Shoutout to the old timer who told me to wet my bricks in the morning sun

I was laying a garden wall in this crazy Texas heat and the mortar was setting way too fast, so I dunked my bricks in a bucket for a few minutes before starting. The whole thing went up smoother and the joints look way cleaner than my usual rush job. Anyone else have a simple trick that saved your butt on a hot day?

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3 Comments

valh325mo ago

Buddy of mine soaks his whole trowel in ice water between batches.

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oscarb775mo ago

Honestly you gotta wet the mortar board too.

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victorb745mo ago

My last mortar mix looked like dry sand from a kid's playground. I used so little water trying to avoid a mess that the whole thing just crumbled apart when it dried. Pretty sure a stiff breeze could have knocked those bricks over. I've learned the hard way that soupy is better than dusty, even if it means getting your hands dirty. Now I just go for it and accept the sludge on my jeans. Looks terrible but at least the wall stays up.

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