the_henry•12d agoMost Upvoted

Question about tuckpointing a 1920s foundation near a wet spring

I was repointing a limestone foundation in Oak Park last month and the mortar wouldn't set right because groundwater kept seeping through the weep holes - left it half done and covered in tarps for three days until we got a dry spell. Anybody else run into moisture issues that screw with your cure time on old brickwork, or do you just switch to hydraulic cement on the spot?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_jessica11d ago

Switch to hydraulic cement for wet spots, saves the headache.

andrew_miller9010d ago

Gotta push back a little here. Hydraulic cement sets way too fast for my liking, especially if you're dealing with a bigger wet spot or a crack that keeps weeping. I've had it crack out on me again because it doesn't actually bond well to damp surfaces that are still moving moisture. A good polymer modified mortar or even a waterproofing membrane under regular patch mix has worked way better for me in my basement.