Can we talk about the push for using polymer-modified mortar on every residential job?

I was laying a brick patio in Denver last month and the homeowner insisted on the expensive stuff, but it set way too fast in the sun. I had to pull up and re-lay about 20 square feet because it skinned over before I could adjust the pattern. Has anyone else found it's not always the right choice for slower, detail work?

3 comments

3 Comments

paulschmidt13d ago

Man, you hit the nail on the head. That fast set time is a killer on big layouts. It feels like the industry just decided this one product fixes everything, but it really doesn't. For careful work where you need to finesse each piece, that standard mortar mix is still the right tool. The modified stuff has its place, but it's not some magic bullet. Pushing it for every single job just sets people up to waste time and money.

-1

uma68512d ago

Heard a contractor on a job site say exactly what you're saying, @paulschmidt. They called it "solution in search of a problem" for most tile work.

thomasm158d ago

Wait, so what jobs is that fast-set stuff actually good for then?