Unpopular opinion: People using quick-set mortar for retaining walls

I keep seeing guys mix quick-set for block walls that need to hold back dirt. Did a job last week where the wall cracked right along the mortar joints after one rain. Am I wrong for insisting on type S every time?

2 comments

2 Comments

stella3071mo ago

Betcha the ground wasn't prepped right either.

wren_rodriguez1mo ago

Are they skipping the base prep altogether too? That sounds like a recipe for disaster even with the right mortar. I've seen guys throw up a wall on bare dirt and expect it to hold, which is just asking for trouble. You need good drainage behind the wall and a solid gravel base at minimum, or no mortar in the world is gonna save it. Quick-set might be fine for a small garden border that's just decorative, but for anything holding back real weight, type S is the way to go.