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My mortar mix went totally wrong on a patio job yesterday
I was doing a small patio in Springfield and the mix just wouldn't set right, it stayed way too wet. Turns out the sand I grabbed from the yard was still damp from the rain two days ago, so my water ratio was off. Had to scrape it all out and start fresh, which set me back like three hours. Anyone have a good trick for checking sand moisture before you start mixing?
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theajohnson5mo ago
Man, I feel that. I once grabbed sand that looked bone dry but must have been wet in the middle of the pile, ended up with soup. My dumb trick now is just squeezing a handful as hard as I can. If you can make a clump that holds its shape and doesn't leave your hand wet, you're usually good to go. If any water drips out, it's a bad time waiting to happen lol.
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the_wesley5mo ago
Squeezing it that hard sounds like a workout.
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laura6675mo ago
Honestly thought that squeeze test was overkill until I tried it. @theajohnson is right, it's the fastest way to spot trouble sand. Saved my butt on a walkway last month.
5
ward.anna3mo ago
Try the squeeze test but add an EXTRA step - smell it too. Damp sand has that funky wet basement odor that dry sand never does. Saved me from redoing a whole section of pathway last summer when my nose caught what my eyes missed.
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