Top 5 TIPS for a DIY Brick Repair
- bagnatomasonryltd
- Feb 19, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 4, 2024
1. Don't Damage The Surrounding Bricks
Damaging the surrounding bricks while doing a repair is the most common mistake I have seen while working. Chipped bricks and cut bricks being the utmost common. The best way to avoid this is by using an angle grinder or a quick cut saw with a diamond blade and cutting the surrounding motar joints. If you are on the more novice side an angle grinder is both more affordable and more easy to use. Remember to use your PPE and take your time so you don't cut the surrounding bricks. any excess cement on the surrounding brick can be removed after you have done the demolition, either with angle grinder or a long pointed, or flat headed chisel.
2. Finding A Good Brick Match
Many bricks usually have a more modern twin or maybe even a cousin, sometimes the sizing can be a bit off, but it is most important to find a middle ground between the size, colour and texture if you cannot find the exact brick. The best way to find your closest brick match, is to take the full measurements of the brick, height, width and depth, as well with a photo of the brick when dry. with this information, you look for brick suppliers, masonry suppliers in your area and give them an email or call and send them this information and they will provide you with the closest possible brick match to your brick.
3. Motar Colour
Many houses have slightly different motar colour. and matching the motar colour is often one the most overlooked things. You do not want your surrounding wall the be a berry red and your repair to have grey coloured motar, it'll stick out like a sore thumb that is for sure. taking a piece of motar into your nearest brick supplier they will provide you with motar colour that'll bring it to the closest match.
4. The Right Cement
When doing brick repairs you want to use a Type N cement. You can either buy the premixed cement Type N, with this all you need to do is add water till your desire consistency, or it'll say on the bag how much water is required. The other option is to mix a pure Type N cement with brick sand, using a 3:1 ratio. when mixing the cement you can either using a multipurpose drill with a paint or cement bit, or you can use a sheet of old ply wood and a flat headed shovel to mix. Be sure to mix for a while so the cement and sand blend evenly.
5. Tooling and Cleaning
When tooling your cement joints it is important to get a good sized jointer, that'll fit nicely into the joint, not too big and not too small. Before jointing make sure that the joints are not too wet or else you'll get your bricks dirty. After all your joints are tooled, you should pass a soft haired brush over the joints to smooth out the appearance.
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