Watch out for bad mortar mixes on cold mornings

Last Tuesday we started a job in Cleveland at 6 AM and the mortar was setting up way too fast. Three rows in I noticed it was crumbling when I tapped it with my trowel. The supplier had mixed the sand wrong and used too much lime for the temperature. We had to tear out 4 courses of brick before lunch and it cost us 3 hours of labor. Anyone else dealt with a batch that went bad because the mix was off for the weather?

2 comments

2 Comments

cole_robinson12d ago

Yeah I know exactly what you mean @skyler_anderson65. It's like everything has to line up just right or it falls apart fast. I've noticed that pattern everywhere not just in masonry. Like how if you push too hard on something at home it breaks but if you take your time it holds up. Mud setting up weird in the cold is just another example of that balance being off. You gotta pay attention to the little things or they bite you later.

skyler_anderson6512d ago

Yep, had a batch set up like quickcrete once.