Lost a whole day's work because my mortar mix was too wet.

Spent Tuesday redoing a garden wall I started Monday, the bricks were sliding all over the place and I had to chip it all out with a cold chisel, anyone else ever mess up a batch that bad?

2 comments

2 Comments

evan_jenkins20d ago

Did the exact same thing last summer with a retaining wall. Mortar looked perfect when I mixed it, then an hour later it was basically soup. What saved me was switching to a drier mix the next day, like barely enough water to make it stick together. I do the ball squeeze test now - if it holds shape but doesn't ooze water, you're golden. Also started mixing smaller batches at a time so nothing sits too long. Sucks having to chisel it all out though, feel your pain.

verap5220d ago

Caught a YouTube video from a retired mason who said the same thing about the ball squeeze test @evan_jenkins, he swore by mixing it like damp sand for a stone wall. I've started using that trick on every batch now too, and it's saved me a ton of hassle.