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Vent: My old boss swore by a 3/8 inch joint, but I'll never go over a 1/4 inch now.
The extra mortar just makes a weaker wall and costs more, plain and simple. Anyone else find their old training was just dead wrong on this?
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the_jana13d ago
That "makes you wonder if it really matters" thing from @holly_williams is exactly why guys keep arguing about it. But once you see a wall fail right along a fat mortar joint like @james92 did, you start paying attention. I've seen 3/8 joints hold up fine in older houses, but anything over 1/4 inch just feels sloppy and wastes material. The old timers had their reasons, but that doesn't mean they were right.
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holly_williams2mo ago
You say a weaker wall, but honestly, how many walls actually fail from the joint size? Seems like one of those things that gets argued to death.
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james922mo ago
Saw a buddy's garage wall crack right along the mortar line last year, @holly_williams. Makes you wonder if it really matters, doesn't it?
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