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Opinions Matter

I used to think a 3/8 inch joint was fine for everything, but a guy on a job in Tacoma set me straight | Bricklayers - Opinions Matter

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oscar712•6mo ago

I used to think a 3/8 inch joint was fine for everything, but a guy on a job in Tacoma set me straight

We were laying some heavy-duty pavers for a driveway and I was just going with my usual joint width. This older bricklayer, Pete, watched me for a minute and said, 'You're gonna get heave in a year with that tight joint in this weather.' He explained that with the freeze-thaw cycles up here, you need a full 1/2 inch joint with the right polymeric sand to let things move without cracking. I switched it up for the rest of that job, about 500 square feet, and it's been solid for two winters now. Anyone else adjust their specs for different climates?

3 comments

3 Comments

gavinw456mo ago

That's climate specific work right there. The freeze-thaw cycle is no joke and needs room to move. Makes total sense to listen to the local guys who've seen it all.