How much will this mortar lighten?

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

They have started laying brick on our new home. Right now when I look at it all I see is dark mortar Lines around the brick and the pretty brick gets lost. But I know it will lighten but I’m worried it won’t lighten enough. We paid extra for light buff color. Here is a picture of ours and a picture of someone else’s house I realize they used white mortar I think but I still thought light buff would be lighter than what ours looks like. Please tell me it will lighten up and If you have before and after pictures of your mortar dried I’d love to see it. Thank you!!!

Featured Answer

Amy Goodman
Original Author

6 years ago

Thank you everyone! Exactly what I needed to hear. Was so scared I made a horrible choice. It warmed up yesterday and today and it has already changed a bunch. Really excited about it now! Thanks again everyone I just need to learn patience.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (17)

12358w
6 years ago
Do you have a color sample of the light buff?
Amy Goodman
Original Author
6 years ago
No we just got to look at the samples at the brick yard. I checked with our brick guy and he said it will lighten up. Fingers crossed!!!
Related Professionals
Aurora Architects & Building Designers · Brooklyn Architects & Building Designers · Coldwater Design-Build Firms · Detroit Design-Build Firms · Laconia Design-Build Firms · Bennington Design-Build Firms · Gary Home Builders · Huntsville Interior Designers & Decorators · Lake Charles Interior Designers & Decorators · California Interior Designers & Decorators · Newburyport Interior Designers & Decorators · Monroe Interior Designers & Decorators · Show Low Interior Designers & Decorators · Albuquerque Architects & Building Designers · Waterloo Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
6 years ago
How do you expect anyone here to know how much your mortar will lighten?? Ask your mason.
David Cary
6 years ago
That doesn't look like light mortar.

We had a similar brick done 11 years ago. We had the same discussion about lightening up with drying. It was $1000 to get a lighter color and $6000 to go white. We almost did standard gray but did a small strip in the back and hated it. So we paid $1000 and it was never as light as we wanted but way better than gray.

We sold the house and the buyers reportedly loved our brick. And then they painted it.

And when we built last year - we did painted.

Brick and mortar color issues suck. But at least there is paint.
Amy Goodman
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you Mark but I already did please see above. Have a Happy New Year!
ljk1
6 years ago
Yes, it should lighten up quite a bit. I don’t have pictures but on one of the houses we built the mortar was so dark it made our brick look different. I just knew they used the wrong brick! But every day the mortar seemed to lighten. After a few months it looked amazing. And the brick was the brick we had selected!
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
IMO it high lights the brick.
ci_lantro
6 years ago
It's going to lighten up a lot as the mortar dries/ cures. Don't get in a hurry because it's going to take longer because it's winter and the cure will take longer.

You could grab a gob of wet mortar and keep it (heated) indoors to watch the change.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
6 years ago
You're welcome Amy, rely on what your brick guy told you please see above. Have a Happy New Year!
HU-434593309
last year
Sorry Amy, Mark is not a very nice guy He sure seems to be having a bad day A VERY BAD day Not much of a ’people person’ I can totally understand being uneasy about a choice and wanting to know other people’s experience Even though it may be different from your experience, it helps during the waiting time to ask and share outcomes Calm down Mark, im sure Amy understands that Try to he a little nicer, its really not hard 😊
millworkman
last year
HU-434593309 , 5 year old post that you dug up for that help?
PRO
Norwood Architects
last year
Amy (original poster) since it has been so long I am wondering if the mortar lightened up as much as you thought it would.
worthy
last year
last modified: last year
Yep, architects can be real moody.
PRO
CAGE Design Build
5 months ago
Hope your mortar lightened up like you had hoped. Would love to see photos!
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
5 months ago
Light Buff is not White
millworkman
5 months ago
6 year old post.......................