Tip for repairing the odd spalled brick in a wall

[michael]

Wet the spalled brick thoroughly and then apply a lime and sand mortar (3 to 1) directly on to the brick to replicate the missing flat face i.e. smooth and shape the mortar with a trowel to form the face.

While the mortar is still wet, blow some brick dust onto it. The brick dust adheres to the wet mortar and blends in with the surrounding bricks.

You can either apply and shape the mortar joints at the same time and then just mask them off when you blow on the brick dust or you can go back and repoint at a later date.

I did this on a couple of bricks last year and they’re still holding up. In fact they have blended in so well that it was difficult to relocate them.

 

[michael]

Sorry. Should be sand and lime mortar (3 to 1)

 

[CHRIS]

Thanks for that, at last a good post with a good idea and no slagging off in sight.

I may try it on my sorry garden wall.

 

[Nemesis]

Well apart from this:

at last a good post with a good idea and no slagging off in sight.

8)

 

[Nemesis]

Love to see a pic of what this looks like...

 

[michael]

Sorry, I’m a bit of a technophobe on the pictures front and don’t really know how to post them even though I’ve read the instructions on this site.

One other method I’ve heard of for repairing spalled bricks if there is sufficient body left in the brick is to carefully cut the brick out with a tiny chisel loosening off all the mortar, take the brick out and turn it round so that the good face is pointing outwards and the spalled face is set back into the wall. Saw this done professionally once and you would never have guessed that the wall had been repaired.

 

[Nemesis]

Yes, that's the more usual method.

Posting pics isn't hard, honest!

 

[Penners]

take the brick out and turn it round so that the good face is pointing outwards and the spalled face is set back into the wall. Saw this done professionally once and you would never have guessed that the wall had been repaired.

So, all in all, it's just another brick in the wall?

 

[Paul D]

You will need to buy what is called a comb chislel and using a club hammer very carefully break away the old brick as mention before. This is in by far the best way to deal with your situation.
The other way can look good, but after a few years it will fall apart and need doing again, Paul.