• Often these cracks, if not repaired, can widen and eventually cause some of the bricks to become loose and drop out of the wall. But you can repair these cracks, whether they are in a garden wall or a house wall. Even if you are not an experienced bricklayer you will be able to replace broken or cracked bricks by following these steps.
  • How to Repair Mortar in a Brick Wall Repointing is a simple job, but it has to be done with care, using the right tools and the right materials By Danny Palousek of This Old House magazine // Photo by Allison Dinner.

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Mortar serves as a binding agent for brick, concrete block and other masonry products. When properly prepared and installed, mortar forms a long-lasting and durable bond with the surrounding masonry. Over time, poorly installed mortar or structures subject to frequent moisture exposure may deteriorate, leading to unsightly cracks in the mortar joints. Repairing these cracks quickly can help reduce moisture infiltration and prevent additional damage to the structure.

1

How to Repair Mortar Joints Use an Angle Grinder for Larger, Harder Repointing Brick Jobs. Chip Out Loose Mortar. Break out old mortar using a hammer and cold chisel or a flat utility chisel. Clean the Joints. Once the old mortar is removed, dust out the brick cavity joints using.

Put on your safety glasses and chip out all the damaged mortar with a hammer and chisel. Work carefully to avoid damaging the brick. Use a grout saw or angle grinder for hard-to-chisel mortar.

2

Spray the wall with water from a garden hose. Allow the water to sit on the wall overnight to soak into the remaining mortar. This will prevent the new mortar from drying too quickly and cracking.

3

Mix mortar in a bucket according to the instructions on the package. Stir the mixture with your trowel and examine the consistency. Free download cheat engine 6.5.1. Properly mixed mortar forms a thick paste and will stick to a trowel.

4

Scoop some mortar onto your brick trowel and use your pointing trowel to force the mortar into the horizontal brick joints. When all the horizontal joints have been filled, add mortar to the vertical joints.

5

Rake the joints with a brick trowel or jointer tool to smooth the mortar and give it the desired profile.

6

Scrape any remaining mortar off the surface of the brick using the edge of your trowel. Clean the face of the brick with a wet sponge, then brush the brick with a soft brush. Angle the brush diagonally to the mortar joints to avoid disturbing the wet mortar.

7

Cover the patched area with a sheet of plastic and secure it to the wall with duct tape. Lift the plastic once a day and spray the wall with water from a hose. Remove the plastic after three days.

Things You Will Need

How To Repair Cracks In Bricks

  • Safety glasses
  • Hammer
  • Chisel
  • Grout saw
  • Angle grinder
  • Hose
  • Mortar
  • Brick trowel
  • Pointing trowel
  • Jointer tool
  • Soft scrub brush
  • Plastic sheets
  • Duct tape

Tip

  • If your brick wall was constructed prior to World War II, look for lime-based mortar mixes designed for historic brick structures. If your brick wall was built within the past 50 years, stick to standard mortar mixes.

References (2)

About the Author

Emily Beach works in the commercial construction industry in Maryland. She received her LEED accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2008 and is in the process of working towards an Architectural Hardware Consultant certification from the Door and Hardware Institute. She received a bachelor's degree in economics and management from Goucher College in Towson, Maryland.

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Photo Credits

  • Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
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Beach, Emily. 'How to Repair Cracked Mortar On an Exterior Brick Wall.' Home Guides SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/repair-cracked-mortar-exterior-brick-wall-31139.html. Accessed 10 October 2019.
Beach, Emily. (n.d.). How to Repair Cracked Mortar On an Exterior Brick Wall. Home Guides SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/repair-cracked-mortar-exterior-brick-wall-31139.html

How To Repair Cracks In Brick Foundation

Beach, Emily. 'How to Repair Cracked Mortar On an Exterior Brick Wall' accessed October 10, 2019. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/repair-cracked-mortar-exterior-brick-wall-31139.html

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