Old timer at the supply yard convinced me to switch to type N mortar

Been using type S for years on everything, thought it was the safe bet. One of the older guys at the yard said I was wasting money on interior walls and non-load bearing stuff. Said type N is softer so it lets the brick breathe and crack less. Tried it on a fireplace last week and honestly it was way easier to work with. You guys stick to one type or switch it up based on the job?

2 comments

2 Comments

gibson.robert10d ago

Honestly I gotta push back on this a bit. Type N is fine for light duty stuff but I've seen too many chimneys and fireplaces get wrecked because the mortar was too soft and couldn't handle the heat and movement. For any kind of flue or chimney you really want type S for the extra bond strength. If you're just doing a garden wall or interior brick veneer then sure go with type N. But for fireplaces and outdoor load bearing stuff I stick with S.

gray_roberts10d ago

Haha sounds like you're REALLY fired up about mortar types. I get it though, nothing worse than seeing a chimney crumble because someone skimped on the mix. Almost as bad as that time I used type N for a fire pit and watched it turn into a pile of dust after the first winter. Type S all the way for anything that breathes smoke or gets rained on. You could probably use type M for a fireplace if you want it to last until the next ice age, but that's overkill unless you're building a nuclear bunker.