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What is Raked Mortar?

Published in Masonry Joints 2 mins read

Raked mortar refers to a type of mortar joint in masonry where the mortar is set back or recessed from the face of the bricks or stones.

Based on the provided reference, raked mortar joints are commonly found in older brick and mortar walls. The distinctive feature is that these are flat mortar joints slightly recessed from the front edge of the brick.

Here's a breakdown of what raked mortar entails:

  • Recessed: The mortar does not extend all the way to the front surface or edge of the bricks.
  • Exposed Edge: The process involves "raking out" the mortar to intentionally expose the edge of the bricks.
  • Flat Joint: The surface of the mortar joint itself is flat, but it sits behind the plane of the brick face.

This creates a shadow line that can emphasize the individual bricks within the wall structure.

Key Characteristic

The defining characteristic of raked mortar, as per the reference, can be summarized:

Feature Description
Joint Type Flat mortar joint
Placement Slightly recessed from the front edge of the brick
Appearance Mortar does not come to the edge, exposing brick edge

In essence, raked mortar is defined by its recessed profile, which highlights the brick edges by setting the mortar joint back from the wall's surface.

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