How to Put Brick & Plaster on an Exterior Block Wall

A brick-look facade will improve the appeal of a block wall.

An exterior block wall can be covered with brick and plaster, which will greatly increase the appeal of the wall. This project will require a two-part process: first the brick and then the plaster. Rather than using a full brick, however, the do-it-yourselfer will fare much better using brick tile. The tile resembles a brick but is only 1/4 inch thick, and it can be applied to the wall without the struggles of laying a full brick. The average do-it-yourselfer can complete this project in one to three days, depending on the size and scope of the project.

Things You'll Need

• Brick tile
• Thinset mortar
• Type S mortar
• 5 gallon bucket
• Sponge
• Notched trowel
• Concrete trowel
• Mortar board

Instructions

Bricks

1. Mix the thinset mortar in a 5-gallon bucket. Pour half of the thinset powder into the bucket and add 1/2 gallon of water. Stir the mix with a mixing paddle and a drill. Add more water if the mix is too dry and more powder if the mix is too wet. The consistency should be similar to sticky pancake batter.

2. Wet the block wall with a water hose and allow the water to soak into the wall for five to 10 minutes. This will help the thinset bond to the block wall. You may need to keep the wall sprayed down as you work.

3. 

   This is a running bond pattern.

   Apply the thinset to the wall, beginning at the bottom of the wall. Rake back the soil and begin the first row of bricks just below the soil line. Butt the bricks end to end, laying the entire first row first. Press the tiles into the thinset that has been applied to the wall. The ridges in the mud will allow you to set the tiles and will create suction that will hold the tiles on the wall. Lay the next row above the first row, but stagger the ends this time to simulate a running bond pattern. Don't worry too much about how straight the brick tiles are. You want them to be slightly uneven so that a true aged effect may be obtained.

4. Fill in the brick joints with thinset by filling a grout bag and squeezing the mortar into the gaps. The grout bag has a small tip that can be inserted into the brick gaps as you squeeze the mortar out.

Plaster

1. Mix type S mortar by adding 1/2 bag of dry mortar mix, eight shovelfuls of sand, and 3 gallons of water to a wheelbarrow. Mix these ingredients using a hoe. The consistency must be sticky and slightly wet.

2. Wipe the mortar onto the brick tiles after they have dried for 24 hours. Place the mortar onto a mortar board, and hold the board close to the wall, beginning at the bottom. Push the mortar from the board and onto the wall using the concrete trowel, distributing the mortar onto the wall in long swipes. Apply a 1/4-inch thick bed of mortar to the entire wall.

3. Wipe several areas of mortar off of the wall using a damp sponge. This will expose the brick and give the aged appearance to the wall. Make the spots random and no bigger than 12 inches. Use circular motions or even jagged patterns. The point is to mimic an old brick plaster wall and the normal wear that occurs over the years.

References

• "Popular Mechanics Outdoor & Garden Projects"; Albert Jackson, David Day; 2006
• "Masonry: Concrete, Brick, Stone"; Christine Beall; 1997
• "Ultimate Guide to Masonry and Concrete: Design, Build, Maintain"; Creative Homeowner Press; 2006