It seems like such a small thing. Why should you be concerned with coloring mortar? Well, seemingly small details can have a big impact on the final product. Those spaces between bricks play a significant role in how you perceive the whole wall. Think back to all of the color- and line-based optical illusions that boggled your mind as a child.
Designers or customers may obsess over the color of the bricks or blocks they choose. But what about the mortar? Mortar can make up as much as 20% of the surface area of a masonry wall. Would you leave nearly a quarter of a wall unpainted or a decorative concrete patio only partially colored? Of course not! Give your mortar the same consideration.
Mortar color has a great effect on the overall appearance of the brick wall. Lighter colors, for example, are often used to make individual bricks “pop” or stand out more. Using matching or complimentary mortar color can help make a more homogeneous appearance. A darker shade may make the bricks seem richer and deeper in color.
Mortar color has a profound impact on the visual appeal of a masonry project. Just take a look at side-by-side examples of brick walls with colored and natural mortar. Entire neighborhoods and cities have derived their signature look from brick with colored mortar. If it weren't important, colored mortar would not have had a place in masonry for a century.
