12
Saw a new build in Charlotte using a mortar mix I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole
I was down in Charlotte last week checking out a friend's new house site, and the crew was using this pre-mixed, high-flex mortar for the entire brick veneer. Everyone seems to love this stuff now because it's 'easy' and 'forgiving'. Look, I get the appeal for a DIYer, but for a pro job? The stuff sets up way too slow. We had a light rain shower come through in the afternoon, and you could see the joints on the lower courses were still soft, almost slurry-like, hours later. That's asking for trouble with efflorescence and long-term bond strength, especially in a humid climate. I've been laying brick for 15 years and I'll stick with mixing my own on-site every time. You control the sand, the cement, the lime, and the water for the exact conditions. Has anyone else run into issues with these all-in-one bag mixes on bigger jobs?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
hunt.quinn29d ago
That slow set time is a killer. We had to redo a whole chimney in Raleigh because the premix never fully cured in the damp shade. Just weepy mortar for months.
4
grace_allen19d ago
Ugh, that sounds like a total nightmare. Premix in those conditions is just asking for trouble, and a whole chimney redo is brutal. What a frustrating waste of time and money.
4