Remember when everyone used to slap stucco over old brick here?

I was redoing my kitchen in the North Valley last fall and pulled off some 80s paneling. Found a whole section of original 1940s brick behind it, but the mortar was just dust. I mixed up a small batch of type N to patch it, but the color was way off, looked like a bad patch job. An old timer at the lumber yard on 4th told me to add a bit of local red dirt to the mix. Tried it, and the repair just disappeared into the old wall. Anyone know a good source for that kind of dirt now, or a matching pre-mix?

2 comments

2 Comments

avery_walker301mo ago

A guy at the salvage yard on Central said they sometimes keep buckets of old mortar dust.

coleman.christopher1mo ago

Yeah, that tracks. Those old school yards are the only places that hold onto that kind of stuff anymore. It's a real pain trying to find proper materials for a period-correct repair. Makes you appreciate the guys who know what they've got and don't just toss it.