A small dwarf wall, part of a small porch, was built in August. Five courses high. I was in a rush and always doubted the exact ratio that I mixed the mortar.
I read that even at 6:1 it would be OK as a strong mix can split the blocks as it fries, so I thought fine, if I overdid the sand it's still OK.
The porch job is still ongoing regarding the windows, so the inner leaf of Thermolite blocks has not been touched. Today I noticed that one of the top blocks was wobbly, so I tried to rake out the mortar to re point. Then I noticed that all the blocks looked loose and as the mortar wasn't raking out as easy as I thought, I decide to pull down the entire inner wall. It came down easily.
The mortar was in fact quite hard, it just wasn't sticking the blocks together.
I have the job of rebuilding the inner wall arse backwards, but I can't do much about that now.
Speaking to my father in law, he said it would have been fine once it was rendered and plastered, so I've wasted my time pulling it down and have just given myself a load of work to put it back up.
Should thermolite blocks on such a small wall be not 'stuck' together? I would assume that any blocks should be firmly attached to eachother regardless of height?
I read that even at 6:1 it would be OK as a strong mix can split the blocks as it fries, so I thought fine, if I overdid the sand it's still OK.
The porch job is still ongoing regarding the windows, so the inner leaf of Thermolite blocks has not been touched. Today I noticed that one of the top blocks was wobbly, so I tried to rake out the mortar to re point. Then I noticed that all the blocks looked loose and as the mortar wasn't raking out as easy as I thought, I decide to pull down the entire inner wall. It came down easily.
The mortar was in fact quite hard, it just wasn't sticking the blocks together.
I have the job of rebuilding the inner wall arse backwards, but I can't do much about that now.
Speaking to my father in law, he said it would have been fine once it was rendered and plastered, so I've wasted my time pulling it down and have just given myself a load of work to put it back up.
Should thermolite blocks on such a small wall be not 'stuck' together? I would assume that any blocks should be firmly attached to eachother regardless of height?