Talked to an old timer who laid brick for 40 years - he told me my joints were too tight and it hit different

I was working a fireplace job in Rochester last Thursday and this retired mason walked by, watched me for a minute, then just said 'you're squeezing those joints like you're paying for the mortar yourself.' At first I was annoyed, you know? But then he showed me how he does a half-inch joint with a little wiggle room for expansion and it actually makes the wall look way better. He said tight joints crack in the freeze-thaw cycle around here, which I never really thought about. Has anyone else had an old school guy give you advice that actually changed how you lay?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_alice1d ago

Had a buddy get told his mortar was too wet by an old pro. Changed everything for him.

shane2441d agoMost Upvoted

you're squeezing those joints like you're paying for the mortar yourself" - that line cracked me up. Old timers really do have a way of making you feel dumb in the most polite way possible. I had a guy tell me my trowel was too small once, handed me his, and it felt like I was holding a dinner plate. Funny how something that simple can make a whole row of brick sit better.