Broke Brick Mountain: DIY Broken Brick Replacement Made Easy

Do you have a brick wall with broken or damaged bricks? Rather than replace the entire brick wall, you can replace that old brick with just a few tools and these easy steps.

You’ll need a cold chisel, margin trowel, a hammer or maul and safety glasses. The materials you need will be a matching or similar brick or bricks, mortar, and something to mix it in like a plastic bucket or wheelbarrow.

Start by knocking out the mortar around the brick with the hammer or maul and cold chisel. If the joints are too tight for your cold chisel to fit into, you should use a plugging chisel. After the mortar has been thoroughly removed, use the cold chisel to remove the brick. Its o.k. if you need to destroy or break off small pieces at a time off the brick to get it out of there.

Once the brick is removed, take out any pieces of remaining mortar and brick with the cold chisel. Make sure the hole is clean and free from any debris that may hinder the insertion of the new brick. You can use an air hose with an air nozzle to help clean it out. A water hose works nicely too, as long as its not squirting into the inside of your house or garage.

Once your hole is clean, you’re ready to mix the mortar. Mix the mortar in your mixing tub, wheelbarrow, or bucket with your trowel. You won’t need much so use it sparingly. Add water slowly, mixing it well until the mortar has reached the right consistency. Basically it should cling well to an inverted trowel.

Soak the hole in the brick with some water. Not a deluge, but just enough for moisture to wick inside of the existing brick and mortar. Now spread the mortar inside the cavity. Spread it on all the sides and tops and bottoms. More than you think you need is o.k. here, because it will all squish out anyways when you insert the new brick. Also apply mortar to the top of the new brick you are about to use.

Insert the brick into the hole. Tap it in gently with the end of your trowel. Don’t force it and make sure its flush and not to far in. Gently is the key here, because if it goes in to far, it’s going to be really hard to get it to come back out. Scrape of the excess mortar as it squishes out from between the seams.

Once the mortar is hardened enough, you should test it with your thumb. If it leaves a thumb print, then it is ready to be struck. This usually takes an hour or more depending on the weather and temperature. Strike the joints the same size and texture as the existing mortar with your margin trowel. Try to blend it in with the existing mortar joints as well as you can.

Stand back and let it dry. Work the mortar as necessary to match the existing joints as best you can. Fill in any holes and scrape off and excess. Let dry for 24 hours and wash the brick with a little water and sponge to help remove any dust or excess mortar. Enjoy your handy work!