How to Improve the Look of Brick
Brick surfaces can be improved with cleaning, repair and concealment. Brickwork is commonly used for walkways, chimneys and walls and facades, both indoors and outside. Brick has a porous, rough surface that tends to harbor dirt, mold and moss, so cleaning will go a long way toward improving the overall appearance of the brickwork. The bricks and mortar also crack and disintegrate with age, so replacement can dramatically improve the appearance of brickwork. And if all else fails, you can conceal the brick surface with paint or plant life. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Power washer
- Fine wire brush
- Bucket
- Hammer
- Chisel
- Mortar
- Trowel
- Paint or sealant
- Paintbrush
- Shovel
- English Ivy
- Trellis
- Zip ties
Instructions
-
-
1
Power wash outdoor walls and brick walkways to remove dirt, moss and mold. Scrub indoor brick walls and floors with a wet fine wire brush to remove dirt.
-
2
Replace broken bricks. Remove the old brick by chipping it out with a hammer and chisel. Apply mortar to the edges of the empty slot and slide a new brick into place.
-
-
3
Repair cracked mortar joints. Remove loose mortar with a hammer and chisel. Use a trowel to fill in the space with new mortar.
-
4
Paint brick walls and brick facades for a clean, even look or apply a sealant to protect the bricks.
-
5
Plant English Ivy or another fast-growing "traveling" vine in front of the brick facade, chimney or wall.
-
6
Place a trellis beside the brick structure and train the plant to grow up the trellis by attaching the vines to the trellis structure with zip ties.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Use an angle grinder to remove large portions of damaged mortar.
Remove mortar from the brick surface using a wet wire brush.
Do not encourage the ivy to grow directly onto the brick face. The plant will send anchoring roots into the brickwork, resulting in deterioration of the bricks and mortar. Use a trellis instead.
References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
