Been laying brick for 25 years... always used a standard 3/8 inch joint. My new foreman insists on a 1/2 inch joint for everything now. Says it's more forgiving and looks better on modern builds. I think it looks sloppy and uses too much mortar. What's the standard on your sites these days?

3 comments

3 Comments

After a quarter century, your muscle memory must be set for that 3/8 line. It's a big change for sure. But is the joint size really the hill to die on? The foreman's call might just be about speed for the crew. Mortar cost is probably baked into the bid anyway. If the architect signed off on the look, it's not worth the fight.

alice_harris352mo ago

Pick your battles, @the_julia, or you'll just burn out over stuff that doesn't matter in the end.

the_lisa2mo ago

You're right about the muscle memory, it's a real thing after that long. Changing a routine that deep feels wrong in your hands. Still, pride in your work matters more than speed sometimes.