Which property of mortar is increased by the process of retempering?

Retempering refers to the process of adding water to mortar to restore its workability after it has begun to set. During this process, the properties of the mortar can be modified, and one of the primary benefits is the improvement of workability.

Workability refers to how easily the mortar can be manipulated and applied. When mortar starts to dry, it can become stiff and challenging to use, but retempering enables it to regain some of its plasticity, thereby improving its handling characteristics.

While the bond strength can also be affected by the water/cement ratio, the primary goal of retempering is not to strengthen the bond but to make the mortar easier to work with. This is particularly important for the application process in construction, where ease of application can impact the overall quality of the finished work. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the main property improved by retempering, which is workability.