Started buttering both ends of the brick after 8 years of just buttering one... anyone else do this?

So I've been laying brick for about 12 years now. Always did the standard butter one end, slap it down, tap it level. Last month on a job in Nashville, this old timer walks by my wall and says "you're leaving half your bond on the floor." He showed me how he butters both ends and the top edge before setting. Told me it fills those little gaps you can't see. I tried it for the rest of the day. My mud usage went up maybe 20% but I swear the wall felt tighter. Could be in my head though. Has anyone else switched methods like that and noticed a real difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

reed.ray26d ago

Man that old timer was totally right. I switched to buttering both ends about three years ago and will NEVER go back. The mud usage goes up for sure but you're not just filling gaps, you're basically pre-sealing the whole joint which keeps water from wicking in later on. My walls feel way more solid when I tap them with the handle too, like there's no hollow spots anywhere. Its one of those things where once you see the difference you can't unsee it.

blairsanchez26d ago

3 years of buttering both ends and my mud bill went up 40%. @reed.ray I get what you're saying about the solid feel but I found out the hard way that overpacked joints can actually trap moisture instead of letting it dry out. Had a section on my north wall that stayed damp for weeks after a rain because there was nowhere for the water to go once it got in. Now I just run a thin bead on one side and tap the boards tight, leaves a tiny gap that actually breathes. Never had a hollow spot issue doing it this way.