TIL old brickwork can teach you a lot about modern mortar

I was walking around the historic district in Savannah last week and really looked at the brick walls on some of the old houses. The mortar joints were super thin, like maybe an eighth of an inch, and the bricks were laid so tight. It made me realize we use way more mortar today, probably because our bricks aren't as uniform. Has anyone else seen old work that made you change up your mix or joint size?

3 comments

3 Comments

grant4782mo ago

Check your brick quality first, then match the joint to it.

corap212mo ago

Wait, you saw joints that thin on old houses? That's wild. I always heard about it but figured it was an exaggeration. The stuff they slap on new builds is like an inch thick sometimes. Makes you wonder if we're just covering up sloppy brickwork now.

ward.kim2mo ago

Isn't it more about the skill of the bricklayer back then? Those thin joints needed perfect bricks and a really steady hand. Do you think modern speed and cost just make thicker mortar the easier fix?