That old bricklayer at the supply yard said my mortar was too wet and he was right

I was mixing my mortar on a garage foundation last Wednesday and an older guy who was loading up his truck walked over and said I had too much water. I was sure he was wrong because I always mix it that way. But I tried his advice and did a smaller batch with less water, and my bricks stopped sliding around when I laid them. Has anyone else had a random tip from a stranger at a supply place that actually worked out?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_miles18d ago

Old timers know their mortar, but that doesn't mean every tip applies to every job.

the_max18d ago

Old timers will tell you to use a dash of lime and a splash of elbow grease and somehow that's supposed to fix everything. Sure, grandpa's "three inch trowel and a prayer" method worked on his 1950s brick wall but try that on modern concrete block and you're just making a mess. Then they get all huffy when you say "maybe we should check the manufacturer specs instead of vibing it out." Next thing you know you're getting a lecture about how the Romans made mortar that lasted 2000 years like that helps you get the job done by Friday.

derek_perez17d ago

bet modern tech is just marketing to sell you overpriced additives vs real skill