Making mortar stick to block work

[Restoration man]

I have recently had to fix a bit of harling from the underside top of an arch way where it had been previously damaged when someone was carrying something through and caught it.

Patch was about an A4 size on the front face and underside.

I painted on builders PVA let it dry then tried to apply a mortar mix when the fun began! It kept dropping off. I persevered and eventually it started to stick. I think a very thin layer of the mortar was drying and eventually acting as a key. I had to keep going back to it and pressing it on until it started to go off. Final job looks OK because its masonry painted as well but it was a **** about.

What's the correct way to get a mortar to stick to block work?

Cheers

 

[Doggit]

3:1 Pva, and then apply the mortar as its getting tacky, otherwise just wet the blockwork before you start to wet the dust

 

[^woody^]

The correct way is not to use a mortar mix, but a render mix. That will stick. You don't need PVA.

You press the render on firmly and in a thin layer 5 mm or so. Then the next layer. Then the next.

 

[noseall]

Douse the recipient masonry with plenty of water. Not just once either.