sam17•18d ago

Old foreman at the job site in Phoenix told me my mortar mix was too wet for the summer heat

After I spent 10 minutes re-laying a whole course of brick that slid right out of place on a 108 degree day, he walked over and showed me his drier mix that held solid, and now I don't trust my own gauging until the temp hits triple digits - anyone else have a blend that only works in certain weather?

2 comments

2 Comments

grace_knight7018d ago

Mortar's always a touchy thing in Arizona, my uncle once had a batch set up like concrete in the shade.

-1

the_max18d ago

My buddy Mike from Tucson tried mixing a batch last August for a backyard retaining wall. Said he went inside for like fifteen minutes to refill his water and the stuff in the wheelbarrow was already getting crumbly on top. By the time he dragged the hose over and started working it, half of it was pretty much useless. He ended up having to trash three whole bags and start over because the mortar kept setting up weird even in the shade. Now he only works with pre-hydrated mix before sunrise and keeps a wet towel over his tools the whole time.