Veteran masons say today's mortar isn't your grandfather's mix — and that matters.

In Alexandria, they take mortar very seriously. When old buildings are repaired, mortar -- the stuff that binds rows of brick or stone into walls -- becomes critical. "You can ruin a house by using ...

A reader recently emailed me, seeking advice on whether to take on a do-it-yourself repair of the mortar around her brick masonry. She regularly performs hands-on maintenance around her home, she said ...