Extruded Mortar

9 years ago

I have an older home built in the 1950`s which has a portion of the exterior finished in brick. I purchased the home about 8 months ago so I don`t know very much about the history. The brick portion of the exterior has an extruded mortar finish and the brick has been painted at least twice. I`m looking to paint the exterior next spring or summer and the extruded mortar is going to make painting a challenge.

Should I consider knocking off or knocking back the mortar to be flush with the brick face and sealing the exposed mortar followed by painting? Or should I just paint right over the current exterior as it has been done in the past?

Featured Answer

dirt_cred

9 years ago

re Trebruchet's response - there is elastomeric paint which is intended for mortar - just google it. It allows breathing. i.e. "An exterior, flexible high-build coating designed to expand & contract, bridging hairline cracks in vertical masonry surfaces. This extremely durable, mildew & dirt resistant waterproofing finish has superior elasticity & elongation properties to resist cracking. It withstands 98 mph wind-driven rain. The 100% acrylic latex formula provides a breathable film, releasing moisture that builds in walls."

Also, since it's already been painted, is that issue moot?

Comments (7)

lazy_gardens
9 years ago
It was a deliberate design detail you might want to keep.

Knocking off the 'weeping mortar' is HARD because it was applied to raw brick and it is firmly attached. Try it in an inconspicuous area and see if you can handle it without damaging the brick.

Painting is easy: It's a job for a high-volume low-pressure paint sprayer.
calgaryhhr
Original Author
9 years ago
I did actually knock off some mortar this weekend with my rock hammer and it was quite easy. I was installing a new exterior light fixture and the mortar was interfering with the fixture in a few areas.

Obviously having to knock off the mortar for the entire brick area would be a long a tedious task. I`m personally not a big fan of the look of the extruded mortar but in our case it is painted a dark colour and it isn`t really noticeable from the street and we would be staying with a dark colour.
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Joseph Corlett, LLC
9 years ago
Don't seal mortar and bricks. If moisture can't exit bricks, it can blow the fronts off in a freeze.
calgaryhhr
Original Author
9 years ago
dirt_cred - thanks for the info on the brick and mortar paint. I found the product you were referring to. I wasn`t sure if there was something that should be applied to the exposed mortar if I was to go ahead and chip of the existing portions which are extruded.
energy_rater_la
9 years ago
learn something new every day!

I've never seen extruded mortar...LOL!
it looks like extremely sloppy work instead of
an intended final product!

I'll keep my eyes peeled for examples of
extruded mortar in my southern area.

best of luck.
Brenda Gutstadt
9 years ago
Actually extruded brick mortar is harder to do than the standard mortar because you have to keep it from falling off while drying! despite that I will take a stone chisel or grinder saw and kiss it goodbye it is a very dated look in the 1964 rancher I have (what were they thinking??) Knocking it off may damage the bricks, but painting it or stuccoing over it will smooth it out an cover up those knick and cracks and also seal it from weather.