Asked on Jan 03, 2019
What happened to cement/mortar that didn't cure?
I attempted a mosaic in large cracks in cement blocks in my patio. I saw a blog that suggested putting 1-2 inches of dry concrete mix then 1-2 inches dry mortar mix then placing mosaic tiles on top before wetting. It was fairly cold when I attempted this (~45 degrees and damp). After gently watering off and on for ~1 hr., I covered with a curing blanket. Days later it seemed hard but now it is crumbly and dry. Is there anything I can do about this now, or do I just need to dig it all out and do again in the spring?
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That was a lot of depth for dry mix. Compare to planting in dry potting mix and the water runs through rather than saturating the soil. Could be the method was the problem or the age of the products. Not sure what will happen if you leave it and it gets wet again. If it were my patio, I would dig it out and redo in the Spring. I would probably trowel in the mixed product vs the dry method.
Dig it up and start over. Otherwise you will continue to have a crumbling mess. Your hard work should be a highlight, not an eyesore.