My uncle swore by using a 3/8 inch joint for everything, but it cost me a job in Tempe

My uncle, who laid brick for 30 years, always told me a 3/8 inch mortar joint was the only way to go for a clean look. I followed that advice on a big patio job last month in Tempe, Arizona. The homeowner specifically wanted a historic, rustic feel, and when the architect saw my work, he pointed out that the thinner joint made it look too modern and precise. I had to tear out and redo two full days of work with a 1/2 inch joint instead. Has anyone else had a client or inspector call them out for a joint size that was technically fine but stylistically wrong?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_river3mo ago

Tempe's got historic building rules that strict? I didn't know architects would make you redo a whole patio over an eighth of an inch difference.

allen.ruby3mo ago

Sounds about right for historic boards. They'll measure your grass blades next.

nancy_green28d ago

Oh man, you wouldn't believe how picky these historic boards can be. An eighth of an inch is basically nothing to most people, but to them it's like you built a whole different structure. They have these old photos and plans from like the 1920s and they'll measure everything down to the hair. I've heard stories where they made someone redo a porch railing because the spacing was off by a quarter inch from the original. It's not just Tempe either, a lot of those historic districts are super strict because they want everything to look exactly like it did a hundred years ago. Have you ever dealt with a historic board before or are you thinking about buying in one of those neighborhoods?