Pointing terminology — select the single correct statement Which ONE of the following statements correctly matches a mortar-joint finish with its standard name in brick masonry?

Introduction / Context:
Pointing provides a durable, weather-resisting finish to exposed joints in brick masonry. Different profiles change both appearance and rain-shedding performance. Knowing the standard names avoids confusion in specifications and site execution.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Common pointing types considered: flush, recessed, keyed (concave), struck/weathered, beaded, ruled, and tuck pointing.
• We must pick exactly one correct statement.

Concept / Approach:
Keyed (concave) pointing is formed by running a rounded steel tool to produce a concave surface, which is good at shedding rain and resisting erosion. Tuck pointing produces a narrow raised fillet (often white) over a flush joint and is not the same as a joint broadly projecting beyond the face. Ruled pointing is a flush or slightly recessed joint impressed with a narrow groove (rule line), not an inclined surface. A uniformly recessed joint is called recessed pointing, whereas beaded pointing forms a raised bead, not a uniform recess.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Illustrations in building construction texts depict keyed pointing as concave; tuck as a raised false joint; ruled as a grooved line; recessed as a set-back joint.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• (b) Confuses tuck (raised fillet) with a general projecting joint; projecting joints are called raised or beaded.
• (c) Inward-upward sloped joints are struck/weathered, not ruled.
• (d) A uniform recess is “recessed pointing,” not “beaded.”

Common Pitfalls:
Mixing up terminology, especially tuck vs beaded; assuming any groove is “ruled” regardless of the base profile.

Final Answer:
A joint finished with a concave profile using a rounded steel tool is called a keyed joint