Designing in Brick - Mortar & Joints

Raked Joint
Older brick and mortar walls commonly have raked joints, which are flat mortar joints slightly recessed from the front edge of the brick. Raked mortar does not come all the way to the edge of the bricks, as the mortar is raked out to expose the edge of the bricks. While this can affect the mortar’s efficiency in keeping out moisture, it is also used as a design feature in modern masonry design.

Concave or Groove Joint
This is the style you will see on most brick structures where the mortar has a slight curve inward. Bricklayers will use a curved jointing tool to create the concave joints, which can look like the mortar has been lightly pressed by a finger. This look is a clean, subtle and classic way to use mortar as a design element in masonry.

Flush Joint
Flush-style mortar joints involve mortar that is directly level with the brick face. There is no curve, dent or indentation in the mortar like you would find in other joint styles. The flushed joint offers a clean look, but it is difficult to create a tight bond between the brick and mortar.

Vee or V Joint
Similar to concave or groove joints, but with a little more dynamism, the V joint features a V-shaped indentation instead of a smooth curve. This mortar joint style is more sleek and modern, making it a good choice for those seeking a contemporary design flair for their home or building.

Grapevine Joint
Historically, the grapevine joint was very popular during the colonial era of
architecture in the United States. It is made using a grapevine jointer, which is a metal blade with a raised bead that creates a depressed line in the center of the mortar joint. The lines are mostly rough and wavy, which gives the slightly irregular appearance of a grapevine. Typically, mortar joints are straight, so this type of joint offers a very stylized look. This joint is mostly used on antique finish and matte finish brickwork.

Extruded or Squeezed Joint
The look of the extruded or squeezed joint is very highly textured and rustic, making it an interesting aesthetic choice for those who are looking for a particularly rough or stylized visual effect to their mortar and masonry. Squeezed joints are commonly seen in indoor architecture and outdoor fences.

Overmortar or "German Smear"
Overmortar or “German Smear” is a trendy design treatment that involves using mortar outside the joints. The mason lays the brick and strikes the mortar joints, then comes back and uses the trowel like a brush, spreading a thin coating of mortar over the brick façade. The technique allows the natural brick color to come through while creating a rough, distressed texture. When complete, the finished effect mimics the look of irregular stones and heavy mortar joints, a rustic style seen in old European cottages, manors and castles. Although traditional German Smear involves white mortar over red brick, unique designs can be achieved with varying brick colors and mortar tints.