My foreman said to stop soaking my bricks before laying, and I think he might be right
I have been soaking bricks before laying them for 11 years, ever since a mason in Tulsa named Ray showed me how it keeps the mortar from drying too fast. Last Tuesday my foreman watched me dunk a pallet of reds and told me I was wasting time because modern mortar mixes hold water better than the old stuff. I pushed back at first, but we did a test wall with dry bricks and the bond was solid after 3 days, no crumbling at the joints. Now I am second guessing something I have done my whole career. Anybody else switched away from soaking, or am I about to regret this on a hot day?