umaf44•1mo ago

Tried to speed up a chimney repair in Flagstaff with a fast-set mortar

It was a cold morning, maybe 25 degrees, and I figured using that 'Rapid Set' mortar would let me finish before lunch. The mix went on fine, but it started to harden way faster than I expected, like halfway up the bucket. Ended up with a weird, lumpy patch that looked like a kid's art project. Anyone have a go-to mortar for quick fixes in the cold that doesn't turn into a rock in ten minutes?

3 comments

3 Comments

lindaj111mo ago

Oh man, that reminds me of my buddy's disaster with fast-set last winter. He was trying to patch a foundation crack before a storm hit, and the whole batch seized up in the wheelbarrow before he could even spread it. Had to chip it out with a cold chisel, looked like gray oatmeal that turned to stone.

phoenix_lopez1mo ago

Ever seen it set in the mixing bucket?

lily3602d ago

Rapid Set is a beast in the cold. You have to use warm water, not hot, and mix tiny batches you can use in under five minutes. For a quick chimney patch, I'd grab a Type N mortar with an anti-freeze additive instead, it gives you more working time.