Mortar mix variability has become a real headache

I've noticed that even from the same supplier, the consistency changes batch to batch. It makes planning out a day's work nearly impossible when you can't trust the materials. What's your method for dealing with this kind of inconsistency?

4 comments

4 Comments

dakotajones1mo ago

You know what's worse than that? I had a similar thing happen with bags of quick-set concrete last summer... one batch was like powder, the next was lumpy as old oatmeal. Totally threw off my patio project timeline. I ended up mixing small test batches from each bag before doing the whole thing. Still had to add water to one and extra mix to another... it was a mess. Now I just accept that some days are gonna be like that.

piper3541mo ago

Ugh that's the worst when the texture's totally different bag to bag. I had some premixed mortar do that last fall, ruined a whole row of tiles before I caught it. So annoying to stop and test every single batch but you're right, it saves way bigger headaches later.

fiona_murphy1mo ago

Hah, I used to skip testing too!

the_jordan1mo ago

Man, that drives me crazy too! I always mix a tiny test batch from each new bag now, just like @dakotajones said. It's the only way to know what you're really working with before you waste a whole batch. If it's too wet, I let it sit open for a bit to dry out; if it's too dry, I add water real slow. You just gotta be ready to change your plan on the spot sometimes. It adds time, but it beats having a whole section fail because the mix was off.