How to Remove a Brick From a Fireplace

A cracked or otherwise damaged brick can significantly alter the appearance of your fireplace. Luckily, a single brick, or even several bricks, can be removed without disturbing the undamaged masonry. Once the damaged bricks have been completely removed, new brick can be installed in the resulting cavity. Before beginning this project, make sure there are no underlying problems causing your bricks to crack or become disfigured.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Masonry bit
• Power drill
• Cold chisel
• Hammer
• Wire brush

1. Score a groove around the perimeter of the brick you want to remove using a power drill with a masonry bit. This helps prevent you from accidentally cracking the surrounding bricks.

2. Score the face of the brick with the power drill, breaking it into about six sections. Removing the brick in pieces is often easiest. Scoring ensures that the brick breaks into manageable pieces for easy removal.

3. Chip away the mortar on the top face of the brick using a cold chisel and hammer. No matter how many bricks you are removing in one section, always start from the top.

4. Chip away the mortar with the cold chisel and hammer around the rest of the perimeter of the brick. You will not be able to remove all of it with the brick still in place, but removing as much as possible helps prevent you from accidentally creating a crack in the undamaged bricks.

5. Place the cold chisel on one of the scores close to the perimeter on the brick you want to remove and give the brick a sharp tap with the hammer. This should help crack the brick so that you can remove that section.

6. Continue removing sections of brick using the cold chisel until all of the brick is removed.

7. Remove any existing mortar around the brick you have removed. Try to remove as much mortar as possible without damaging the surrounding bricks.

8. Using a wire brush, remove any mortar dust or brick pieces from the cavity you have created. If you are trying to remove a large section of bricks, clean as you go to gauge your progress.

Tips & Warnings

• Working with a cold chisel and hammer can be difficult without experience. Practice on a spare brick before attempting to work on your fireplace. Cracks in a fireplace can be a symptom of a serious problem, such as excessive heat or a shifting foundation. Contact a professional before attempting a repair if there is unexplained cracking.
• When working with a chisel, always protect your eyes from flying debris with safety glasses. Wear a face mask and gloves while completing this project to protect you from dust.