Laying Bricks in a puddle ?

[skybluescooby]

Sounds daft or does it,
We are getting a garden room built, founds were dug Mon, cement laid Tues and Footings started Wednesday ?
Overnight on Tuesday we had a deluge of rain which resulted in the founds holding up to 4" of water, garden run off hasn't helped either.

Wednesday saw the brickie slapping his muck into the puddle and onto the founds, before laying the blocks.
I asked the silly question, would that be ok ? to which he said , no problem at all, it'll go off before the water does anything...
How can the mix go off when its completely submerged ??
Brickies. over to you

 

[shenks]

I am not a brickie but... mortar is the same as concrete in that it is a chemical reaction which takes place. Therefore although the process may be slowed by the surrounding water it will not adversely affect the end result (in actual fact, having a mix go off too fast due to very hot summer weather can be worse).

 

[JohnD]

...How can the mix go off when its completely submerged ??

Cement (in concrete or in mortar) does not set by drying out.

It hardens by reacting with water.

Keeping it damp while it hardens makes it stronger than letting it dry out.

However, excess water in the mix will eventually evaporate leaving air. Air (and water) have no strength.

In your case I would be worried that the bottom courses would be excessively wet, and might even be washed away if they were lying in water.

It would have been better to pump or bale out the water before laying the bricks. Your builder obviously wanted to get on with the job.

 

[^woody^]

Ordinary portland cement is classed as 'Hydraulic Cement' as it sets under water. IIRC, first used in concrete to build the Eddystone Lighthouse.

Whilst problems may be unlikely, the brickie should have removed most of the water as a matter of professionalism. What does this say for when he does the face work?

If the first course mortar was sodden, then it could compress more as the wall is built higher. But as this will be even settlement, and the mortar will have started to set within a day, it is unlikely to be a problem

 

[skybluescooby]

Many thanks for those comments, looks like all should be ok i guess.

 

[joe-90]

As has been said it will set under water but it may become too diluted and wash from the surface of the sand. He should have removed the excess first.

Another marvel of construction that used the new Portland Cement was the London Sewerage system.