Can I install dryzone rods in to fresh, wet mortar?

Question

In short: Can dpc cream or rods be inserted in to fresh, wet mortar.

In length: I have rising damp on a connecting wall, not an exterior one. Under the house is a small crawl space. I used dry zone rods, and cream on 2 different areas, to see what's best to use. When I did it, I found the mortar was like mud. It smelt, felt and looked exactly like mud. I've found this regularly on my house. Anyway, I wanted to remove the motor and replace it with a fresh mortar line (3ft in length at most) in order to give the dryzone rods a proper surface to be in. My understanding is that because dpc cream can be inserted in a wet environment, I should be able to install it directly into the new mortar line without waiting for the mortar to cure. Is this worth it, or should I wait for the mortar to cure first?

Nick · Answer

Hey Kevin! 👋

No, I wouldn't put those DryZone rods or cream into fresh mortar even though the old stuff is really wet and muddy. The new mortar needs time to set properly first, just like waiting for paint to dry before adding another coat.

I get why you're thinking about putting it straight in especially since you're dealing with that wet muddy mortar right now. But  the new mortar needs to harden up first. The DPC stuff needs something solid to work with, not fresh squishy mortar!

Best plan would be to:
Replace that muddy mortar like you're planning, Give it a few weeks to properly set up and Then go in with your DryZone rods or cream

Let me know if you want to chat more about this happy to help! 😊

Can I install dryzone rods in to fresh, wet mortar?

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