Warning: I saw a huge difference in a brick wall after switching from a standard mix to a pre-blended mortar with plasticizer

I did a repair on a garden wall in Portland about two years ago, and the new section started showing efflorescence and minor cracks after just one winter. I redid it last month using a pre-blended mortar with an integrated plasticizer. The workability was way better, and the color match is perfect. The old section looks chalky and rough next to it now. Has anyone else seen a big jump in durability from these newer mixes?

3 comments

3 Comments

bennett.harper13d ago

Plasticizer really helps with freeze-thaw cycles, have you tried it on other outdoor projects?

nguyen.morgan13d ago

My neighbor in Minnesota swears by adding a bit of plasticizer to his concrete birdbath mix, says it's lasted five winters without a single crack.

bettym1113d ago

That's interesting, but honestly I've seen plasticizer make things worse over time. It can trap extra water in the mix, and then when it freezes, that water expands and causes spalling. A lower water-to-cement ratio and proper air entrainment are way more important for freeze-thaw stuff.