Take minor brick repairs into your own hands
Even the toughest materials break down sometimes, and brick is no exception. Despite being long-lasting and low-maintenance, brick walls can still crumble and crack over time, especially in cold, wet climates. If you have a few broken bricks or your mortar needs a minor touch-up, this guide lays out how to repair a brick wall in two simple methods, and also covers what you need to know for prep and aftercare.
Whether you notice loose or cracked mortar, damaged bricks, or bricks that have crumbled away completely, you'll want to consider repairing your brick wall. Proper repairs can not only fix the brick's appearance but also extend the wall's life span.
If the wall in question is load-bearing and has suffered serious damage, hire a professional brick mason near you to fix it as soon as possible. This repair type is unsuitable for a DIY project, and left alone could result in serious structural problems throughout your home.
If you have the right tools for the job, your primary expense for most minor brick wall repairs will be the mortar. Expect to pay about $30 for enough lime mortar to cover 75 square feet. For more serious repairs or a full restoration, leave the work to a professional mason. The cost of brick wall repairs can range from $750 to $2,500 depending on the extent of the work needed.
Brick's longevity and durability mean that, for the most part, it's a maintenance-free building material. However, cold, wet climates can cause bricks to shift and weaken over time. Keep an eye out for the following signs of deterioration in your brick walls:
Crumbling or flaking: Known as spalling, these are signs of moisture in your brick freezing and thawing over time, causing it to expand and contract.
White, dusty powder: Called efflorescence, these salt stains are left when water evaporates. They won't hurt the brick, but they are a sign that moisture may be entering the home.
Leaks: Any leak is a sign of potential structural damage. If you notice water coming from a chimney or ceiling, you may have an opening in your brick.
Leaning, cracks, or holes: Any movement or hole in a brick wall is a sign of damage that could impact your home's appearance or stability.
Before you attempt brick repairs, know whether the job is safe to DIY or if it requires a mason. Homeowners can handle minor brick wall DIY repairs like troweling in new mortar or replacing bricks in a home’s outer façade. But you’ll need to hire a mason for the following situations:
Replacing more than four contiguous bricks in a load-bearing wall or chimney
Rooftop repairs or anything that would require a ladder to reach
Load-bearing walls with serious structural damage
If your project is DIY-safe, choose a mortar or brick to match the wall. Walls built before World War II likely require a soft, flexible lime putty mortar. A local restoration mason can analyze the existing mortar to help you match its color and characteristics. Select a jointer tool to help you match the shape of the existing joints, which will typically be either round or flat-bottomed.
If you're replacing bricks, you'll find that sizes and colors vary dramatically. Matching old bricks can be especially tricky, so bring a sample of your existing brick to the brickyard if you have one. You may also find a close match at a company that sells reclaimed architectural materials. Mortar sets best in mild temperatures, so start your project when it’s 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
The method you use to repair your brick wall will depend on the type of damage you're dealing with. Loose or crumbling mortar can be fixed with a process called repointing, while damaged bricks or missing bricks will need to be fully replaced. Be sure to wear protective eyewear and gloves when attempting either method.
Repointing is the process of chiseling out old mortar and troweling in fresh mortar. The whole process takes about a week. Carefully follow these steps to repoint your brick wall:
Remove damaged mortar. Use a chisel, grout saw, or five-in-one painter's tool along with a hammer to carefully remove any damaged old mortar, first from the horizontal bed joints and then from the vertical head joints.
Clean and wet the wall. Dry brick can sap moisture from new mortar and prevent it from setting properly, so you'll want to dampen your wall. Clear debris from the joints using a stiff-bristled brush, broom, or compressed air. Then, spray the wall down with a garden hose until it's thoroughly wet and allow it to sit overnight.
Mix the mortar. Ensure your wall is still damp, then use a brick trowel to mix your new mortar according to the directions on your product's packaging. Mortars vary, but you'll generally want them thick enough that they stick to your trowel held upside-down. You also want a wet consistency that isn't crumbly.
Trowel in mortar. Scoop mortar onto your brick trowel and hold it close to an empty bed joint. Use a separate pointing trowel to push the mortar in until the joint is full. Do the bed joints, then the head joints. Smooth and compact the mortar with the flat face of your trowel and scrape away any excess. Avoid getting mortar on the bricks themselves.
Brush the wall. When the mortar has firmed, remove stray pieces by brushing diagonally across the wall with a soft-bristled brush. Use a wet sponge to remove any residue on your bricks, and tarp the wall to protect it from the weather.
Let the mortar dry slowly. Mortar will take three to four days to dry. In the meantime, lightly mist the wall each day to keep it damp and allow the mortar to dry without cracking.
If you have four or fewer bricks to replace, you can do the repair as a DIY. Follow these steps:
Remove damaged bricks. Break apart the damaged bricks with a mason's chisel. If replacing several bricks, start this process at the top and work down. Be careful not to damage any surrounding bricks.
Chisel out old mortar. Use the same tools to chisel out the old mortar. Clean debris away with a stiff-bristled brush. Rinse the entire cleaned area with water afterward.
Mix the mortar. Follow the manufacturer’s directions to mix your new mortar. If you’re trying to match the color of your existing mortar, you may also need to add pigment.
Apply mortar. Apply about an inch of fresh mortar to both sides of the brick opening. Immediately dampen the new brick with water and apply mortar to the top and sides.
Insert the brick. Slide the new brick into the opening. Mortar will ooze out slightly as you push the brick in place. Tap the brick with the butt of your pointing trowel until it lays flush with the bricks around it. All joints should be full of mortar up to the brick face, so add more mortar if needed. Scrape away excess mortar with the side of your trowel.
Repeat. If you’re replacing multiple bricks, repeat steps four and five for each brick.
Tool the joints. Using your jointer tool, match the shape of the existing joints. Once your mortar is nearly dry, use a stiff-bristled brush to gently brush away any leftover mortar from the brick face, taking care not to touch the tooled joints.
Let the mortar cure. Lightly mist the repaired area with water. Keeping the repair damp will allow the mortar to cure slowly. Continue to mist the area daily for three days. Tarp the area to protect it from weather and retain moisture during this time.
Brick walls start to crumble for a variety of reasons. Water can erode the sediment and mortar or cause it to expand when frozen in colder climates. This erosion and expansion can dislodge bricks and lead to serious damage over time. Here are a few tips to prevent brick wall damage.
Every few months, inspect bricks for mortar damage or cracks larger than a quarter-inch.
Fix faulty gutters or drains that cause water to come into direct contact with brick.
Keep exterior walls clean and free from moss, ivy, and other plant life.
Apply proper masonry sealants to bricks for protection.
Make sure weep holes above your foundation line aren’t clogged.
The sorts of minor brick repairs you can complete using this guide are not costly to DIY. A bag of mortar costs about $30, and you’ll spend less than $1 per brick. However, you shouldn’t attempt to repair more serious brick damage on your own. Masonry training is intensive and structural elements of your home require specific knowledge and care to repair properly.
You can hire a mason near you to make most brick wall repairs for between $750 and $2,500. When choosing a contractor, get multiple quotes and ensure that the pros you’re working with are fully licensed, insured, and bonded.
You should clean your home’s brick once per year. This applies to exterior brick, but also to cleaning brick fireplaces. Create a homemade cleaning solution with equal parts vinegar and water. Use a soft-bristle brush to scrub the solution into the face of your brick and remove dirt, algae, and stains. Cleaning will protect brick from damage and boost your home’s curb appeal.
Repointing refers to the process of removing and replacing old, crumbling mortar from brick joints. The tuckpointing process is similar, but includes following the mortar replacement with an additional line of contrasting putty to create the look of fine joint lines. This extra step makes tuckpointing much more expensive than repointing.
There are many things that can damage brick walls. Poor workmanship and installation, pressure washing, incorrect sealant usage, and moisture can all cause damage. In addition, weather changes can lead to damage: during cold months, when water turns to ice and expands over the brick surface, it can exert too much pressure on the brick, leading to cracking and spalling.
