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Local DIY brick fire pit cracked in the cold. Arguing with my buddy: was it the mortar mix or skipping the rebar that did it? Chime in!
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thea1431mo ago
Skipping rebar probably didn't cause it, mortar cracks from heat.
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stella4991mo ago
My backyard wall had similar cracks last summer, and it was from the heat. I found that using a mortar mix made for high heat areas worked well. This type of mix can expand and contract without cracking. Rebar is good for strength, but the right mortar is key for heat issues. It's worth checking the mortar specs before starting any project.
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sethtorres1mo ago
Stella's point about the mortar mix is dead on. This is a bigger thing I see all the time. People focus on the flashy part, like the rebar, and miss the boring basics. The right material for the job is everything. It's like using the wrong glue, the whole thing falls apart. Your buddy is wrong, the cold just showed the weak mortar.
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