Finally got my butter joints to look clean after 6 months of trying

I switched from a 3/8 to a 1/2 inch trowel on a job in Austin last week and the mortar started sticking right for the first time. Anyone else find that trowel size makes that much of a difference in how your joints come out?

3 comments

3 Comments

king.val1mo ago

Trowel size matters but your mortar mix is probably the real issue.

evahenderson1mo ago

You mention mortar mix being the issue, but I think most people overlook how important the substrate prep is too. If the wall isn't properly cleaned and wetted down before you start, even the best mix won't stick right. I've seen plenty of jobs where the mix was fine but the bricks were dusty or too dry, and that caused all the bonding problems.

grant4781mo ago

Yeah, that actually makes me rethink a few jobs I messed up (oops).