PSA: That cheap mortar mix from the big box store ruined my retaining wall job

I figured all mortar was basically the same so I grabbed the $4.99 bags from Lowe's instead of my usual supply house. After three weeks the top course started crumbling and I had to tear out 80 linear feet in Birmingham. The sand content was way off and it never cured right in our hot summer. Has anyone else dealt with bad batches from those discount pallets?

2 comments

2 Comments

gray_patel16d ago

Birmingham heat and humidity. That mortar needs proper mixing and curing time. I bet the issue was your technique, not the bag.

patricia_kelly17d agoTop Commenter

oh man same thing happened to me with that stuff, it totally fell apart on my patio.

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