Garage, Part 1: Mortar

The cornerstone of a good garage is a good cornerstone. And I had trouble in that department.

The cinderblock at the back corner of my garage became loose to the point where I could pull it out with my hands. I could see this was a do-it-yourself job. But I did not do it myself. I called in my dad and brother Bill. Dad brought the knowledge and a box of tools. Bill brought the laughs.

Before mixing mortar, we prepared the surface. Crumbling bits of the old mortar were chiseled from the loose brick and the rest of the wall nearby. Then the area was cleaned with a wire brush and sprayed with the hose.

We mixed a small batch of Quickrete mortar from an 80-pound bag ($4.47 from Home Depot). The product bag (and my dad) suggest adding a little water at a time, letting the powder absorb the liquid. Fold the mixture until you don’t see any more dry powder. Then plop the mud until you have a good consistency. It shouldn’t be crumbly (too dry), but be careful not to add too much water; it will make the mortar weak.

“When you think it’s too dry, it’s probably ready,” my dad advised. He also at one point told me I needed to add “a shot glass” more water -- as if that’s the only unit of measurement I know.
We spread a layer of mortar on the bottom of the surface before sliding the brick in place using metal dowels, which were later removed. Then we grabbed trowels and mortar boards and spent a good deal of time shoving mortar into cracks. It was about as glamorous as it sounds.
My neglected garage needed a lot of patching. We went through 120 pounds of mortar that day, mixing small batches at a time so the mortar wouldn’t dry out in the sun.
The final step is to take a tool called a rake to scoop the excess mortar along the joint to form a nice curve. After the mortar is dry, rub a wire brush over it to remove any loose pieces. Then you’re ready to paint. Which I’ll do. Soon.