Hot Weather Masonry – Planning Construction
General. As previously noted, hot weather influences the properties of mortars and units
as individual materials and it affects the interaction between mortar and units that occur
in the construction of masonry. The rates of stiffening and setting of mortar are increased,
while hot, dry units exhibit high suction characteristics. Relative humidity, wind velocity,
and sunshine are additional factors that affect the moisture loss during and after
construction. Unless proper planning, preparation, and construction procedures are used,
hot weather can impede productivity and compromise the quality of masonry
Planning should include a consideration of scheduling to avoid construction during hot,
mid-day periods and a review of the requirements for materials. Provisions need to be
made to protect and prepare masonry materials for use. Modifications to construction
procedures may include wetting high absorption clay units, reducing the length of mortar
spread before placement of units to minimize elapsed time between spreading mortar and
placing unit, covering masonry after construction, and/or fog spraying with water.
Summary. Planning, preparation, and procedures for hot weather masonry construction
should focus on assuring that mortar remains workable from the time of mixing until
placement of units, and that sufficient moisture remains in the masonry to provide for
normal strength development of the mortar. Available avenues of achieving these goals
include scheduling construction to avoid hot, mid-day periods, optimizing selection and
preparation of masonry materials, protecting constructed masonry from sun and wind,
damp curing masonry by covering with wet burlap, or fog spraying with water.
Resource: Masonry Institute of St. Louis – www.masonrystl.org
Hot & Cold Weather Masonry-Publication of Masonry Industry Council
This entry was posted on Monday, July 7th, 2014 at 2:04 pm
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