How to Repair Broken House Bricks
Calling a professional to replace a few bricks in the exterior of your home can be an expensive endeavor, especially considering it is something the novice can perform on his own with some preparation. The largest challenge when replacing brick from an older construction will be matching the newer brick to the old one. Modern bricks are made using a machine and have sharp, squared edges. Older brick constructions were done by hand and have rounded edges. You may be able to match your older brick by speaking with your local hardware store representative or seeking out a company that deals in recycled building materials. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Safety goggles
- Engineer's hammer
- Cold chisel (1/2 inch blade)
- Wire brush
- Mortar mix
- Sand
- Disposable pan or old bucket
- Trowel
- 2-by-4 inch board
- Water
- Spray bottle
- Sponge
Instructions
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Repairing Broken House Bricks
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1
Remove the old mortar surrounding the damaged brick by lightly tapping on it with a hammer and chisel to loosen it from its surroundings. If unable to remove the brick in one piece after removing mortar, strike it firmly in the middle to crack it and carefully remove brick pieces from the wall.
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2
Use the chisel to chip away any leftover pieces of mortar and brush the area out by scrubbing it firmly with a wire brush to remove any remaining loose debris.
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3
Mix your mortar and sand in a 1-to-3 ratio. Mix the mortar in a disposable pan or old bucket with a small amount of water to a consistency that will hang on your trowel without being too sticky. Mortar should be easy to spread without being too wet or runny.
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4
Saturate the replacement brick thoroughly with water from a spray bottle or garden hose and shake off any excess water. Lightly spray all four sides of the area where you will be situating the new brick.
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5
Coat all four sides of the new brick with half an inch of the mortar using a trowel. Position the brick inside of the hole, using a board and a mallet to firmly tap it into place.
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6
Examine the brick to make sure it is flush with the others and evenly spaced. Remove excess mortar from the brick with a wet sponge, being careful to avoid the joints. Smooth joints with a wet finger or thumb to make them consistent with the appearance of the mortar around the other bricks.
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7
Allow to dry for one to two hours and then lightly spray the area with a fine mist from a spray bottle or garden hose to cure. Spray the repaired area once daily for a week.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Wear safety goggles and a particle mask when breaking bricks and cleaning out old mortar.
