Old timer told me to butter my ends. Changed my whole game.

Been laying brick for about 4 years now. Always just slapped mortar on the bed and set the brick. Then this 60 year old guy named Bill watched me for like 2 minutes on a job last fall. He goes "you know you're gonna get cold joints doing that right?" Told me to always butter the vertical ends of every brick before setting it. I was like nah that takes too long. But I tried it on a retaining wall I did near my house in Akron. Huge difference. No more gaps or weak spots. My wall came out way straighter too. Anyone else get taught this way late?

2 comments

2 Comments

david7013d ago

Bill's right, buttering ends saves you from cold joints down the road, you'll thank him later.

leo_harris3d ago

First joint I did without buttering cracked within a year. Never again.