Stop mixing your mortar too wet. It’s ruining your bonds.

I watched a guy on a job site in Austin last week mix his mortar like soup. He kept adding water until it was dripping off the trowel. Then his first course started sliding by lunch. I’ve been doing this for 8 years and I learned the hard way after a retaining wall failed on me in 2019. The mortar has to hold its shape when you butter the brick, not run off. You want it stiff enough that a brick stands on its own for a few seconds. Has anyone else had a wall settle because of wet mix or am I the only one who messed that up?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_robin2d ago

Nobody's talking about the temperature of the water either. I saw a crew in Phoenix mixing with ice cold water on a 105 degree day and the mortar set so fast they couldn't even tool the joints. Too hot or too cold water messes with the hydraulic reaction in the cement. You want the water around 60-70 degrees, same as the sand and cement. If your mix is too wet AND your water is off temp, you're doubling down on failure. Check your water temp next time you get a slump that looks like a milkshake.

morgan.jason2d ago

Mortar like soup" describes my first attempt at bricklaying PERFECTLY, it was basically a brick smoothie.

jenny1982d ago

Isn't a looser mix actually better for getting into tight spots and around corners though?