The mortar on my last patio job in Springfield started failing after just one winter, and I'm trying to figure out why.

I think the supplier's pre-mix might have had too much lime for our freeze-thaw cycles, so I'm going back to mixing my own from scratch with a different sand source.

3 comments

3 Comments

lily3601mo agoTop Commenter

Just one winter? That’s brutal.

caseys301mo ago

What kind of mix ratio were you using before? I had a similar issue on a walkway project where the pre-mix just didn't hold up to the cold. Switching to a sharper sand and cutting back on the lime made a huge difference for me.

leo_carr132d ago

I get what you're saying but I think people worry too much about this stuff. It's just a sidewalk not a bridge. Unless you're getting straight up frost heave and the whole thing is cracking in half a little surface chipping after a cold snap isn't that big of a deal. Most pre-mix bags are fine for basic walkways if you just keep the water right and don't pour it when it's freezing. I've used the same ratio for years and never had anything fall apart. Maybe the problem is the ground prep or drainage not the sand type.