Pluses and Minuses of Masonry Glue
Certain types of adhesives can often take the place of mortar in masonry work; they are alternately called brick glue, masonry glue, masonry adhesive, construction adhesive, or landscape block adhesive. (The term non-sag" means that an adhesive applied to a vertical or inverted joint will not flow downwards, away from the point of application. For example, if you apply masonry adhesive to a vertical wall face, it will stay where applied and not run down the wall.)
To obtain best results with masonry glue, you should know the product's limitations. Masonry or brick glue is particularly useful for non-structural applications, such as reattachment of a single piece of brick or stone that has fallen from a wall. If you want to use the adhesive for a structure with greater compression weight, such as a wall over three feet, you need to consult manufacturer specifications. In a similar vein, use masonry adhesive to hold together stones in a walkway, but not if it's a walkway on a well trafficked route. Many chemically treated wood products do not combine well with masonry glue. So before attaching chemically treated wood veneer to a masonry surface with adhesive glue, be sure to consult manufacturer specs. If you need a leveling agent for a masonry construction, you should use mortar instead of glue.
Having considered the negatives, there are many applications for which brick glue is a better choice than mortar. Having considered the negatives, there are many positive reasons for selecting brick glue over mortar in many masonry applications. Masonry adhesives can be quickly and easily applied. Masonry adhesives are of consistent quality, as they are prepared in a licensed laboratory and not at the construction site. Additional advantages include reduced cleanup time, reduced production costs, reduced transportation costs, no mixing (for one time adhesives), and reduced drying time, hours instead of days. To summarize, masonry adhesives often make a superior and effective replacement for mortar, but it is important to know the product's limitations.
For top quality masonry in the Westchester County and Putnam County areas, contact the Turf Barbers at 914-302-2469; 2929 Quinlan Street, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, or visit their website at http://www.theturfbarbers,com.