Warning: an old timer in Philly told me my mortar was too wet for the cold
He said 'you're making slush, not mortar' when I was working a job last December. I started mixing a bit drier and the bricks stopped sliding, plus the joints set up way better. Anyone else have a tip that saved your butt in winter work?
Wait, what if the old timer was just messing with you? I've used a wetter mix in the cold before and it worked fine as long as you work fast and cover it up right away.
That old timer was right on the money. Dryer mix is the only way to go when it's cold. You have to watch the water like a hawk, because any extra just freezes and ruins the bond. I keep a tarp and a heater nearby just to warm the sand before I even start mixing.