Cement mix ?

[Kirk]

Really stupid question:
I have a raised bed, one edge needs to up by an extra bricks height.
Have cement, have sand, have water, know the ratios.

Here is the stupid bit: Can I add say a bag of salt to the cement to deter the slugs from climbing up for a midnight snack ?

Thinking the salt stays in the cement, slug gets to it, senses the salt and goes elsewhere for a snack.

Told you it was a stupid question.

[alldigging]

Corrosive concrete halts construction of China's tallest building

Probably if you're not planning on putting reinforcing in..

the salt and chloride present in it can corrode steel reinforcements over time and ultimately cause a building to collapse.

Do a test bit to see how much you can add before you disrupt the ratios.

[rustylady]

The salt will dissolve and wash away I would have thought. Will weaken your brickwork without deterring slugs.

[out in the cold]

Salt in a cement mix coats the fines particles (sand) and prevents the gypsum in the cement itself from properly bonding to the grains.

I remember experimenting with this in a structural engineering lab at uni.

[Dotty Sarah]

I know nothing about cement so this could be nonsense but personally I'd would worry that the salt may leach into the soil.

[Snadger]

Just take a look at the roadside verges after winter to see what salt can do for plant growth.

Remember that salt can be used as a weedkiller so I deffo wouldn't recommend it!

[iam]

I think I would avoid salt in your mix i am no expert but remember a civil engineer telling me that salt acts like a cancer to concrete . that was over thirty years ago but I would think it will still be the same now.

[Alison]

As I am a civil engineer I feel qualified to comment . Don't do it, it's not good for the mortar and won't deter the slugs anyway.