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TIL a slightly damp sponge can save a row of fresh mortar
I was laying a garden wall in my backyard last Saturday and the mortar started drying way too fast in the sun. I remembered an old guy on a job site once said to use a damp sponge on your trowel, not bone dry. So I tried it and the mortar stayed workable for almost 45 minutes longer than usual. No more rushing or scraping off crusty bits before the next brick goes down. Has anyone else found a weird trick with a specific tool that just works?
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ivanb4125d ago
Hang on, is this really a crisis situation? I've laid plenty of mortar in direct sun and yeah, it crusts up a bit on the edges but you just scrape that off with your trowel. A damp sponge sounds like it could make the mix too wet and mess with your bond strength, in my experience. I guess if you're the type who panics over a few dry crumbs then sure, go for it. But I'd rather just work a little faster or mix smaller batches. Feels like an extra step that might cause more trouble than it saves.
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