PSA: Stop using quick-set mortar for structural walls, I learned the hard way

I was working on a retaining wall in my backyard last spring and decided to use Type S mortar because it was on sale at the local yard. My neighbor who's been laying brick for 30 years told me to stick with Type N for anything load bearing. I didn't listen and went ahead with the quick-set stuff. Three months later, I noticed cracks forming along the bottom two courses and a slight bow in the middle. Turns out the Type S is way too rigid for soil movement and doesn't let the wall breathe like Type N does. I had to tear the whole thing down last weekend and start over, cost me an extra $200 in materials and a full Saturday. Has anyone else made this mistake with mortar types on garden walls?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_elliot21d ago

Learn the hard way once and suddenly that sale price doesn't feel so good, huh?

scott.miles21d ago

That $250 "deal" on a pressure washer from big orange turned into a $700 lesson when the pump seized after 3 months and the warranty was basically a joke. Right there with you on learning the hard way. Now I tear apart any sale price and look at parts availability, warranty coverage, and online reviews before I even think about pulling the trigger. The upfront savings just aren't worth it if you have to replace the whole thing in a year or two. How do you figure out if a sale is actually worth the risk?

the_wyatt21d ago

What you said about "learning the hard way once and that sale price doesn't feel so good" really hits home. But here's something nobody's talking about yet - sometimes the problem isn't the type of mortar or the sale price, it's that people don't check if their ground drain is actually working before they build. I've seen guys spend good money on the right materials only to have their wall push over because water was pooling behind it from a clogged gutter spout or bad slope. You got cracks and a bow, and sure the Type S mortar didn't help, but if your soil was wet and heavy from spring rain, even Type N would've been under pressure. Always dig a test hole first and see how long water sits after a storm. That's the free fix that saves you tearing things down later.

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