too wet, you're gonna get sagging joints and weaker bonds.' I brushed him off at first but then I checked some of my walls from two months back and yeah, the joints were sinking in a few spots. Switched to a drier mix, like a stiff peanut butter consistency, and my next wall came out way cleaner. Now I spend 10 extra seconds per batch mixing it right and my lines stay sharp. Any of you guys ever get told your mix was off by someone who knew better?

2 comments

2 Comments

wade_young8615d ago

Did Charlie mention how the sand quality factors into the moisture balance? I've got a buddy who swears by using a bit sharper sand to help stiffen up the mix without adding more dry cement. Curious if Charlie had any tricks like that or just told you to eyeball the peanut butter consistency.

wyatt86215d ago

Man that sharper sand thing is legit. Tried it on a retaining wall last summer and it held up way better than the regular play sand stuff. Never got that soupy mess when it rained either.