r/masonry:

u/BrimstoneOmega

For sure! Here’s the finished product!
u/BrimstoneOmega

Lmao, sure bud, if you wanna take it that way, but I don’t know why you would. I just gave you an example of mason without mortar which is also hardscaping.
u/BrimstoneOmega

Dude literally asked me if it was shit.
u/BrimstoneOmega

No mortar went into this, it is also hardscaping, which the other guy said isn’t masonry. I dunno, you tell me?
u/BrimstoneOmega

I think they want to do something like this
u/BrimstoneOmega

No need to tape. Do NOT soak the bricks. But do keep a bucket of clean water with a drywall sponge in it. Keep your fingers clean, and clean off any of that polymer mortar quickly. That stuff isn’t coming off once it sets. Keeping them level will be tricky, maybe get some tile spacers and lay them like virtical tile. Just use a normal type N for the joints. You don’t need mesh, but it wouldn’t hurt. Check out Speedy Mason instead of mesh. That will help immensely. https://www.speedymason.com/products/brick-lath It’s a vinyl product that actually has little ledges for the brick to sit on.
u/BrimstoneOmega

That was more because some guy just told you no, it’s not masonry if it’s hardscaping or dry stacked. I left it up to you to decide, because two professionals had a different opinion.
u/BrimstoneOmega

No kidding.
u/BrimstoneOmega

Fucking hell. For $8 grand, I’ll fly out to Connecticut and fix that shit for you (I live in Wisconsin). Ffs….
u/BrimstoneOmega

Yes. I am. Edit: I should elaborate, because yes, this is a massive concern. In an otherwise structurally sound wall, the weak points land at the joints. If the joints have holes in them or exposed aggregate, this will lead to deterioration of the joint. Without a doubt. And once that spot washes out in a few years, then it will expose more aggregate, and turn into a snowballing problem.