Mortar dried too fast in July heat, now the wall looks like patchwork
We started a garden wall at 7am last Tuesday and by noon the mix was flash setting before I could even tool the joints. The client's property is a fully exposed south facing yard in Phoenix, no shade anywhere. I had to bust out three courses and redo them, cost me almost a full day and an extra 4 bags of type S. My apprentice keeps saying we should have added a retarder but I never use the stuff. Has anyone else had luck with that or do you just adjust your water and work faster?
Retarder is worth keeping on the truck for days like that. I mix a little in when it's over 100 and it buys me the time to finish joints without racing. Your apprentice had the right idea, no shame in using it.