Vent: That new 'self leveling' mortar threw my whole corner off in Phoenix

Tried that fancy self leveling mortar on a patio job last Thursday, figured it would save time. Mixed it exactly like the bag said, but it ran like water once the sun hit it. Leveled the first row fine, then the second row slid about a quarter inch before setting. Had to chip out 40 bricks and redo the whole corner with good old type S mortar. Took me 3 extra hours and I still have dust in my ears. Anyone else see these new mixes fail when the temp crosses 100?

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olivia_chen351mo ago

You keep blaming the mix, but maybe the real issue was how you read the bag. Self leveling compounds are made for flat indoor slabs, not a patio in Phoenix where the ground temp is pushing 120. You said it ran like water, so why did you keep going after the first row? That was your sign to stop and switch back to type S right then, not after 40 bricks. Three extra hours sounds like a lesson in reading the job, not a flaw in the product. I've seen guys use the same stuff at 7 AM and it works fine, it's all about timing and temperature math. Maybe next time check the forecast before you open the bag.

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