Vent: A bad day on a brick wall in Austin last August

I was working on a retaining wall for a new house in South Austin last August. It was 103 degrees and I had to lay 500 bricks by myself because my helper didn't show up. By noon, my mortar was drying too fast in the heat and I kept having to mix smaller batches. Around 3 PM, I noticed the string line had slipped and the first three courses were off by a quarter inch. I had to tear down and relay about 30 bricks in that heat. Has anyone else had a day where the weather just ruined everything?

3 comments

3 Comments

milam481mo agoTop Commenter

You kept having to mix smaller batches" oh yeah, I feel that. Nothing like babysitting mortar like it's a toddler in the sun. I had to tear down a brick wall twice in one day because heat just laughed at my string line, then my level, then my will to live. Next time I'm bringing a shade canopy and a personal AC unit for just me and the bricks.

henryp401mo ago

Murphy, I get what you're saying about the exact temperature, but when you're out there sweating and the mortar is going stiff in five minutes, 98 or 103 it all feels the same. I've tried wetting things down with a spray bottle myself, it helps a little but not enough when the sun is beating right on you. That's why I'm with you, milam48, on bringing a shade canopy. I tell you, a $40 pop-up tent from the hardware store has saved me more frustration than any type of trick or tool ever did. A cold drink and some shade for the bricks honestly makes the whole job bearable.

murphy.mason1mo ago

Actually, August in Austin is usually around 98-100, not 103. I remember that month because I was doing a concrete pour in Pflugerville and it hit 101 on the 14th but never hit 103. Still brutal though. I've had the same problem with mortar setting too fast in that kind of heat, especially if you're using type S. Next time try wetting the wall down with a spray bottle every few bricks, it helps slow the set.