Grout bag guy at the supply yard in Dayton said my mortar was too wet and he was right

Sean Stone · 2026-10-10T23:00:05.197159+00:00

Stopped by the masonry supply yard off Third Street about two months ago to grab a few bags of mortar and the old guy at the counter asked what I was laying. Told him a small block wall for a planter and he said flat out, "that mix is gonna run on you." I brushed it off at first because I'd been buttering blocks the same way for years. First course went fine but by the third course the mortar was squeezing out everywhere and my joints looked sloppy. He saw me back there three days later buying more bags and just laughed. Told me to cut my water back to where the mortar holds a thumbprint and doesn't slump off the trowel. Tried it on the next wall and my joints came out clean, way less cleanup on the face of the block. Also slowed down my strikes so I'm not chasing wet mortar down the wall. Been doing it that way since and I'm not going back. Anyone else got a mix ratio or water tip that a supply yard guy taught them the hard way?

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Grout bag guy at the supply yard in Dayton said my mortar was too wet and he was right | Bricklayers - Thought Shares