Had a bad mortar mix on a chimney job in Cleveland last fall

I was repointing a chimney and the new mortar I mixed up was way too wet. It started slumping out of the joints before I could even finish the section. I had to stop, scrape it all out, and remix the whole batch with more sand and less water. It set me back about three hours. Has anyone else had a batch just not feel right and how did you fix it?

3 comments

3 Comments

derek_ross24d ago

Yeah, "slumping out of the joints" is the worst. I read a tip once about mixing a small test patch first to check the consistency.

the_jordan24d ago

Mixing a test patch is just extra work for no real gain. If you've used the same grout before, you already know how it acts. That tip sounds like something from people who overthink every little DIY project.

the_ben24d ago

Actually, I read an article by an old mason who said a wet mix can weaken the bond over time, even if it looks okay after it dries. He always kept a bag of extra sand on hand just to thicken up a batch that got away from him. That three hour setback is brutal, but probably saved you from callbacks later.