Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Brick Laying
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02-05-02, 01:10 PM
We are building a home in central Virginia. How cold is "too cold" for laying brick in this area? (Richmond area.) Thanks!
pmg
02-05-02, 02:00 PM
You need to take precautions with temperatures below 32 degrees.There are antifreeze additives you can add to the water you'll be mixing with,available at most masonry supply centers.The additive will allow you to work to temps a bit below freezing and prolong the curing process so the new joints don't freeze and crumble apart,however good judgement is always welcome.Also a good windy day that brings wind chills down into the teens will surely freeze the mortar right to your trowel,best thing to do is pack it in and wait for good weather so you end up with good strong bonds.You should also cover up any newly layed brick with a heavy cloth type tarp to keep the frost off overnight in addition to the additive.Stay warm!!
BRICK4U
02-09-02, 08:47 AM
Use an ACCELERATOR.
Anti-freeze products slow the set of the masonry cement. That's the last thing you want. If the mortar joints don't set... and the temperature stays below freezing... you end up with joints that can actually freeze... resulting in paste. Most anti-freeze products contain calcium chloride. Calcium chloride is salt. Salt and masonry don't mix. The calcium chloride will also eat away at the wallties, reinforcing and steel angles. It can also create EFFLORESCENCE. (Efflorescence is the white salty crust that forms on chimneys, walls and steps when there is an unwanted presence of water in the structure.)
Accelerators chemically increase the set time of the mortar. Your mortar will be properly hydrated long before the temperature drops down to freezing.
(The accelerator that we carry is non-cloride based. Thereby eliminating the risk of efflorescence.)
Good luck with your new home.
Southside Builders Supply Corp.
20 Westover Hills Boulevard
Richmond, Virginia
www.southsidebuilders.com
Anti-freeze products slow the set of the masonry cement. That's the last thing you want. If the mortar joints don't set... and the temperature stays below freezing... you end up with joints that can actually freeze... resulting in paste. Most anti-freeze products contain calcium chloride. Calcium chloride is salt. Salt and masonry don't mix. The calcium chloride will also eat away at the wallties, reinforcing and steel angles. It can also create EFFLORESCENCE. (Efflorescence is the white salty crust that forms on chimneys, walls and steps when there is an unwanted presence of water in the structure.)
Accelerators chemically increase the set time of the mortar. Your mortar will be properly hydrated long before the temperature drops down to freezing.
(The accelerator that we carry is non-cloride based. Thereby eliminating the risk of efflorescence.)
Good luck with your new home.
Southside Builders Supply Corp.
20 Westover Hills Boulevard
Richmond, Virginia
www.southsidebuilders.com