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Always thought a 3/8 inch joint was fine for a garden wall, but my neighbor's fence proved me wrong.

I built a short retaining wall for my own yard last spring, using a standard 3/8 inch mortar joint. It looked fine, but after a rough winter, a few bricks had shifted. Then I saw my neighbor's similar wall, built with a 1/2 inch joint, and his was totally solid. He said the extra mortar gives it more grip, especially with the freeze-thaw cycles we get here in Ohio. Anyone else notice a big difference with slightly thicker joints on smaller outdoor jobs?
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2 Comments
angela890
angela8905d ago
Wait, you only used a 3/8 inch joint outside? That seems way too thin for holding bricks together in the weather. The mortar is the only thing keeping them from moving, so more of it makes sense. I'm surprised your wall lasted as long as it did.
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perez.thea
No way, 3/8 inch outside?!
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