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Am I the only one who thinks soaking bricks before laying is mostly a waste of time?
I used to soak every single brick before laying, because that is what the old guys on my first crew in Bakersfield taught me. Then about two years back a mason I was subbing for watched me dunk a pallet of reds in a tub and told me flat out I was slowing his job down and risking soft mortar. I pushed back at first, but he said if the brick is that thirsty, the mix is the real problem, not the brick. I started checking absorption the right way instead of guessing, and I only wet the really dry stuff now, mostly in July and August when it is over 100 out. My walls have been just as solid, and I am finishing about 15 percent faster without the tub and the drips everywhere. I still soak firebrick and some old reclaimed stuff because those pull water like crazy. So what is your cutoff, do you test absorption or just go by feel?
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