A retired guy at the hardware store changed how I look at old brick walls

I was picking up some Type N mortar at the local supply place in Springfield last Tuesday, and this older man, maybe in his 70s, was looking at the same bags. We got talking about a 1920s wall I was fixing. I mentioned how I was going to grind out all the old joints and re-point it clean. He just shook his head and said, 'Son, sometimes the best thing you can do for an old wall is leave it alone. That mortar's part of its story.' He pointed out how the slight wear and the old lime mix actually helped the bricks breathe and shed water. I'd always been taught to make everything look new. But he was right. I ended up just doing a few spot repairs instead of the whole thing. It saved me two days of work and the wall looks better, more honest. Has anyone else had an old-timer give you advice that went against what you were taught?

2 comments

2 Comments

perry.jessica1mo ago

But @wadefoster, sometimes old walls just need to be fixed right.

wadefoster1mo ago

That's a really good point about old walls. I used to be all about making things look perfect and new. Hearing that changed my mind about what "fixed up" really means.