Why does nobody talk about mortar drying times in cold weather?

I keep seeing guys on job sites here in Chicago rushing to lay brick right after mixing when it's below 40 degrees. Watched a crew lose half a wall last November because the mortar froze before it set and the whole thing crumbled. Anyone else seen this happen or am I the only one who waits for the temp to come up?

2 comments

2 Comments

anthony42621d ago

Hey @allen.william, have you ever actually tested mortar strength after a night below freezing? I've seen properly mixed mortar fail on 30 degree days even with blankets, because the hydration process just stops when it hits that temp. Curing takes way longer in the cold and rushing it usually means repointing later.

allen.william21d ago

Man I been doing masonry in Chicago for like 15 years and honestly I think people overhype the freezing thing. Yeah sure if you dump water in the mix and leave it out overnight it's gonna crack but a little bit of frost ain't gonna kill a wall that's properly cured for a day. I've seen guys panic over a 35 degree morning and waste a whole day waiting when they coulda just used some hot water and covered it with blankets. That crew you mentioned probably had bad mix ratios or poor compaction on top of the cold.