Over in Scotch Creek, one of our trusted sub-trades, Marcus Buhrig of Marcus Masonry, is in the midst of a highly successful schmear campaign.
No, we’re not talking about mudslinging. We’re talking about an excellent way to bring new life to a boring brick facade. The technique is called the German schmear (or smear), and it’s also known as a mortar wash. It involves applying a thin coat of mortar over the surface of the brick, and then “smearing” it off, in order to leave a textured, whitewashed finish behind.
It’s actually not a new technique — masons have employed it for centuries to restore and add character to home and building exteriors and interiors. More recently, it’s being employed in new construction to give added character to newly installed brick. That’s the case with our boat house/suite project in Scotch Creek.
The photo above left is of the front of the building, with the German schmear completed. In the photo above right, you can see what the brick looks like before (right) and after (left).
Here at Copper Island Fine Homes, we’re committed to finishing your Shuswap dream home with any and all finishes that appeal to you, including the time-honoured technique of German schmearing!
