Overheard a guy at the supply yard say 'mud is mud' about mortar

I was picking up a pallet of sand in Cincinnati last Tuesday and this older guy was telling a younger guy that all type S mortar is the same, just buy the cheapest bag. That made me think, because I've seen some real crumbly jobs come from bargain mix. I've been using the same brand for five years and my joints hold up better in the freeze-thaw cycles here. What's your go-to mix for exterior work in a cold climate?

3 comments

3 Comments

riverdavis2mo ago

Trust that guy and you'll be patching more cracks than a cartoon sidewalk.

kim_ramirez32mo ago

What if the cracks aren't the real problem though? I'm more worried about the foundation he's standing on while he promises to fix yours. Seen that before, where the "expert" is one bad storm away from his own whole house falling down. Makes you wonder who's really holding the bucket of cement.

john_fisher2mo ago

Cheapest bag is a trap... seen it too many times. Buddy of mine used that bargain stuff on a chimney rebuild up near Dayton. Looked fine for a year, then the first real winter hit. Joints turned to sand, whole thing needed redoing. My go-to is just the standard Type S from the blue bag place, but I always add a little extra lime. Makes it stick better and move with the cold without letting go. That old guy is gonna leave that kid with a mess.