What's the difference between hand-raking and grinder-cutting mortar joints for tuckpointing on soft heritage bricks?

Hand-raking is the preferred method for soft heritage bricks because it removes deteriorated mortar without damaging the brick edges, while grinder-cutting can easily chip, crack, or overheat soft clay bricks that are often 80-100+ years old.

The fundamental difference lies in how each method removes old mortar and the stress it places on the surrounding brick. Hand-raking uses specialized tools — joint rakers, plugging chisels, and narrow cold chisels — to carefully scrape and chip out deteriorated mortar by hand. This method allows the mason to feel the resistance of the material and stop when they reach sound mortar or the brick edge. Grinder-cutting uses a 4-inch angle grinder with a diamond blade or mortar rake attachment to mechanically cut through mortar joints quickly and uniformly.

For soft heritage bricks common in pre-1945 Toronto homes (Beaches, Cabbagetown, Riverdale, High Park), hand-raking is almost always the correct choice. These bricks were fired at lower temperatures than modern bricks, making them softer and more porous. Heritage bricks can be easily chipped by grinder vibration, and the heat generated by grinding can cause thermal shock that creates hairline cracks in the brick face. Many heritage bricks in Toronto are also slightly irregular in size and shape, meaning grinder cuts often wander into the brick itself rather than staying centered in the mortar joint.

Hand-raking advantages for heritage work:

• Complete control over depth and pressure — the mason can feel when they've reached sound mortar or brick


• No vibration damage to soft brick edges


• No heat buildup that can thermally shock clay bricks


• Ability to follow irregular joint lines without cutting into brick


• Preserves the character of hand-laid heritage masonry where joints may vary in width

Grinder-cutting advantages for hard modern bricks:

• Much faster — can complete joints 3-4 times quicker than hand-raking


• Creates uniform joint depth and width


• Effective on very hard mortars that resist hand tools


• Consistent results with less skill variation between masons

When grinder-cutting is appropriate: Modern hard-fired bricks (post-1950s construction) with deteriorated Type S or Type N Portland cement mortar can usually handle grinder-cutting without damage. Homes in Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, and newer Toronto subdivisions typically have brick that can withstand mechanical joint cutting. However, even with hard bricks, experienced masons often hand-rake the final 5-10mm of joint depth to avoid accidentally cutting into the brick.

GTA heritage brick considerations: Many Toronto neighbourhoods have soft clay bricks that were manufactured locally in the early 1900s. These bricks often show their age through surface weathering, spalling, or soft edges. If you can easily scratch the brick surface with a coin or if the brick edges crumble when pressed with a fingernail, hand-raking is mandatory. Using a grinder on deteriorated heritage brick can cause catastrophic damage that requires expensive brick replacement.

Cost implications: Hand-raking typically adds $3-$8 per square foot to tuckpointing costs in the GTA due to increased labour time, but this is far less expensive than replacing damaged heritage bricks at $15-$40 per brick plus matching mortar work. Quality heritage masonry contractors factor hand-raking time into their estimates and won't cut corners with grinders on soft brick.

Professional assessment required: An experienced mason can determine the appropriate removal method by testing a small, inconspicuous area first. They'll assess brick hardness, mortar condition, and joint geometry before proceeding. Heritage brick tuckpointing should only be done by masons experienced with pre-war Toronto construction — the techniques and materials are different from modern masonry work.

Need help finding a heritage masonry specialist? Toronto Parging can match you with contractors experienced in pre-war Toronto brick restoration through the Toronto Construction Network.