Took a master mason's advice on my mortar mix ratio and it was a game changer

I've been laying brick for about 8 years now and always just eyeballed my cement to sand ratio. A older mason named Jerry watched me mix a batch last month and told me I was using way too much sand, like a 4:1 instead of 3:1. He said my joints would start crumbling in 5 years if I didn't tighten it up. So I started weighing it out exactly 3 parts sand to 1 part cement and the difference in strength is huge. My mortar sets faster and doesn't crumble when I tool it. Has anyone else had to adjust their mix after someone called them out?

2 comments

2 Comments

mason_jackson12d ago

My buddy Dave switched his mix after a old timer told him his wall was gonna fall over and now his brickwork holds up way better.

hugoj8612d ago

That thing about the wall falling over hits close to home. My cousin Rick built a retaining wall in his backyard a few years ago and used whatever bagged mix was on sale. Three months later the whole thing started bulging out in the middle like a pregnant belly. He had to rent a jackhammer to break it all apart and start over with a proper lime mix. The old timer at the supply yard even came out to show him how to do the footing right. Now that wall has been standing solid through five winters without a single crack.