kimy92•29d ago

A cold snap in Denver turned my mortar mix into a real problem

I was laying brick for a garage addition last November when the temperature dropped fast overnight. I came back to a wall where the mortar was still soft and crumbly, not setting right at all. I had to chip out about four feet of fresh work with my pointing trowel, which was a real pain. I learned to always check the forecast and use an accelerator when it's near freezing. Has anyone found a good brand that doesn't make the mix too sticky?

3 comments

3 Comments

janah8329d ago

Ugh, that sounds like a total nightmare.

taylor.reese29d ago

My uncle lost a whole chimney to a surprise frost. He just mixes in a little extra Portland cement now if the nights look chilly. It seems to work for him without changing the workability much.

elliot_gibson2729d ago

Yeah, that extra cement can help a bit, @taylor.reese, but it's not a real fix for frost. You really need an accelerator or some antifreeze admixture in the mix. Otherwise it's still a gamble lol.