Found a way to keep my mortar from drying out on hot days without constantly spraying it

I tried adding a handful of ice cubes to the mix at 8 AM on a 95 degree job in Phoenix last week and it stayed workable for two full hours longer than usual. Has anyone else tried this or am I just lucky it didn't mess up the bond?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_sandra12d ago

Heard about guys trying this with cold water too but some chemists say the shock can mess with the set time if it's too extreme. Probably fine on a regular hot day though.

thompson.nathan12d ago

Probably fine on a regular hot day though" - famous last words, right? I can just see some guy out in July thinking he's being clever with a bag of ice on his driveway while the concrete sets up like Swiss cheese underneath. Next thing you know he's got a patch that looks more like a battle scar than a repair.