Should i be worried

[tflda29]

Hello all,

I managed to get the first course of my retaining wall laid yesterday and stopped about 9pm last night covering the work in case of rain. I was using a mortar mix of 1 cement to 5 sand and a splash of Feb.

I had a look this morning and the mortar seems to be really soft still. I could pick some of the excess up and easily squeeze it with my fingers. I am very worried about this as this is a retaining wall and the first course. The concrete we got deliverd went rock hard within 3 hours with no accelerator or anything.

Should i be worried?

thanks
Trevor

 

[joe-90]

No. Mortar isn't supposed to be too hard or it carcks the bricks instead of 'giving' a little.

It'll harden up later (said the Vicar to the housewife).

 

[^woody^]

Mortar will be relatively soft the next morning - its only been a few hours.

There are setting and hardening times and these are different. It wont be really hard for a few days.

Also remember that the pointing compresses and smooths the surface to give a strong weathering face. So, properly pointed mortar (at the wall face) is harder still than the mortar deeper in the wall or just left to dry