Should solid concrete blocks be moist before Laying them?

[woodworksos]

I'm building a garden wall and have been told to ensure the solid concrete blocks are moist before laying. Is this best practice and does it ensure a better bond. For instance like when plastering a wall?

Thanks. 😊

 

[tony1851]

No, they should not be wetted otherwise you might get excessive shrinkage.

 

[woodworksos]

No, they should not be wetted otherwise you might get excessive shrinkage.

Thank you, I've always laid them dry in the past, however was told you need them to be moist which apparently only real block layers do! Which I thought was strange because I had never seen other block layers doing it in the past.

 

[noseall]

You don't want them excessively dry or wet. It depends largely upon the conditions in which you are laying them.

If it is a hot dry sunny day then spraying the blocks or bricks with water will help. Cement products (mortar, concrete etc) depend on water to work. Deny or remove the water quickly and the mortar will fail.

Anyone who has demolished a masonry wall that has been laid with wet products is well aware of how difficult it is to take down.

Mortar loves water.

As Tony has said, excessively wet blocks are very prone to shrinkage problems so be careful.

 

[woodworksos]

You don't want them excessively dry or wet. It depends largely upon the conditions in which you are laying them.

If it is a hot dry sunny day then spraying the blocks or bricks with water will help. Cement products (mortar, concrete etc) depend on water to work. Deny or remove the water quickly and the mortar will fail.

Anyone who has demolished a masonry wall that has been laid with wet products is well aware of how difficult it is to take down.

Mortar loves water.

As Tony has said, excessively wet blocks are very prone to shrinkage problems so be careful.

Thank you for your advice it's very much appreciated, that makes perfect sense now. As long as I ensure the mortar and blocks aren't bone dry or saturated it should be fine. 👍😊

 

[jeds]

I laid a lot of blocks and bricks in Australia years ago. We used to hose the stacks down the night before and chuck poly over them. But then it was 35°C.

 

[woodworksos]

I laid a lot of blocks and bricks in Australia years ago. We used to hose the stacks down the night before and chuck poly over them. But then it was 35°C.

Thank you 😊

 

[woodworksos]

I laid a lot of blocks and bricks in Australia years ago. We used to hose the stacks down the night before and chuck poly over them. But then it was 35°C.

Thank you 😊

 

[jeds]

I laid a lot of blocks and bricks in Australia years ago. We used to hose the stacks down the night before and chuck poly over them. But then it was 35°C.

Thank you 😊

That's ok.

 

[jeds]

I laid a lot of blocks and bricks in Australia years ago. We used to hose the stacks down the night before and chuck poly over them. But then it was 35°C.

Thank you 😊

That's ok.