Overheard two guys arguing about mortar mix ratios on a jobsite last week

I was working on a retaining wall downtown and these two bricklayers got into it about using too much lime in the mix. One guy swore by 3 parts sand to 1 part cement with a pinch of lime, the other said lime makes it weak over time and causes efflorescence. I just kept laying brick and listening, you know? It got me thinking how everyone has their own little tricks passed down from whoever taught them. I've always used a 4 to 1 mix with no lime for outdoor stuff and never had issues myself. Has anyone here actually seen a job fail because of too much lime or is that just an old wives tale?

3 comments

3 Comments

jenny_lane129d ago

4 to 1 with lime has held up fine on all my jobs for fifteen years now.

ryan7939d ago

Preach @jenny_lane12, I've been running the same mix for over a decade with zero issues.

sarahpark9d ago

Honestly that tracks with my experience too, I mean if something works why mess with it right? I have seen guys try to overthink these mixes and end up with issues they never had before. The 4 to 1 with lime has been a solid standard for a reason, it is forgiving enough for most conditions but still holds strong. I get that new products come out and some people swear by them but there is something to be said for a tried and true method that gets the job done every time. Plus you save yourself the headache of testing and adjusting when the old faithful mix just works.