Need advice for mortar for a stone facade

[dk518]

I have a 30-inch high block wall about 27 feet wide. I have Pa. fieldstone rocks I am facading it with. I saw a recommendation that the mortar mix (I'm using the Quikrete brand) be mixed "just enough to peak". I'm not sure I understand this because the mix peaks at close to dry and close to wet. I'm doing it close to dry since I add water to the mix.

I think the resulting mortar is too "sandy". That is, kind of fragile.

To further clarify, I'm trying to mount these stones vertically.

Thanks for any help.

DK

[Rich]

I would lean toward the wetter side. Typically I'll wet down the wall (or scratch coat) and the backside of the stone anyway. You'll get better cohesion / adhesion with a little wetter mortar - think of slurry coats (of course you don't want it that wet but you get the idea).

[harryc]

I think this is going to sound stupid, and I'm only replying because you described the mortar as too sandy. I've done a fair share of amatuer mortaring, both stone and block, one project very recently. I use the Quikrete mortar in the yellow bags. I ran short and ended up using mortar out of a grey and red bag, I think it was Quikrete too, just a different type. But the stuff made a mix so sandy I couldn't use it, dry or wet, it didn't stick to anything. It seemed more like sand mix concrete than mortar. Anyway, just my .02

[Shanley]

I've worked with Quivckrete CT on thier mix design because the mix was too sandy and would not stick. Their commercial grade mortar is now very plastic (workable) I buy it for my jobs in bulk bags (3000#) for use in silos but the 80 pound bags are just as good. You want to keep your mud stiff to support the stone and accelerate the initial set but add enough water so its workable

[Jrouche]

I've worked with Quivckrete CT on thier mix design because the mix was too sandy and would not stick. Their commercial grade mortar is now very plastic (workable) I buy it for my jobs in bulk bags (3000#) for use in silos but the 80 pound bags are just as good.

I can't seem to locate the "commercial grade" mortar mix. I have found the mix in the dark yellow bag numbered 1102. Is that what you use or is there another number. Thanks, JRouche

[Shanley]

call your closest quickrete plant and ask for construction services, they should be able to help you out

[Shanley]

or try Spec-Mix

[Jrouche]

or try Spec-Mix

Been using that for the concrete block but I think it is too sandy for my brick work. Thanks JRouche