Mortar dried too fast on a 90 degree day in Fresno

Last August I was laying block on a retaining wall outside Fresno and the sun was beating down something fierce. By the time I got my level on the third course, the mortar had already skinned over and I didn't notice until I tapped the block and it shifted a half inch. That whole section ended up out of plumb, so I had to tear down about 12 feet of wall and redo it with a slower setting mix. I started wetting the bricks down and mixing smaller batches, but I still lost most of the afternoon. Anyone else got a trick for keeping mortar workable when it's over 100 degrees, or do you just plan on the redo?

2 comments

2 Comments

wade8711mo ago

Wetting the block helps but you gotta mix even smaller. Like half a bag at a time. I worked a job in Bakersfield that hit 108 and we switched to type S with a splash of lime. Kept the mud alive way longer. Also shade the board. Cardboard taped to sawhorses works fine. That skin over is your real enemy, once it starts you aint saving it.

robin5911mo ago

Half a bag at a time just wastes time on a big wall, I've laid a full bag out in 95 degree heat and kept it going with ice water in the tub... plus that lime trick can burn your hands if you ain't careful.