my mortar was drying too fast in the summer heat so I tried wetting the bricks first

I was working on a small garden wall in Phoenix last August and the mortar kept crumbing before I could even get the next brick placed. The sun was beating down and the sand mix felt like it was setting up in minutes. A older guy I met at the supply store told me to try soaking the bricks in a bucket of water for about 30 seconds before laying them. I thought it would make the mortar slide off but he insisted it slows down the suction so the mortar stays workable longer. I tried it on my next row and it worked way better than I expected. The mortar held its shape and I had time to tap the bricks level without rushing. Has anyone else used this trick in dry climates or do you have a different method for fighting fast set times?

2 comments

2 Comments

paigewood17d ago

hold up, wait. you soaked them in water for 30 seconds before laying? i woulda bet money that would make the mortar just slide right off the brick and make a huge mess. that's wild. i've always been told wet bricks = bad bond but maybe that's just for regular weather. i'm in the desert too and i've just been mixing smaller batches and adding ice water to the mix to buy myself a few extra minutes. might have to try the bucket trick though, sounds way less annoying than running back and forth for ice.

susanm2216d ago

Haven't you ever seen guys wetting bricks for stonework in old houses? The key is just a quick dunk, not soaking them soggy.