Rant: My mortar mix went totally wrong on a chimney job in Tacoma

I was repointing a brick chimney up on a roof and the new mortar just would not stick, it kept crumbling right out of the joint. I checked the bag and realized I had grabbed Type N instead of the Type S I needed for the job. I had to stop, go down the ladder, and drive back to the supply yard to swap it out, which killed a whole morning. Anyone else ever grab the wrong type of mortar and have to redo a bunch of work?

3 comments

3 Comments

oliver_fisher2mo ago

Been there, just double-check the bag now before I climb up.

janac5127d ago

Hold on though, grabbing Type N for a job that calls for Type S is a bigger deal than folks give it credit for. Type S mortar has a higher Portland cement ratio for a reason, it's made to hold up against weather and heavy loads. Using Type N for a retaining wall or a chimney cap can lead to cracks or crumbling way sooner, then you're patching it every other year. Oliver is right to check the bag before you climb up, but mixing types can turn a quick fix into a headache down the road.

davis.iris2mo ago

Honestly, is grabbing Type N instead of Type S that big of a deal? I get it's not right for the job, but oliver_fisher has a point about checking the bag. It seems like a simple mix-up that costs some time, not a total disaster. I've seen guys use what they have on hand and the repair still holds up for years.