New construction brick work looks questionable large joints too

consudad · 11-30-2012, 08:33 PM

I am having an addition put on my house. The block wall has brick veneer to match the exisitng brick band around the base of the house. The mortar joints seem too large, 3/4" and after a few days I was able to pull up the brick on the corners by hand. No adhesion of the mortar to the brick. The courses under the immediate corner is solid or at least I can not pull up by hand. Is the mortar mix bad or has it not cured yet? Is there a maximum joint size?

gwilkrrs · 11-30-2012, 09:05 PM

the joints can vary in size- i think you would want them to match what the existing house has....... sounds like there may be a touch too much sand in the mix- the bricks should knit together and not be able to be hand plucked off......

joecaption · 11-30-2012, 10:32 PM

Got a picture.
What the width of the joints on the old brick?
Most shoot for a 3/8 joint.

hand drive · 12-01-2012, 10:59 AM

I've seen larger mortar joints used to fill in a given space and talking to your mason before pulling on bricks is recommended...

Tscarborough · 12-02-2012, 10:45 PM

Wat does this have to do with doing it yourself?

11-30-2012, 08:33 PM	#1
consudad Newbie Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 1	New construction brick work looks questionable large joints too I am having an addition put on my house. The block wall has brick veneer to match the exisitng brick band around the base of the house. The mortar joints seem too large, 3/4" and after a few days I was able to pull up the brick on the corners by hand. No adhesion of the mortar to the brick. The courses under the immediate corner is solid or at least I can not pull up by hand. Is the mortar mix bad or has it not cured yet? Is there a maximum joint size?

11-30-2012, 09:05 PM	#2
gwilkrrs Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: maryland Posts: 108	New construction brick work looks questionable large joints too the joints can vary in size- i think you would want them to match what the existing house has....... sounds like there may be a touch too much sand in the mix- the bricks should knit together and not be able to be hand plucked off......

11-30-2012, 10:32 PM	#3
joecaption Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Hartfield VA Posts: 18,811	New construction brick work looks questionable large joints too Got a picture. What the width of the joints on the old brick? Most shoot for a 3/8 joint.

12-01-2012, 10:59 AM	#4
hand drive AHH, SPANS!!! Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Durham NC Posts: 1,229	New construction brick work looks questionable large joints too I've seen larger mortar joints used to fill in a given space and talking to your mason before pulling on bricks is recommended...

12-02-2012, 10:45 PM	#5
Tscarborough Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,037	New construction brick work looks questionable large joints too Wat does this have to do with doing it yourself? __________________ Advice is free, Lessons begin at 75 bucks an hour.

New construction brick work looks questionable large joints too