Tried that 'mortar slush' trick on a chimney rebuild last month

My old boss used to say to wet the bricks before laying them, but this guy on site told me to dip the brick in a bucket of water for a second, just to get a slush on it. I thought it was a waste of time and would weaken the bond. Did it on the last few courses because the mortar was setting up too fast in the sun, and those bricks stuck way better. Anyone else use this method on hot days or is there a better fix?

3 comments

3 Comments

smith.parker1d ago

Yo, that slush dip is basically a cheat code for suction rate. Your old boss had the right idea with wetting, but a quick dunk targets the problem directly. On a hot day, a dry brick will suck the water out of your mortar before it can even grab hold. That thin slurry on the brick face stops that instant thirst. It's not about making it wet, it's about stopping it from being a sponge. Lets the mortar cure properly for a change.

emery2901d ago

Totally get what you're saying about the slurry stopping the suction. But calling it a cheat code might give the wrong idea to new guys. It's a required step for a reason, not a shortcut. The brick needs that pre-wetting to control the moisture transfer, full stop. Skipping it just to go faster is how you get weak joints and efflorescence later.

hugos461d ago

Had the exact same fight with myself on a patio job last summer. Watched the mortar just turn to dust on contact with a dry brick. Started doing the quick dip like smith.parker said, and it was a total game changer. That little bit of slurry is like putting a barrier on the brick so your mix stays workable. Makes the whole process less of a race against the clock when the sun's beating down.