TIL that cheap mortar mix bags will cost you more in the long run

So last month I grabbed a pallet of off-brand mortar mix from a hardware store in Knoxville to save about $40 on a retaining wall job. Man what a mistake. The stuff would not hold its consistency at all, kept turning sandy and crumbly no matter how I adjusted the water. I ended up having to tear down two sections of wall after they started slumping overnight. Factor in the extra time and wasted material and I probably lost close to $300 and three full days of work. Had to go back to my usual brand to finish the job right. Has anyone else dealt with knockoff mortar that just won't perform?

2 comments

2 Comments

alicebarnes1d ago

Man that's rough... nothing worse than watching a wall you just laid start to slump overnight. I had a similar mess with some no-name brand from a farm supply place, the bags felt heavier and that should have been my first clue. The mix just wouldn't bind right and I had chunks that looked like they had clay or something in them. Ended up scraping the whole thing and starting over with what I know works, cost me a whole weekend I'll never get back.

holly_flores791d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah but hanging the bags heavier is actually a good sign, means more cement in the mix. The problem is you don't know if it's good cement or cheap filler. That clay chunk thing though, that's a dead giveaway. You got straight up bad aggregate in there, probably from someone scooping it out of a dry creek bed. Next time take a wet sample and rub it between your fingers, if it feels slimy you know it's got too much dirt in it.