Replacing damaged or deteriorating bricks helps maintain the structural integrity and aesthetic appeal of brick walls and surfaces. Proper brick replacement technique is important to ensure the repair blends in seamlessly.
The process involves:
- Identifying damaged bricks that need replacement. Cracked, crumbling, spalling or missing bricks should be replaced.
- Removing the damaged brick. This is done by carefully chipping away any remaining mortar using a chisel and hammer. Care should be taken not to damage surrounding bricks.
- Cleaning the empty cavity. Any loose material or old mortar is cleaned out using a wire brush, scoop or compressed air.
- Prepping the new brick. The replacement brick should match the size, color and texture of the surrounding bricks as closely as possible. It should be dampened before installation to prevent excess moisture absorption.
- Installing the new brick. Mortar is troweled into the cavity, the damp brick put in place and tapped down to the proper level with surrounding bricks.
- Repointing the joints. Mortar is placed around the edges of the new brick and tooled to match existing joint style once initial swelling has occurred. The mortar composition should match the original.
- Cleaning and finishing. Any excess mortar is cleaned off the brick faces and joints with a stiff bristle or wire brush. The new mortar is allowed to fully cure before exposure to elements.
Proper brick repairs helps maintain the weather-tightness of the wall system and prevents further deterioration. Our skilled masons follow industry best practices to seamlessly blend in new bricks on your brick masonry repair projects.