Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - started building new chimney-morter is a pain to work with

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jbkt38
10-17-05, 08:13 PM
so I knocked down the old chimney and started to put the new 1 up


using the cement 16x16 blocks and ceramic liner


put the 1st block down mixed the morter in a 5 gal bucket and layed a nice even layer on the 1st block-no problems when I started the 2nd block the morter kept falling into the slots of the cement blocks


using type N morter mix-just ad water

is there a trick to using this stuff ???

md2lgyk
10-19-05, 12:29 PM
According to the building code (IRC 2003) the slots are supposed to be filled with mortar anyway. The 16x16 block available around here doesn't even have slots. Anyway, it sounds like your mortar is too thin.

Also, though I don't know the difference, the place I went to for a materials estimate for my chimney said I should use Type S mortar, not Type N.
mchar
10-29-05, 02:51 PM
You ain't painting a masterpiece, Rembrandt! (just kidding!) Look inside ANY block job and you'll see the mortar dripping down. It actually helps key the pieces together. The trowel swipes the excess from the ouside only. Also, using a wheel barrel or cheap black plastic mixing tub is WAY easier to work with than a bucket, hands down. Good luck!
Mark

mchar
10-29-05, 02:53 PM
OOPS! Hold on there, are using just mortar and NO SAND????
You MUST use sand. (Now if it's the pre made mortar mix in bags, that's OK.)
Mark