Question about buttering brick with a trowel vs just laying dry

Had an old timer on a job in Austin tell me I waste time buttering every brick and that modern mortar sticks fine without it. Anyone else test this out and see a difference in the long run?

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2 Comments

amy_martin2mo ago

Stick with buttering... saves you from callbacks when those bricks start wicking moisture behind the wall.

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evan_davis2mo ago

Wait, are you saying you've actually seen bricks wicking moisture from buttered joints? @amy_martin, that's wild to me because I've always heard the opposite about the buttering method preventing callbacks. Your mileage may vary, but I guess it really depends on the climate and how well the brick's soaked beforehand.

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