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Raking the Butter Joints

October 4, 2011

Cleaning the joints between blocks of sandstone, prep for new mortar.

The process of renewing the beautiful stonework of the Avery Block Building includes cleaning both the sandstone and the joints between the stones. In a process called “raking the butter joints,” craftsmen shown here are cleaning out loose material from the tight joints between the stone. Later, once all the unsound material has been removed, new mortar will be inserted between the stones.

There’s an art to analyzing the original mortar and formulating the right mix for historic preservation. In a laboratory we’ll identify all the components of the original mortar recipe, as well as the concentration of each component. But that won’t give us the final recipe for our “new” mortar. All mortar slowly changes color as it ages, so we’ll add a tint to mimic the effect of 114 years of exposure to Colorado sunshine.

Before any mortar can be applied, the mix must be verified and approved by the state for its historical accuracy.

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