Got called out on my mortar mix at a job in Tacoma

An old timer on site last month saw me mixing and said, 'Kid, you're adding too much water, it's gonna weep and stain the brick.' I was just trying to work faster. I switched to a stiffer mix, like he said, and the next wall came out clean with no efflorescence. It slowed me down a bit, but the finish is way better. Anyone have a good rule of thumb for judging the right consistency?

3 comments

3 Comments

terry83519d agoMost Upvoted

You said the stiffer mix slowed you down, but honestly, that's the trade-off. A good rule is it should hold its shape when you grab a handful, not just slump. If it's soupy, it's definitely wrong. The old guy was right about the weeping and stain, but it's not just about looks. Too wet makes the mortar weak in the long run. So going slower now saves you a call-back later.

pat78119d agoMost Upvoted

Ugh, SO true. That stiff mix feels like a workout but it's worth it, like @aaron854's pancake guy learned the hard way. A handful should stay a handful, not run through your fingers.

aaron85419d ago

Reminds me of a guy who used pancake batter for his grout. His bathroom tiles looked great for about a week.