How to Replace a Damaged Brick

Contributor

By Murray Anderson
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (10 Ratings)

Replace a Damaged Brick

Bricks are exposed to the elements and all kinds of weather, so it’s no wonder that they sometimes crack or have pieces break off that need to be replaced. If a brick is broken or cracked, it should be replaced, because the opening will be allowing moisture to get inside your walls. Now, replacing a brick in a wall (or a chimney) sounds pretty intimidating, but it’s really not that difficult a job. You do need a couple of special (but not expensive) tools, which will cost less than hiring a mason to do the job. Here’s how you can go about replacing a damaged brick.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Safety goggles
Cold chisel
Bolster chisel
Small sledge hammer (lump hammer)
Hammer drill
Masonry bit
Bucket
Water
Sharp trowel
Mortar mix and coloring
Corrugated cardboard

Step 1

Finding a replacement brick to match the color of your wall may be your toughest job. If your brick is only cracked and not totally broken, an option may be to remove it intact, then turn it around and face the good side out.
Step 2

Remove the broken brick by drilling a series of holes through the mortar surrounding the brick. Drill the holes as close together as possible to release the mortar’s grip on the brick.
Step 3

Try to remove the brick by jiggling it. If it is still held firmly, use your bolster chisel to cut through the mortar holding the brick in place.
Step 4

Once the brick is loose, remove it, and if you’re going to be reusing it, place it in a bucket of water. If you’re using a new brick as the replacement, it needs to be soaked in water for at least an hour before installation as well.
Step 5

Use your bolster chisel or cold chisel to clean out any mortar in the gap and remove all the mortar debris from the hole.
Step 6

Mix a small batch of mortar following the directions on the bag. You can see what color the mortar will be when it dries by putting a small portion on some corrugated cardboard. The cardboard will absorb the moisture from the mortar quickly and you can determine its final color. Add mortar coloring to the mortar batch until you get a color match with the existing mortar.
Step 7

Spray the bricks around the hole with water (to stop them from absorbing moisture from the new mortar and drying it too quickly), then spread a thick bed of mortar on the bottom of the hole.
Step 8

Remove the replacement brick from the bucket of water and apply mortar to the top and ends of the brick with a sharp trowel and place it in the hole, pressing it firmly into the mortar bed.
Step 9

Align the brick with brick on each side, ensuring the gaps are consistent. If there are any voids, apply some more mortar and press it in.
Step 10

Use the handle of the trowel to make the new mortar joint match the joints in the rest of the wall.
Step 11

Allow the mortar to dry slowly by spraying it with water a couple of times a day for three or four days.

Comments

mikaay said

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on 9/27/2008 well done author! this info might come in handy with my own "do it yourselfing, jack of all trades" skills, to which I'm always looking to add to.
Thanks

patbailey said

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