Bricks are very strong, that’s why they are commonly used in house building and a variety of walls, including those surrounding your yard. However, although they are strong, they are exposed to all weather.
The unrelenting summer sun can be just as harmful as consistent downpours of rain. If you study any brick wall in or around your property, you’ll find some have perished. They need to be replaced. Fortunately, this is easier than you think.
Of course, if you have any concerns or doubts about doing this yourself, you can get the experts in tuckpointing Sydney to come and do the work for you.
Your wall will be left looking like new. Don’t forget, an expert may seem more expensive but when you factor in the cost of your time and how long it will take you, you’ll be surprised at how often it’s cheaper to let the professionals get it done.
Table of Contents
What You Will Need
There aren’t many things needed to successfully replace bricks:
- Sand
- Cement
- Flat-headed screwdriver
- Bucket
- Mixer
- Trowel
- New bricks
- Water in a spray bottle
- Marker pen
Find The Bricks
If you’ve spotted one damaged brick that needs to be replaced then there are probably others.
Walk around the walls of your house and yard to locate any others that need replacing./ When you see one, mark it clearly with your marker. It makes it easier to spot when replacing them.
Locate Your Bricks As Well
You can head to the local DIY store and buy bricks. But, you need to make sure they are the same size and, preferably, as close to a color match as possible.
Take the time to ask around and even check local demolitions to see if there are some spare bricks worth using.
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Having got new bricks that will match your existing walls, you’ll want to strengthen them. You do this by submerging them in water while you get everything else ready. The water strengthens them and prepares them for mortar adhesion.
Take Damaged Bricks Out Of the Wall
You can now use your screwdriver, or a cold chisel if you prefer, to carefully remove the old mortar around the damaged brick. If you’re struggling you can use a small drill bit to drill the mortar out.
With all the mortar gone you should be able to pull the brick out, although it is likely to be stiff.
Add New Bricks to Your Wall
Before you put your new brick in place you need to spray the hole in the wall. This will help the new brick adhere properly.
Now, you’ll want to mix your sand and cement. That’s three-part sand to one-part cement, with enough water to make a stiff mixture. Cover the bottom and sides of the hole in the wall with your cement.
Then, add some more to the top of your brick. Gently slide it into place and use a soft hammer to tap it into the right alignment.
You can remove excess mortar with your finger or a flat chisel, ensuring the finish looks the same as the existing bricks.
That’s it, step back and congratulate yourself before moving on to the next one.
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