Found a way to keep my mortar from setting up too fast in the sun

Last week on a job in Tucson, the afternoon mix was drying out before I could even lay a full brick. I tried adding a little bit of dish soap to the water, maybe a capful per batch. It kept the mix workable for almost 20 minutes longer in that heat. Has anyone else tried something like this, or do you have a different trick for hot weather?

3 comments

3 Comments

blake69110d ago

My uncle swore by adding a splash of vinegar to his mix on really hot days. He said it did the same thing as soap but without any suds. I tried it once and it seemed to help, but the smell was pretty strong in the heat. I guess the old guys had all kinds of little tricks like that. What did your boss say when you tried the soap?

ellis.mia10d ago

Did your boss ever get used to the soap smell? Mine just shook his head and told me to stick with wetting the bricks.

simonh7410d ago

Yeah, the soap trick works. I'll also wet down the bricks before I lay them, really soak them. Takes the edge off that thirsty heat. A damp burlap sack over the mixed pile buys you a few more minutes too.