Raked Out Mortar Joints

For this project we used a raked joint mortar profile.

Raked out mortar joints. Due to the fact that the mortar sits back from the face of the brick there is less cover between the face of the mortar joint and the top of the brick unit where the cores exist. In masonry mortar joints are the spaces between bricks concrete blocks or glass blocks that are filled with mortar or grout if the surface of the masonry remains unplastered the joints contribute significantly to the appearance of the masonry. Again work from the outside corners inward photo 3. 2 times the joint s width a carbide tipped grout saw works well on these inch wide butter joints on wider joints use a cold chisel and an engineer s hammer.

These aggressive cleaning techniques can open up additional voids and separations which increases the likelihood of water. The raked joint is another joint not recommended for exterior use because its ledge may allow water snow ice to sit on top of the brick. Joints wider than inch have to be deeper. Mortar joints can be made in a series of different fashions but the most common ones are raked grapevine extruded concave v struck flush.

The drill makes quick work of removing mortar but be careful. Scrape out the horizontal joints to a depth of at least inch. Pull the board straight down to created a raked joint. To rake joints hold the board perpendicular to the bricks and move it back and forth first along the vertical joints and then the horizontal joints.

Remove any mortar you pull away from the joint. Premier diamond products mortar raking blades and evorake bits provide a great solution for raking out mortar joints prior to re pointing. If some of the mortar is still hard and the arrises soft then a chisel with chip the arises and repointing can look a mess if you use a grinder use a proper thicker grinding blade not a cutting blade i ve used a rake attachment but found it harder to see the joint properly to allow the tool to be pushed in a straight line. Set the drill on the rotating mode it puts less pressure on the bricks.

When mortar is raked out of the joints it is smeared on the edges of the brick at the recesses. Keep the chisel point in the mortar joint and keep moving the hammer. To remove the mortar contractors often clean the walls multiple times with acid solutions or moderate to high pressure water. To make your own raked joint tool drive a 6d box nail into a short 1x2 board so that it matches the depth of the existing joints.

Insert the nail head on the rake you made into a vertical joint.