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Grout joint size debate after a retaining wall job in Greenville
I was working on a retaining wall last month in Greenville and switched from 3/8 inch joints to 1/2 inch on the fly because the stones were a little uneven. The wall went up faster and I didn't need to chip as much, but now I'm wondering if the bigger joints will hold up over time or if they'll crack out in a few years. A buddy of mine swears by tight 3/8 joints for anything over 4 feet tall, says the extra mortar just adds weak spots. But the homeowner liked the wider look and it saved me a day of labor. Any of you guys run into trouble with wider joints on retaining walls, or is it mostly fine if you use the right mix?
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ross.jessica9d ago
Seems like life's full of tradeoffs, bigger joints save time now but might cost you later.
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robinl909d ago
Bigger joints definitely save rolling time upfront but man, the hand fatigue hits different when you're holding one that's thicker than your thumb. Plus there's the whole burning uneven situation where the center runs faster than the edges, so you end up wasting more than you would with a couple smaller ones. Friend of mine used to roll massive cannons and half the time they'd canoe and need relighting, which kind of defeats the whole time saving purpose. Then you're stuck babysitting a smoldering log instead of just enjoying a nice even burn.
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