Got called out for my mortar mix on a patio job in Charlotte

Old timer on the crew said my mix looked like soup. He told me to aim for a peanut butter texture, not pancake batter. I was adding too much water trying to keep it workable in the heat. Switched to a 3:1 sand to cement ratio and only added water in small cups. Anyone have a better trick for hot weather mixing?

2 comments

2 Comments

henrybaker12d ago

Feel your pain with that summer heat.

stellabennett12d ago

That peanut butter advice is solid. Seen guys mess up brickwork in July for the same reason. Try mixing your dry sand and cement first thing in the morning. Keep it in the shade covered with a tarp. The material stays cooler. Then you add way less water when you finally mix because everything isn't baking in the sun already. Makes a huge difference.