Mixed mortar 3:1 by volume instead of 4:1 on a garden wall in Tucson and it set like iron

Oliver Rivera · 2026-10-17T02:45:03.965024+00:00

Did a 30 foot block wall for my sister in Tucson and went 3 parts sand to 1 part cement instead of the 4:1 I always ran before. The mix got stiff fast in the 100 degree heat and I had to toss two batches, but the blocks set so hard my chisel barely bit when I fixed a corner. Anyone else mix hotter than the book for small jobs, or am I just asking for cracks down the road?

Vivisector

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Mixed mortar 3:1 by volume instead of 4:1 on a garden wall in Tucson and it set like iron | Bricklayers - Vivisector