Restoration and remodeling projects
always wind up with a short
list of details that require attention
— a punch list. Similarly, writing
this column produces a punch list
of questions and comments from
readers that need to be addressed.
James Koger writes from Los
Angeles:
"Recently I inspected an old, turnof-
the-century, Philadelphia brick row
house, and there is one thing that bothers
me. I noticed the mortar joints
were very thin, averaging about 1/8
inch. Is it possible joints of this thickness
were constructed on purpose? Or,
could poor mortar dissipate (grain by
grain) over time?"
Thin mortar joints, sometimes
called "butter joints," were often
used from the late 18th century
throughout the 19th century. Early
masons knew the purpose of