I finally stopped arguing about using a jointer on every brick face

For years I told every new guy on my crew that you have to joint every single brick as you go. Then last month on a big wall job in Austin, I watched an old timer skip every other course and the finish looked just as clean after the mortar set up. He told me that when you joint too soon you're just smearing the mortar and weakening the bond. I tested it on a small garden wall last week and he was right, the joints held better and the wall looked more natural. Now I only joint every third course and my foreman hasn't said a word. Has anyone else tried this or is my crew just humoring me?

2 comments

2 Comments

christopher9438d ago

Ha! I've been wasting elbow grease for twenty years, oops.

rubyshah8d ago

Nah, elbow grease is a myth. Just spray some WD-40 and call it done.