Replacing a Brick

For a hundred years the clay brick was the foundation of building structures. Every structure from homes to factories was built with the small block and only the invention of Portland cement knocked it off its perch.

Bricklaying is still practiced today but the usage is mostly ornamental. Chimneys are still made of brick but most have a structure made from concrete block and then are faced with brick. However, after years exposed to weathering bricks can crack or the mortar break down. The area then has to be refaced with new brick and mortar.

If a brick is cracked, or the facing worn down, you may be able to save the brick by chipping it out and turning it around. If the brick is too far gone you will have to search around for a new one. This si not an easy job because new brick will stick out, even brick with the same color. Try searching around salvage yards or a place where a building is being torn down.; Another good way to change out a few bricks is to find a place on the wall, chimney or facing that is not clearly visible to the eye. You can substitute the new brick here and put these bricks in the line of sight.

The broken brick can sometimes be taken by chipping away at the mortar surrounding it with a mason’s chisel. Then with a bit of wiggling it will pop out. If the mortar is hard then you will have to drill holes with a masonry bit.  Then use the chisel. Make sure that the hole completely cleaned of mortar.

New and old brick should be soaked in water before installing. This will help the bonding process. For small jobs a bag of ready-mix mortar is the best option. You can buy a bag and use what you need, putting the rest away for a future job.

Like brick, mortar is never the same color. Mix a small batch and gob it on a piece of cardboard. This will draw out moisture and help the piece dry quicker. Use a hair dryer to complete the process. Now you know the color you can get mortar pigment to darken or lighten the mixture. If you can’t get this the mortar color can be tweaked after the mortar has set. Although you will have to be good with an artist’s brush for this.

Brush water into the hole before putting in the mortar. Like soaking the brick this will help the bonding. Mortar te bottom of the hole and then press the brick in. adjust until level with the bricks around it. Now, carefully apply mortar on the top and sides using a small trowel to get it in. Feather the mortar with the old mortar to give continuity and make sure the joints are equal. Keep the mortar wet for the next few days and, if in the direct sun, shield it with a tarp.

After the mortar has dried stand back and look at the work. If the coloring is still off you can use artists tricks like mixing paint to match the brick textures and mortar.

The Cinder-ella Block Wall

For a great article on pre-cast concrete block fences got to Fencing