Pro tip: Let your mortar sit for 10 minutes after mixing before using it

I rushed into a job last month at a foundation repair in Wichita and my mortar kept slumping on me. An old timer told me to let it slake for 10 minutes and it made the bond way tighter. Has anyone else noticed a big difference from resting time?

2 comments

2 Comments

michaela161mo ago

Jump on that slaking time every time now. A good 10 minute rest lets the water fully soak into all the particles and makes the mix way more consistent so it doesn't sag on you.

butler.mark1mo ago

Wait, you're telling me that extra 10 minutes actually makes a difference? I used to think slaking time was just something the old timers swore by for no real reason, lol. But I tried it on a recent job where the mud was sagging like crazy on a ceiling patch, and it honestly fixed the whole thing. Now I'm kicking myself for skipping it all these years, feels like a cheat code for consistency.