How to Make Concrete Brick Decorations

Consider using decorative tiles.

Concrete bricks are a durable and affordable option for building walls, yet a concrete brick wall lacks character and interest. Add decorative elements to transform a boring concrete brick wall into an attractive, eye-catching feature of your home's landscape. A variety of basic choices for decorating concrete brick walls can be creatively expanded to match your home's existing design and suit your own tastes.

Things You'll Need

• Wall caps
• Trowel
• Mortar
• Jointer
• Brick stain
• Paintbrush or sponge
• Decorative tiles
• Notched trowel
• Thin-set tile mortar
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Add wall caps to the tops of open walls, such as concrete brick gates or retaining walls. Wall caps are ornamental precast bricks that are thinner and slightly wider than the actual wall stones. A wide variety of styles are available. Once installed, overhanging caps add a visual accent to your wall. Add caps by using a trowel to lay a 3/8-inch layer of mortar on top of the wall and pressing the caps into place. Use a jointer to smooth the mortar joints.

2. Stain the bricks to infuse them with color. Masonry stains come in colors that mimic the hues of stones or bricks, giving your concrete wall a more natural appearance. Stick to a single color or use more than one to create patterns. Masonry stains usually come in a two-part system that contains pigment and fixative. Mix the stain according to the manufacturers instruction. Apply stain to each individual brick with a paint brush or a sponge.

3. Add decorative tiles to the bricks. Decorative tiles are available from ceramic artists as well as home improvement stores. Add a single tile here and there along your wall to create subtle details and visual interest. Space decorative tiles at even increments for a formal look. Randomly placed tiles create an organic look. Use a notched trowel to add a roughened patch of thin-set tile mortar to the wall and then press the tile into the mortar. Clean the excess mortar from around the sides with a damp sponge.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure concrete bricks are prepared for additions by washing with a concrete cleaner and treating with a concrete etching solution.

References

• PaverSearch.com: Wall caps and coping applications
• Dyebrick.com: Application
• Cape Cod Treasure Chest: Garden tiles create a decorative tile wall for the senses