Overheard a guy at the supply yard in Nashville say something that stuck with me

I was grabbing some type N mortar last Tuesday at the yard and this older fella was telling the clerk he never wets his bricks before laying. He said he just keeps his mix a little looser and lets the suction do the work. I've always dunked mine for about 15 seconds each, especially on those hot days. It got me thinking about how many extra steps I might be doing for no reason. Has anyone else tried skipping the wetting step on a big wall and seen any issues with the bond holding up?

3 comments

3 Comments

anthony_campbell881mo ago

The older fella saying he "never wets his bricks" makes sense if you're using a high suction brick and a loose mix. I tried skipping the wetting step on a big retaining wall last summer, and the mortar grabbed so fast I had to keep re-mixing to stay ahead of it. The bond held fine, but I noticed the joints looked a little dry on the surface by the end of the day. If you're going to try it, I'd say cut the water back just enough so it doesn't sag, but don't go too loose or you'll lose strength. On hot days over 90, I still think a quick dunk helps keep the mortar workable longer. What kind of brick are you using though? That really changes the deal.

beth_reed1mo ago

Oh man, I gotta say I respectfully disagree with you on this one. I've been laying brick for about 15 years now and I almost never wet my bricks unless they're super thirsty or it's like 100 degrees out. That dry joint thing you mentioned? I actually think that's more about your mix than the brick. If you're getting that dusty look, your mortar might be too dry or you're not working it enough before it sets. I never skip the wetting step on purpose and I've never had a bond fail or a job look bad at the end of the day. What kind of sand are you using? That makes a huge difference in how the mortar sets up.

wesley1811mo ago

What kind of sand are you running? That changes everything.