How to Patch a Hole in a Brick Wall | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House mason Mark McCullough travels to Denver to patch a hole in a brick wall

Time: 4-6 hours

Cost: $150

Skill Level: Moderate to Difficult

Tools List for Patching a Brick Wall:

Shopping List:
Replacement bricks

Steps:
1. Start by identifying any bricks that have been cut for the hole. Any bricks that are no longer full sized should be removed.
2. To remove the smaller bricks, cut along the mortar lines closest to the brick that’s being removed using an angle grinder. To keep the dust down, use a grinder with a vacuum attachment and connect it to a HEPA vacuum. These tools can be rented from the home center if you don’t have them.
3. Once the mortar lines have been cut, carefully hit the bricks out of place with a hammer. Watch the mortar lines near bricks that aren’t being cut out. If there’s resistance, it’s possible those bricks will end up damaged and will need to get cut out as well.
4. Once the bricks and the mortar have been removed, wipe away any excess dust with a masonry brush.
5. Wet the masonry brush and do a second pass on the wall.
6. Now it’s time to put the bricks into place. Start by mixing up the mortar in the bucket with water until it’s at roughly an oatmeal consistency.
7. Scoop some of the mortar onto the trowel and then lay it onto the brick wall.
8. Add some mortar to one side of the replacement brick. Then, place it on top of the bed joint just laid in the previous step. Wiggle it into place and gently tap it using the back side of the trowel until it lines up with the other bricks in its row.
9. Continue this process with the rest of the replacement bricks until the hole is filled.
10. Use the tuck pointer to fill in all the joints as deep as possible.
11. Slick down all the new joints using the concave jointer.
12. Wipe off any excess mortar on the face of the bricks using the masonry brush.
13. Once all the excess mortar is off, do a final slick with the concave jointer.

Resources:
For such a small repair, it may be a challenge to get a mason to fix the brick wall, so Mark suggests renting a few tools and tackling a project of this size on your own.

All the other tools required for this project, including the trowel, masonry brush, and jointers, can all be found at home centers.

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How to Patch a Hole in a Brick Wall | Ask This Old House

[bbgarnettTotallyNotABot]

@ 6:22 Nice of him to compliment Mark on his looks.

[infotainment]

That job takes skills and a little finesse, hilarious how he didn't let the homeowner even touch it only brushing 😂😂

[stratonarrow]

“The nieghbor has a dog.”
“…yeah. He’s a bit loud.”

Lol

[jb]

Legend has it that the homeowner broke a sweat when he cleaned the brick with the brush

[jaybdub]

2:40 yes, but what kind of oatmeal consistency? Lumpy or runny oatmeal consistency?

[onel]

This is very helpful for a project I'm planning for my "friend" Fortunato

[kalijasin]

"We don't want to hammer and chisel it" Then right after that he hammer and chisel's it. LOL!!

[theragnofam]

Does the weather resistant barrier need no attention?

I’m confused. I can just brick over the hole?

[tycox]

Why did he remove bricks from the row below the hole? They were whole and the pattern was undisturbed.

[wyndward]

The perfect video to watch ahead of my project to fill in a few bricks. Thank you for posting it on your YouTube channel.

Do you need to acid/water wash the bricks as a last step to prevent any hazing on the bricks surface?

[NestosCologneFlavoredBread]

Love that dog! They wanted to be filmed too!

[iamamish]

"went to the brickyard with a picture"

*leaves original brick pieces on ground*

(I'm sure they know bricks well enough to match them by sight)

[kpk]

That one top brick looks pushed in & not even on top.

[DonJosesito]

Just do it the old plumbers way, shove in a bunch of hydraulic cement and call it a day.

[majth]

Lot easier too put your toother brick in first Mike, maybe use small line and a couple line pins? You can't be from local 3?

[joshsteele]

They always say send me a picture. Where are these follow up pictures. I want to see how well it blended

[marthajf]

Great info EXCEPT "oatmeal consistency." That could be anything.

[DaynJo]

I actually learned a lot from this video.
1. I there in no way on earth a mere "DIY'er" is going to get the job done. <(Reason for YT searching.)
2. Hire a professional. who has all the right tools. (Defeats the whole point of "tutorial video.")
3. Start saving for the cost of said "professional builder, " with his angle grinder, etc.. Loads of help.

[mattrack]

“Nice space, AND the neighbor has a dog” 😂🤷🏼😂😂 🤔🤔

[leftyguitartv]

Anyone notice that he first called the homeowner Tom, then Tony?