Storage for Concrete, Grout, Thinset, Etc.

[ARAMP1]

I've been redoing bathrooms in my house (2 down, 3 to go!). I have a bunch of bags of mix, mostly the paper of 50 to 80 lb variety. I've stored them in the garage under workbenches but there's always dust from being kicked, etc. Also, some of the bags are open. I'm wondering how most people are storing these bags.

I have several 5 gallon buckets from pool chemicals that are left over. Was thinking about using them, especially for the open bags and maybe get some of those 100-ish quart black totes for the unopened bags.

Ideas?

 

[Zeke]

High and dry. I use spring clamps on the original sacks. 5 gal buckets seem to work great for either bulk or simply putting a bag in one and sealing it.

 

[driftpin]

I use the contractor's trash bags, heavy gauge plastic, and the large office spring clips. I have a bunch of dollies of different sizes to sit 'em on.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

My buddy who is a 75 year old mason, simply uses 5 gallon buckets with snap lids.

 

[The Cobbler]

sealed in plastic 5 gal pails, small amounts of grout I had for years in 1 gal paint cans .
if you leave it unsealed, the humidity in the air will harden it

 

[engineer2]

5 gallon buckets or plastic kitty litter pails with lids. As said, close up the bags. I like to keep them indoors. Humidity is bad for cementitious materials. After 10 years, you may as well toss it.

 

[kaymccampbell]

5 gallon buckets with snap or screw lids are king. I keep my cementitious stuff for up to 5 years successfully. After that it's a **** shoot.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I never save an open bag or full bag, I always like fresh new masonry material, if it's unopened I return it, opened it gets dumped.

 

[ARAMP1]

I never save an open bag or full bag, I always like fresh new masonry material, if it's unopened I return it, opened it gets dumped.

I'd like to keep most of what I have left. Not because I'm not wasteful but because if I need to match grout, color, etc.

 

[DHCrocks]

I use 5 gal buckets and gamma seal lids. I have grout, cement and hot mud (drywall). That is well over 5 years old and it’s still good. Just keep them in a climate controlled space and it’ll last a long time.

 

[duneslider]

No matter how you store thinset and grout it really does have a shelf life. It isn't just portland cement you have to worry about with that stuff, it has other magic pookie stuff in it that goes bad over time. I have kept grout for several years sealed up in plastic bags. Most grout colors have been in the line up for dozens of years and color consistency is good year after year on new stuff.