Choosing Brick Mortar: Have You Approved the Joint Shape, Too?
Approve the mortar joint shape as well as its color before new exterior brickwork begins. The profile affects the appearance of the wall and its resistance to rain penetration. Ask the mason to identify the proposed finish and explain why it suits the exposure, rather than choosing from a photograph alone.
Look at the space between the bricks
A mortar color sample does not show the complete finished joint. Concave joints curve inward; V-shaped joints have an angular recess. A raked joint sets the mortar face back from the brick face. Those differences deserve a separate conversation from the choice of pigment.
The Brick Industry Association explains that joint treatment changes the wall texture and shadow lines. Its guidance also distinguishes tooled joints, which compress and shape the mortar, from joints finished with a trowel. For a new garden wall or entry feature in Middle Tennessee, bring your inspiration photograph, but ask which details it actually shows.
Ask why that profile belongs outdoors
BIA Technical Note 7B identifies concave, V-shaped, and grapevine joints as especially resistant to water penetration in exterior brickwork. Proper tooling consolidates the exposed mortar against the brick. It cautions that other profiles can leave ledges that hold water or lack the same consolidation.
That does not make a joint profile a waterproofing system or a verdict on an existing wall. If the project involves repairing older masonry rather than building new work, request a separate assessment before changing its established finish. Do not treat a preferred appearance as instructions to grind out sound joints.
Make the finish approval specific
Before authorizing the visible work, ask three questions: What is the joint profile called? Will horizontal and vertical joints have the same finish? Where can we see a representative example using the selected brick and mortar?
For a sample panel, have the agreed profile included rather than approving color alone. Record the accepted example with the proposal and identify who may authorize a change. If the sample differs from your photograph, resolve that difference before the crew repeats it across the wall.
Milliken Corporation lists brick and stone work among its masonry services. When requesting a proposal, describe whether you are planning a new feature or trying to match existing work, and include both an overall view and a close photograph of the joints.
Frequently asked questions
Is a recessed joint always a raked joint?
No. A concave joint also curves inward. Ask for the profile name or a cross-section sketch rather than relying on the word recessed.
Does approving the color also approve the joint finish?
Make them separate items in your written selection. A color reference alone leaves the shape of the finished joint unspecified.