How to replace a damaged brick

Summary: Replacing a house brick, removing an old brick and installing a new brick.

Sometimes bricks can get damaged and need replacing. If you are replacing a load barring brick or more than 3 bricks in one area, it is recommended that you consult a professional first.

How to remove a brick

First use a hammer drill and masonry bit to drill holes into the brick and surrounding joints. The more holes you create, the easier it will be to remove the brick.
Using a cold chisel chop out the brick. If some of the brick is stubborn and won't come away from awkward corners, then you may wish to use a jointing or plugging chisel. They have sharp angled blades that allow you to get into tight areas that regular chisels may not allow.

Fitting a new brick

Having removed the brick, sweep out the hole where the brick was with a small brush then use your sand and cement to make a small amount of mortar. Place a bed of mortar on the base of the hole and on the sides if possible. Then spread some on the top of the new brick and pat down a little to help it adhere to the surface.
Once the mortar is in position, push the brick into its hole. Some mortar will squeeze out so trim this excess with the trowel before wriggling the brick into a level position where the joints line up with the existing joints. Use the pointing trowel to push in more mortar where it may be needed.
Finally point the new joints to match the existing shape. It is critical to perform the pointing at the right time, which is when the mortar is almost, but not quite dry. Mortar pointing when too soft will be too light, which may not match existing mortar and may acquire cracks. Pointing the mortar when too hard may prevent the mortar from setting against the brick properly, thus causing a weakness in the joints.
As a finishing touch you may want to clean the brick and surrounding area using a damp brush.

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How to replace a damaged brick

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Fitting a new brick

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