vtgaryw
Member
So, of all things I've learned to do over the years, masonry ranks pretty low (just above welding) in terms of "I really need to learn how to do this better."
My latest project was an outside step, going from a mud room I had built on the side of my house. Pretty simple, about 2'x3', a couple of courses high. I had done the front last year. Well, it turns out, mortar mix doesn't really like to sit in my garage over the winter. I did the whole thing about a week ago, and the mortar never set. Turns out that yes, it does have a shelf life. And yes, it does not like being damp.
Had to tear the whole thing apart, clean it all up. Redid it with a quick set mortar mix. Like, really quick. Filled the wheel barrow with water when I was done, and when I went back out the next morning to finish cleaning it, the left over mortar had set up under the water, cementing my trowel in with it.
Two lessons learned on one simple (yeah, there is no such thing) project.
-gary
My latest project was an outside step, going from a mud room I had built on the side of my house. Pretty simple, about 2'x3', a couple of courses high. I had done the front last year. Well, it turns out, mortar mix doesn't really like to sit in my garage over the winter. I did the whole thing about a week ago, and the mortar never set. Turns out that yes, it does have a shelf life. And yes, it does not like being damp.
Had to tear the whole thing apart, clean it all up. Redid it with a quick set mortar mix. Like, really quick. Filled the wheel barrow with water when I was done, and when I went back out the next morning to finish cleaning it, the left over mortar had set up under the water, cementing my trowel in with it.
Two lessons learned on one simple (yeah, there is no such thing) project.
-gary