kai779•23d ago

My mortar mix was setting too fast on a hot job in Phoenix

Last summer I was working on a retaining wall in Phoenix and the temp hit 110. My mortar was stiffening up in the wheelbarrow after like 5 minutes. I started adding more water but that made it weak and crumbly. A old timer walked by and told me to use ice water instead of tap water. I threw a couple bags of ice in my mixing bucket and it gave me a solid 15 extra minutes of working time. Anyone else dealt with heat messing up your mix timing?

2 comments

2 Comments

mitchell.shane23d ago

ok but is it really that big of a deal? i've mixed mortar in 100 degree weather before and it's not like the world ends if it sets a little faster. just work in smaller batches, mix what you can use in 5 minutes and move on. ice water sounds like a hassle and i bet it melts and makes the mix watery anyway. seems like you're overthinking this whole thing.

hugo3723d ago

You're missing the point @mitchell.shane. Working in small batches is fine for a small repair, but try doing that on a whole wall or a foundation pour when you're busting your ass to keep up. The ice water thing works if you do it right, you just use crushed ice and don't let it fully melt before mixing. I've seen mortar flash set on a 95 degree day and ruin a whole afternoon of work, all those bricks had to come back out. Cold water buys you a solid extra 10-15 minutes of working time, which is a game changer when you're tucking pointing or laying block in direct sun. I've been doing this 15 years and I'll tell you, taking the time to cool your mix is way less hassle than tearing out a bad joint.

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