Got called out on my mortar mix at a job in Tacoma

An old timer on site last month saw me mixing and said, 'Kid, you're adding too much water, it's gonna weep and stain the brick.' I was just trying to work faster. I switched to a stiffer mix, like he said, and the next wall came out clean with no efflorescence. It slowed me down a bit, but the finish is way better. Anyone have a good rule of thumb for judging the right consistency?

4 comments

4 Comments

terry8352mo ago

You said the stiffer mix slowed you down, but honestly, that's the trade-off. A good rule is it should hold its shape when you grab a handful, not just slump. If it's soupy, it's definitely wrong. The old guy was right about the weeping and stain, but it's not just about looks. Too wet makes the mortar weak in the long run. So going slower now saves you a call-back later.

pat7812mo ago

Ugh, SO true. That stiff mix feels like a workout but it's worth it, like @aaron854's pancake guy learned the hard way. A handful should stay a handful, not run through your fingers.

aaron8542mo ago

Reminds me of a guy who used pancake batter for his grout. His bathroom tiles looked great for about a week.

diana_kim6615d ago

and @terry835 nailed it about the strength thing. i had a buddy who thought he was slick using a wet mix on a chimney and the whole thing cracked by next spring, so stiffness really does save you the headache later.