Old foreman told me my mortar was too wet. Took it personal at first.

He said my joints were slumping because I was adding too much water. I got defensive, thought I knew better after 2 years on the crew. Watched him mix a batch with way less water, like 20% less than what I used. The stuff held shape way better, didn't run everywhere. Now I check my mud consistency every single time before laying a brick. Has anyone else gotten humbled by a simple fix like that?

1 comments

1 Comment

christopher5941mo ago

First job out of trade school I was so proud of my mud work till the foreman took a trowel to one of my joints and it just slid right off the brick like thick soup. Straight up told me my mortar looked like it was trying to take a shower. Felt about two inches tall for a week. Now I do the drop test every time and if it doesn't hold a ball I dump in more dry sand and shame.