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Old timer at the brickyard saved my mortar mix today
This guy named Pete who's been laying brick since the 80s saw me mixing on site and told me I was using too much water. He said my slop was gonna shrink crack bad in the heat. I was skeptical cause I've been doing it my way for a year but I tried his ratio (3 sand to 1 cement with less water) and the bricks actually stayed put better. Has anyone else gotten a tip from a veteran that totally flipped your process?
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the_emma27d ago
Wait, @hannahm39, are you sure that's the takeaway here? I've been mixing for years and seen plenty of guys swear by that old school 3:1 ratio, but it can be too stiff for some brick types or in cooler weather. Less water might help with cracking, but it makes the mix harder to work with and can mess up your bond if you're not fast enough. I'd say it depends on the job more than a one size fits all rule.
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