Had to decide on a mortar mix for a chimney rebuild in a coastal town

The homeowner wanted it done fast and cheap with a pre-mix, but I insisted on a custom lime-rich mix for the salt air. It added a day to the job and cost him an extra $300, but that chimney isn't going to spall in five years. Anyone else had to push back on a client's shortcut that would've bit them later?

2 comments

2 Comments

terryrobinson5d ago

My uncle's deck in Galveston rotted out in three years because he used untreated pine. The salt just eats everything.

emeryp235d ago

Yeah, salt air is brutal. Pressure-treated wood or composite decking is the only way to go near the coast.