Overheard a foreman say something that changed my mortar mixing approach

I was on a site in Oakridge last week and this old foreman told a new guy 'water makes it weak, but lime makes it stick.' I always just added more water when my mix felt stiff, but he explained how that ruins the bond over time. Tried using Type S lime instead of extra water on my last retaining wall and the grab was noticeably better. Any of you bricklayers have a preferred lime ratio for stiff mud?

2 comments

2 Comments

spencer_chen62d ago

That foreman is spot on about water vs lime. I started using a 1:3 lime to sand ratio for my base mix and it really changed the game. Too much water just floats everything out and kills the suction. For stiff mud, I keep it dry enough that it barely holds a shape when you grab it, then add just a splash of water if needed. Lime gives you that creamy feel without making it soupy.

spencer_hayes712d ago

Yeah, I totally agree with keeping the mud on the dry side. I was fighting with mortar that was too wet for ages until a buddy told me to try the "snowball test." If you can roll it in your hand and it barely holds together without any water squeezing out, that's the sweet spot. I started going way heavier on the lime too, almost 1:2.5 lime to sand on some jobs, and it made pointing so much easier because it stayed workable without turning into a mess.