snow crete crumble!

[scrambler]

I wanted to use a white mortar for pointing a chimney breast. closer to the original pointing..

I had a bit of a go before with regular mortar just fine,.

But I was advised to go 3:1 on snow crete to yellow builders sand ( B n Q )

but it does seem a bit crumbly 24 hours later..

should I panic? it says 5:1 on the bag!

it certainly went off fast!

I'm a Bit of a novice - the builder also advised a bit of washing up liquid added as well..

 

[Doggit]

How old is it, and what was the consistency when mixed.

No need to panic, but I suspect you'll need to rake it out, and start again.

 

[scrambler]

hmm - some of the snow crete was a bit lumpy. and stuck together - could say how old it was for sure.. ( will have to check the packet )

is the 3:1 ratio good?

 

[Doggit]

As it's only mortar, 4 or 5 to 1 would be fine. Lumpy and stuck together sounds way out of date, and it's more than likely got damp.

 

[garyo]

The only bag I've ever used was three years ago and behaved like normal OPC if memory serves. I guess you get much higher odds of a bag of snowc4ete having been sat in on the shelf at the merchants for a while.

 

[Doggit]

Actually, from memory, I seem to recollect that the snowcrete may not have the same sort of shelf life issues, but if it's gone lumpy, then that suggest the damps got into it.

 

[scrambler]

got it from travis perkins.. can I take it back if its lumpy?

 

[Doggit]

I would; I expect it hasn't been store properly. Having said that, how long ago did you get it.

 

[scrambler]

picked it up thurs or friday..

will have to dig the receipt out - amy chance I can take it back to a closer store? I was on a merry dance to get it. thought I had got it thru wickes - but when I got there ( about 40 mins drive ) they told me it had gone rock hard and helped me get it thru travis. turns out theres a travis round the corner from me